Caddo Parish Genealogy Records

Caddo Parish genealogy records span from 1835 to the present and are held by the Clerk of Court in Shreveport, the largest city in northwest Louisiana. With marriage licenses going back nearly 190 years, a unique collection of Spanish West Florida records from 1782 to 1810, and naturalization papers from the 1840s, the Caddo Parish Clerk holds one of the richest genealogy record collections in the state for the 1st Judicial District.

Caddo Parish Clerk of Court

The Caddo Parish Clerk of Court at 501 Texas Street in Shreveport holds one of the most extensive genealogy record collections in Louisiana. The office maintains marriage licenses from 1840 to the present, civil, criminal, and probate records from 1811, conveyance books from 1846, mortgage books from 1846, naturalization papers dating back to the 1840s, and 19 volumes of Spanish West Florida Records covering 1782 to 1810. That last collection is particularly rare and documents land grants, property transfers, civil appointments, and legal proceedings from before Louisiana statehood.

One important restriction: the Clerk's office acts as a state agent for birth and death certificates, but it cannot accept mail-in applications for those documents. Birth and death certificates must be obtained in person at 501 Texas Street. Cash or credit card only for those transactions, and valid ID is required. Certificate copies stop being processed at 4:00 PM, though the office itself is open until 5:00 PM. For other record types, mail requests are accepted.

The Caddo Parish Health Unit at 1035 Creswell Avenue, Shreveport (phone 318-676-5222) provides a vital records kiosk service on Wednesdays for those who need certificates and prefer an alternative to the Clerk's downtown office.

The Caddo Parish Clerk website includes department contacts, online services, and information about its special historical collections.

The Caddo Parish Clerk's official website provides access to online record systems, department contacts, and information about the parish's unique Spanish West Florida Records collection.

Search Caddo Parish Genealogy Records Online

Caddo Parish is part of the ClerkConnect subscription portal for civil, criminal, and land records. The platform allows searches of mortgages, conveyances, marriage licenses, civil suits, criminal cases, and court minutes. ClerkConnect also supports e-recording and e-filing. Subscription rates are $20 per day, $65 per month, or $780 per year.

The free statewide index at eClerks LA also covers Caddo Parish for land and marriage record indices at no cost. You can search by name, confirm a record exists, and note the document location before deciding to subscribe or visit in person. For genealogists who only need to verify a handful of records, the free index is often enough. Document images require a subscription or a visit to the Clerk's office at Room 103 of 501 Texas Street.

For birth and death certificates, you must appear in person at the Clerk's office. No mail-in applications are accepted for those documents in Caddo Parish. VitalChek online ordering may be an alternative for some vital records; check availability before visiting.

ClerkConnect gives Caddo Parish subscribers access to civil, criminal, land, and marriage record images going back to 1835.

Genealogy Records Available in Caddo Parish

The range of genealogy records at the Caddo Parish Clerk is notable. Marriage licenses run from 1840 to present. Civil, criminal, and probate records begin in 1811. Conveyance and mortgage books start in 1846. Naturalization papers go back to the 1840s, useful for tracing immigrant ancestors. Military discharge records are also held by the Clerk. The 19-volume Spanish West Florida Records collection (1782-1810) documents land grants, property transfers, civil appointments, and names of early settlers in the region before Louisiana became a state.

Birth and death records registration began statewide in 1914. Under Louisiana RS 40:41, birth records are confidential for 100 years and death records for 50 years. At the Caddo Parish Clerk, death certificates are available from July 9, 2012 forward, and current birth certificates are handled in person only. For older restricted vital records, certified copies are limited to the named individual, immediate family members, or legal representatives. Historical vital records that have cleared the restriction period are searchable through the Louisiana State Archives.

Note: The Caddo Parish Clerk specifically states no courthouse disasters have affected the records collection, which is good news for researchers. The records from 1835 onward are intact.

Louisiana State Archives and Caddo Parish Records

The Louisiana State Archives in Baton Rouge holds historical vital records once the time limits under RS 40:41 have passed. Birth records become public after 100 years and death records after 50 years. The Archives' Online Public Vital Records Index lets you search older records by name without traveling to 3851 Essen Lane in Baton Rouge. For Caddo Parish researchers, this index is especially useful for death records from the early-to-mid 20th century that are now publicly accessible.

How to Request Caddo Parish Records

In-person visits go to Room 103 at 501 Texas Street in Shreveport. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, with certificate copies processed only until 4:00 PM. Bring valid photo ID, especially for birth and death certificates, which must be obtained in person. Cash or credit card only for vital records. No mail-in applications for birth and death certificates are accepted at the Caddo Parish Clerk.

For other records such as marriage licenses, land records, and court records, mail requests go to Caddo Parish Clerk of Court, 501 Texas Street, Shreveport, LA 71101. Include the names, record type, dates, a self-addressed stamped envelope, and payment. Marriage licenses cost $35.00. Other copies run $1.00 per page with an additional $5.00 for certified copies. Email the Records Department at records@caddoclerk.com for questions about non-vital record requests.

Online, use ClerkConnect for civil, criminal, and land records. Statewide vital records orders can go through VitalChek as well. A birth certificate costs $34.00 and a birth card costs $14.00; together they are $48.00. Death certificates are $26.00 each.

What Caddo Parish Genealogy Records Contain

Marriage records in Caddo Parish document both parties' names, ages, residences, parents, prior marital status, date and location of marriage, officiant, and witnesses. The Spanish West Florida Records collection (1782-1810) contains land grants, property transfers, civil appointments, legal proceedings, names of settlers, and property descriptions. These 19 volumes are irreplaceable for tracing families in northwest Louisiana before statehood. Naturalization papers from the 1840s identify immigrant ancestors who went through the legal process of becoming citizens, often listing birth country, date of arrival, and witnesses who vouched for the applicant.

Probate records list heirs, estate values, and inventories. Court records cover civil and criminal matters spanning nearly two centuries. Conveyance and mortgage books from 1846 show land transactions in fine detail. Under Louisiana RS 44:1, most court and land records at the Clerk are public records open for inspection. Older death certificates, once they clear the 50-year limit, provide name, age, date, cause of death, birthplace, and parents' details. The depth and variety of Caddo Parish's collection make it one of the best starting points for northwest Louisiana genealogy research.

Cities in Caddo Parish

Shreveport is the parish seat of Caddo Parish and one of Louisiana's largest cities. All genealogy records for Shreveport and the rest of Caddo Parish are held at the Clerk of Court at 501 Texas Street.

Nearby Parishes

Caddo Parish sits in the far northwest corner of Louisiana near the Texas and Arkansas borders. Researchers tracing families in this area should also check records in these neighboring parishes.