Concordia Parish Family History Records

Concordia Parish genealogy records date from 1807 and are held by the Clerk of Court in Vidalia along the Mississippi River. As one of Louisiana's original parishes, created in 1805, Concordia holds more than 215 years of marriage, land, probate, and court records for the 7th Judicial District that can help researchers trace family lines in this historically rich east-bank parish across many generations.

Concordia Parish Clerk of Court

The Concordia Parish Clerk of Court office is located at 4001 Carter Street in Vidalia, a Mississippi River town that sits directly across from Natchez, Mississippi. Concordia Parish was established on April 10, 1805 as one of Louisiana's original parishes, and its records begin around 1807. The Clerk holds marriage records, divorce records, probate and succession records, land records, and court records all running from 1807 through the present. This depth of records makes Concordia Parish one of the better destinations for early Louisiana genealogy research in the central part of the state.

The office is reachable by phone at (318) 336-4204 and by fax at (318) 336-9255. The Clerk's website at ccclerk.org provides some information about the office and its services. For researchers who cannot visit Vidalia in person, calling ahead is the best way to determine what online access options are available and how to request specific records by mail. The courthouse is on Carter Street in Vidalia's civic district.

Because Concordia Parish borders the Mississippi River and historically had a mix of plantation-era and small farm families, the genealogy records here often reflect varied social and economic backgrounds that make for interesting research.

The Concordia Parish Clerk's office in Vidalia holds more than two centuries of marriage, land, probate, and court records for researchers tracing family history.

Search Concordia Parish Genealogy Records Online

Concordia Parish participates in eClerks LA, the statewide free index portal for Louisiana parish records. You can search land records and marriage record indices at no cost after creating a free account. The index lets you confirm whether a record exists and gives you a reference point before you request copies or visit in person. Document images typically require a paid subscription. For Concordia Parish, checking the eClerks LA index first is an efficient way to plan a research strategy before committing to a trip to Vidalia or a mail request.

The Concordia Parish Clerk website at ccclerk.org provides some online information about the office. For more detailed online record access, contact the Clerk by phone at (318) 336-4204 to ask what subscription or remote access options are currently available. Louisiana Clerks' Association resources may also provide additional index access for Concordia Parish records. For certified vital records, use the state-level systems described below.

For certified birth and death certificates, use VitalChek for online orders or contact the Louisiana Vital Records Registry at ldh.la.gov/vital-records.

eClerks LA provides free index access to Concordia Parish land and marriage records through the statewide Louisiana online portal.

Genealogy Records Available in Concordia Parish

Concordia Parish records begin in 1807 and cover marriage licenses, divorce records, probate and succession records, land records, and court records through the present. With records going back to the early American period in Louisiana, Concordia Parish offers one of the deeper genealogy record sets in the state. Land records in particular can be traced across more than two centuries of property transactions along the Mississippi River flood plain.

Birth and death records for Concordia Parish are administered at the state level. Statewide mandatory registration began in 1914. Under Louisiana RS 40:41, birth records stay confidential for 100 years and death records for 50 years. Certified copies of restricted vital records are available only to the named individual, immediate family, legal guardians, or authorized representatives. Historical vital records that have passed these time limits can be searched through the Louisiana State Archives online index. Before 1914, vital events may appear in church records or plantation documents rather than in civil registration records.

Note: Concordia Parish sits on the east bank of the Mississippi River. Families in this area sometimes appear in records from both Louisiana and Mississippi, so researchers should also check Adams County, Mississippi records for cross-river family connections.

Louisiana State Archives and Concordia Parish Records

The Louisiana State Archives in Baton Rouge holds historical vital records under the time limits set by RS 40:41. Birth records become publicly accessible after 100 years and death records after 50 years. The Archives' Online Public Vital Records Index lets you search older records by name from any computer. The building at 3851 Essen Lane in Baton Rouge is open for in-person research. For Concordia Parish, the online index is useful for death records from the early-to-mid 20th century that have now cleared the 50-year restriction period.

How to Request Concordia Parish Records

Visit the Clerk's office at 4001 Carter Street in Vidalia during regular business hours for in-person access. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Bring valid photo ID and a list of names and dates you need to search. Standard copies cost $1.00 per page and certified copies add $5.00 to the fee. For vital records, bring proof of your relationship to the person named on the record.

Mail requests go to Concordia Parish Clerk of Court, P.O. Box 790, Vidalia, LA 71373. Include the full names of the parties, the type of record, relevant dates, a self-addressed stamped envelope, and payment for copy fees. Birth certificates cost $34.00 and death certificates cost $26.00. For non-vital record mail requests, a check or money order for standard copy fees is appropriate. Allow 2-4 weeks for mail requests to be processed and returned.

Online, use eClerks LA for the free index. Contact the Clerk's office directly for current online subscription options. Vital record orders go through VitalChek for online requests or the state Vital Records Registry for mail applications. The fax at (318) 336-9255 can be used for some record inquiries as well.

What Concordia Parish Genealogy Records Contain

Marriage records in Concordia Parish list both parties' names, their ages, residences, parents' names when included, previous marital status, the date and location of the ceremony, the officiant, and the witnesses. These documents link two family lines in one record and are often the best starting point in genealogy research. Land records from 1807 show grantor and grantee names, property descriptions, prices paid, dates, and notary and witness information. Over two centuries of land records create a rich chain of property ownership along the Mississippi River in Concordia Parish.

Probate and succession records from 1807 include wills, estate inventories, and heir lists. Court records document civil suits, criminal matters, and family law cases filed in the 7th Judicial District. Under Louisiana RS 44:1, court and land records held by the Clerk are public records open during business hours. Older death certificates, once the 50-year restriction has passed, include name, age, date and cause of death, birthplace, and parents' information. Together these record types make Concordia Parish a rich source for family history research in central Louisiana going back to the earliest years of statehood.

Cities in Concordia Parish

Vidalia is the parish seat of Concordia Parish, sitting on the Mississippi River directly across from Natchez, Mississippi. Ferriday is another community in the parish. All genealogy records for Concordia Parish are held at the Clerk of Court in Vidalia.

Nearby Parishes

Concordia Parish lies along the Mississippi River in east-central Louisiana. Family lines in this area often crossed into neighboring parishes, so researchers should check these jurisdictions as well.