Search Jefferson Parish Genealogy Records
Jefferson Parish genealogy records are held at the Clerk of Court in Gretna and date from 1825. With nearly 440,000 residents, Jefferson is the second most populous parish in Louisiana, and its records include marriage licenses from 1863, land conveyances from 1827, probate files from 1825, and court records covering nearly two centuries of family history in the New Orleans metro area.
Jefferson Parish Quick Facts
Jefferson Parish Clerk of Court
The Clerk of Court main office is at the Thomas F. Donelon Courthouse, 200 Derbigny Street, Suite 5600, Gretna, LA 70053. The mailing address is P.O. Box 10, Gretna, LA 70054-0010. The main phone is (504) 364-2900. Email the 24th Civil information line at 24thCivilInformation@jpclerkofcourt.us for general questions. The office website is at jpclerkofcourt.us. Business hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.
Jefferson Parish spans both sides of the Mississippi River. The main courthouse in Gretna serves the West Bank. Vital records are also issued at the First Parish Court at 924 David Drive, Metairie (East Bank) and at the Second Parish Court at 100 Huey P. Long Ave., Gretna. The Juvenile Court at 1546 Gretna Blvd., Harvey handles family matters involving minors. For genealogy researchers, the main clerk office in Gretna is the starting point for most record requests. Same-day service is often available in person. Mail requests typically take 5 to 10 business days.
The Jefferson Parish Clerk of Court website at jpclerkofcourt.us provides online record search access, office locations, and detailed information for genealogy researchers.
| Main Office | 200 Derbigny Street, Suite 5600, Gretna, LA 70053 Phone: (504) 364-2900 |
|---|---|
| East Bank (Vital Records) | 924 David Dr., Metairie, LA 70003 |
| Second Parish Court | 100 Huey P. Long Ave., Gretna, LA 70053 |
| Juvenile Court | 1546 Gretna Blvd., Harvey, LA 70058 |
| Hours | Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM |
| Website | jpclerkofcourt.us |
Search Jefferson Parish Genealogy Records Online
Jefferson Parish joined the Louisiana Clerks' Remote Access Authority (LCRAA) on August 1, 2018. The LCRAA portal at laclerksportal.org (also accessible through eclerksla.com) provides free index searching for Jefferson Parish records. Free index access covers mortgage and conveyance records from January 1, 1967 to present, civil case indices from May 1, 1977 to present, and marriage license indices from January 1, 1933 to present.
The LCRAA page on the Jefferson Parish Clerk website explains how to access the free online index for mortgage, conveyance, civil, and marriage records.
The clerk's own website at jpclerkofcourt.us also provides access to civil case indexes, criminal case summaries, land records, and basic marriage license information. Full copies and certified documents require a formal request to the office. The Jefferson Parish Archives and Records Center maintains digital databases of historical records that may assist researchers beyond what is available online.
Note: Records over 50 years old are available without restriction. Microfilm archives at the Jefferson Parish Archives and Records Center hold older collections. Contact the main clerk office for information on what is available in the microfilm holdings and how to schedule access.
Genealogy Records in Jefferson Parish
The main record collections at the Jefferson Parish Clerk span a wide date range. Marriage records with online index access start in January 1, 1933. Earlier marriage records going back to 1863 are available but require an in-person or mail request. Divorce records begin in 1825. Probate and succession records also date from 1825. Court records go back to 1825. Land conveyances and mortgages start in 1827, with online index access for conveyances and mortgages beginning January 1, 1967.
The Louisiana State Archives holds Jefferson Parish Conveyance Records from 1850 to 1896 on microfilm as part of collection P1989-018. This is useful for researchers who need records from that period and prefer to view them in Baton Rouge rather than requesting from the Jefferson Parish Clerk directly. The State Archives may also hold other Jefferson Parish record series not mentioned in public catalogs, so contacting the Archives directly before a research trip is worth doing.
Birth and death records in Louisiana are handled at the state level. Under RS 40:41, birth records are confidential for 100 years and death records for 50 years. The local vital records offices in Jefferson Parish (First Parish Court and Second Parish Court) issue certified birth and death certificates for events within the parish. A birth certificate costs $34.00. A birth certificate with birth card costs $48.00. A death certificate is $26.00. Cash, check, or money order only is accepted at the local offices. For state-issued vital records, use VitalChek online.
Louisiana State Archives and Jefferson Parish
The Louisiana State Archives at 3851 Essen Lane, Baton Rouge holds Jefferson Parish materials including conveyance records from 1850 to 1896 on microfilm. The Archives also holds Confederate pension records, military records, and statewide historical vital records that include Jefferson Parish residents. The Online Public Vital Records Index is a free tool to search historical birth and death records from across Louisiana, including Jefferson Parish, for records that are now past their confidentiality limits.
Jefferson Parish also has active local genealogical organizations. The Jefferson Genealogical Society is at P.O. Box 961, Metairie, LA 70004-0961. The Jefferson Historical Society is at 4014 Connecticut Avenue, Kenner, LA 70065, with contact at president@jeffersonhistoricalsociety.com. The Jefferson Parish Historical Commission is at P.O. Box 113014, Metairie, LA 70011-3014. These local groups may have compiled indexes, transcribed records, or other finding aids that can help researchers navigate the parish's large record collection.
How to Request Jefferson Parish Records
In-person visits to the main clerk office at 200 Derbigny Street in Gretna typically allow same-day service. Bring the names you are researching, approximate dates, and the record type. Valid ID is required. Staff can search indexes and provide copies or certified documents on request. Mail requests go to P.O. Box 10, Gretna, LA 70054. Processing time by mail is 5 to 10 business days plus delivery. Include full names, dates, and record type, along with payment by cash, check, or money order and a self-addressed stamped envelope.
Online index searching through the LCRAA at eclerksla.com is free for the date ranges listed. Once you identify documents you need, contact the clerk to request copies. The clerk's website at jpclerkofcourt.us provides current information on fees and procedures. For birth and death certificates, visit the First Parish Court in Metairie or the Second Parish Court in Gretna, or use VitalChek for online ordering. Notarized signatures may be required for some mail requests for vital records.
What Jefferson Parish Records Contain
Marriage records in Jefferson Parish include both parties' full names, ages, residences, birthplaces, parents' names, and prior marital status. The date and place of the ceremony, the officiant, and two witnesses are recorded. For marriage license index access going back to 1933 through the LCRAA, researchers can quickly identify whether a marriage was recorded in Jefferson Parish before ordering the full document.
Succession and probate records from 1825 document estate settlements for Jefferson Parish residents. A succession file typically includes the petition to open the estate, an inventory of property with values, a list of heirs and their relationships to the deceased, creditor claims, and the final distribution order. Wills are included when they exist. For a large and populous parish like Jefferson, succession files may be quite detailed, especially for families with significant property holdings or multiple heirs. Guardianship filings, when present, identify minor children and their parents or guardians.
Land conveyance records from 1827 document every property transfer in Jefferson Parish. Each deed names the grantor, grantee, property description, price, and recording date. Mortgage records from the same period show when property was pledged as security. Tracking land through these records can reveal family patterns and connections over many generations. With online index access from 1967 forward through the LCRAA, the more recent portion of these records is searchable from home. Access to all these records is protected under RS 44:1, the Louisiana Public Records Law.
eClerks LA at eclerksla.com gives researchers free index access to Jefferson Parish marriage, conveyance, mortgage, and civil records through the LCRAA statewide portal.
Cities in Jefferson Parish
Jefferson Parish includes several cities. Metairie, the most populous community, is on the East Bank. Kenner is also on the East Bank. Marrero and Terrytown are West Bank communities. All genealogy records for communities throughout Jefferson Parish are maintained at the Clerk of Court offices in Gretna and Metairie.
Nearby Parishes
Jefferson Parish borders Orleans Parish and several other parishes in southeast Louisiana. Each neighboring parish maintains its own genealogy records at the respective clerk's office.