Search Terrebonne Parish Genealogy Records

Terrebonne Parish genealogy records are held at the Clerk of Court courthouse in Houma, with records dating from 1820. The Terrebonne Parish Library also maintains significant genealogy resources including published South Louisiana records, census indexes, cemetery records, and obituary indexes that complement the courthouse collection.

Terrebonne Parish Clerk of Court

The Terrebonne Parish Clerk of Court operates from two locations in Houma. Marriage records and successions are in the basement of the main courthouse building at 7856 W. Main St. Conveyances and property records are on the first floor. Civil records are also available at 301 Goode St. Self-service copying machines are available at lower cost than staff-assisted copies.

Terrebonne Parish does not offer a comprehensive online records portal through the clerk's office, but the Terrebonne Parish Library provides online access to genealogy databases including HeritageQuest and Ancestry Library Edition. This is an unusual and valuable resource for researchers who cannot visit in person.

The Terrebonne Parish Library maintains genealogy databases and published records collections that complement courthouse research.

Search Terrebonne Parish Genealogy Records Online

The Terrebonne Parish Library genealogy page is one of the better online starting points for Terrebonne research. The library provides access to HeritageQuest, Ancestry Library Edition, and other databases that cover Louisiana genealogy records. These can be accessed in person at the library's main branch on the second floor.

For older vital records, the Louisiana State Archives Online Vital Records Index provides free name searches for birth, death, and marriage entries. Statewide platforms eClerks LA and ClerkConnect may have some Terrebonne Parish records indexed. The LAGenWeb project also maintains a Terrebonne Parish research page with volunteer-compiled records and research links.

Genealogy Records in Terrebonne Parish

Terrebonne Parish records begin around 1820 and cover the full range of documents useful for genealogy research. Marriage records and succession filings are in the courthouse basement. Land conveyances are on the first floor. The parish also has a rich published literature on south Louisiana families that is held at the public library.

Marriage records from 1820 document unions in the parish from its earliest days. These are among the most requested documents and provide names, dates, and witness information. Land records from 1820 trace property transfers across the bayou country of Terrebonne. The conveyance records can be detailed, particularly for the plantation period, and may name enslaved individuals in antebellum documents.

The Terrebonne Parish Library on the second floor of the main branch holds a remarkable collection of published genealogy resources for south Louisiana. These include Rev. Donald Hebert's multi-volume South Louisiana Records covering 1794 to 1920, published census indexes from 1840 to 1910, three volumes of cemetery records, and an obituary index from 1885 to 2007. This library collection is free to use and provides a strong starting point before or after courthouse research. Researchers should call the library at (985) 876-5861 for current hours and access details.

Louisiana State Archives and Terrebonne Parish

The Louisiana State Archives in Baton Rouge holds historical materials that supplement the Terrebonne Parish Clerk's collection. The Archives maintains the state's vital records index and microfilm collections that include Terrebonne Parish documents.

For birth and death certificates, access is restricted by the confidentiality rules of RS 40:41: birth records are confidential for 100 years and death records for 50 years. Older vital records that have passed these thresholds are available through the Archives' online index. The Louisiana Vital Records Registry issues certified copies of modern vital records. VitalChek is the official online ordering service for these certified copies.

Note: For researchers who cannot travel to Houma, the library's genealogy collection is accessible by appointment. Contact the library at (985) 876-5861 for details on remote access or mail research assistance.

How to Request Terrebonne Parish Records

Terrebonne Parish genealogy records can be accessed in person at the courthouse or by mail. The library's genealogy collection is a separate resource that can be used independently or in combination with courthouse research.

At the courthouse, marriage records and successions are in the basement at 7856 W. Main St., and conveyances are on the first floor of the same building. Civil records are also available at 301 Goode St. Self-service copying is available and costs less than staff-assisted copies. Call (985) 868-5660 for guidance on what to bring and where to go in the courthouse.

Mail requests should be sent to the Terrebonne Parish Clerk of Court at 301 Goode St., Houma, LA 70360-4513. Include the subject's full name, record type, and a date range. Ask about copy fees before sending payment. Under RS 44:1, Louisiana's Public Records Act, most genealogy records are public and must be made available upon request.

What Terrebonne Parish Records Contain

Terrebonne Parish records from 1820 and the parish library's published genealogy collections together provide a comprehensive picture of families in south Louisiana over nearly two centuries.

Marriage records in the courthouse basement contain both spouses' names, dates, and witness names. The library's published South Louisiana Records by Rev. Donald Hebert covers baptisms, marriages, and burials from area Catholic parishes from 1794 to 1920, extending the record base back further than the courthouse collection. Land conveyances on the first floor trace property ownership by name and date, which is particularly useful in the bayou country where families often held land for multiple generations.

Succession records in the basement document estate settlements naming heirs and property descriptions. The obituary index at the library, covering 1885 to 2007, is an excellent secondary source for confirming death dates and family members mentioned in obituaries. Cemetery records in three volumes at the library provide burial information for the parish. Civil court records from the 32nd Judicial District cover a range of legal matters. Copy fees are governed by RS 44:20.

Cities in Terrebonne Parish

Terrebonne Parish is home to Houma, which qualifies as a major city for this project. Houma is the parish seat and the largest city in Terrebonne, serving as the center for both courthouse records and library genealogy resources.

Nearby Parishes

Terrebonne Parish is in the coastal south Louisiana bayou country and borders several other parishes. Researchers may need to check adjacent jurisdictions for families who moved through this area.