Louisiana Vital Records

Orleans Parish began keeping birth records in 1790 and deaths records in 1804. Copies are available at the Office of Public Health (see address below). Microfilmed copies of the death records from 1804 to 1914 are also available at the New Orleans Public Library where they can only be used in person (the public library cannot provide photocopies).

The FamilySearch Library has an extensive collection of Orleans Parish Vital Records including Orleans Parish death records for 1815 to 1915 and an index from 1804 to 1916. The library also has copies of coroner's inquests from 1844 to 1916 and New Orleans Charity Hospital records of deaths from 1835 to 1904 and admission records from 1829 to 1899.

A few other parishes also began keeping vital records in the late 1800s. These records can be obtained by contacting the parish clerk of court. The FamilySearch Catalog has copies of a few pre-1914 birth and death records of some parishes. For example, from Lafourche Parish Vital Records, the library has the register of births and deaths for 1818 to 1895 and a register of births from 1810 to 1875. Jefferson Parish death records are also in the Jefferson Parish Vital Records as follows: 1850-1875 ^[1]1905-1916 ^[2]

Do a place-name search of the FamilySearch Catalog to locate records for a particular parish. See the Wiki page FamilySearch Catalog Place-name Search for help with how to do this search. Once you have located the parish, search for the topic "vital records."

State Records of Births and Deaths

Statewide registration of births and deaths began in 1911. Delayed registration of births for the years 1939 to the present are also available. To obtain copies of state vital records write to:

Vital Records Registry
Office of Public Health
P.O. Box 60630
New Orleans, LA 70160
Telephone: 504-568-5152

State Registrar/Vital Records

These records are not open for public searches. Copies can be obtained only by an individual named in the record or a relative.

Louisiana Parish Code Numbers
1 Acadia	22 Grant	43 Sabine
2 Allen	23 Iberia	44 St. Bernard
3 Ascension	24 Iberville	45 St. Charles
4 Assumption	25 Jackson	46 St. Helena
5 Avoyelles	26 Jefferson	47 St. James
6 Beauregard	27 Jefferson Davis	48 St. John the Baptist
7 Bienville	28 Lafayette	49 St. Landry
8 Bossier	29 Lafourche	50 St. Martin
9 Caddo	30 LaSalle	51 St. Mary
10 Calcasieu	31 Lincoln	52 St. Tammany
11 Caldwell	32 Livingston	53 Tangipahoa
12 Cameron	33 Madison	54 Tensas
13 Catahoula	34 Morehouse	55 Terrebonne
14 Claiborne	35 Natchitoches	56 Union
15 Concordia	36 Orleans	57 Vermillion
16 DeSoto	37 Ouachita	58 Vernon
17 East Baton Rouge	38 Plaquemines	59 Washington
18 East Carroll	39 Pointe Coupee	60 Webster
19 East Feliciana	40 Rapides	61 West Baton Rouge
20 Evangeline	41 Red River	62 West Carroll
21 Franklin	42 Richland	63 West Feliciana
		64 Winn

Adoption Records

open / closed/ state statues

Marriage Records

There is a partial index to registration of marriages 1837-1957 found at FamilySearch. As they are indexed, more records are being added to this collection.

Marriage

Marriages were recorded by each parish. The original parish records are at the offices of the clerks of the court in each parish, except for Orleans Parish, where the records are at the Office of Public Health.

The FamilySearch Library has an extensive collection of Louisiana marriage records. For example, for Orleans Parish the library has 86 microfilm rolls of marriage licenses and certificates from 1834 to 1888. Another set of Orleans Parish records includes 185 film rolls of marriage licenses from 1870 to 1915. The library has similar records for most parishes.

Many colonial marriages are referenced in the judicial records of the French Superior Council and the Spanish Cabildo (originals at the Louisiana Historical Center of the Louisiana State Museum). Many marriage contracts appear in the registers of the royal notaries; for Orleans Parish, these are maintained at the Notarial Archives; for other colonial parishes they may be held by the parish clerk of court or by the state archives. Microfilm copies of most of these records are at the FamilySearch Library. Note, however, that a marriage contract is not a record of a marriage. In colonial Louisiana, marriages were a function of the church. A marriage contract was a civil contract in which couples stated an intent to marry and agreed upon the financial terms that would govern both the marriage and the eventual distribution of their community of goods at the time one or both died. Most contracting couples did proceed to marry; but some did not.

Many colonial marriage records have also been published in the sources listed below. These sources also provide descriptions of some of the unique marriage customs practiced during the French and Spanish colonial periods.

Marriage Dispensations in the Diocese of Louisiana and the Floridas, 1786-1803. ^[3]

Louisiana Marriage Contracts: A Compilation of Abstracts From Records of the Superior Council of Louisiana During the French Regime, 1725-1769 ^[4]

Natchitoches, 1729-1803: Abstracts of the Catholic Church Registers of the French and Spanish Post of St. Jean Baptiste des Natchitoches in Louisiana ^[5]

Natchitoches, 1800-1826: Translated Abstracts of Register Number Five of the Catholic Church Parish of St. François des Natchitoches in Louisiana ^[6]

Natchitoches Church Marriages, 1818-1850: Translated Abstracts from the Registers of St. François des Natchitoches, Louisiana ^[7]

The New Orleans French, 1720-1733: A Collection of Marriage Records Relating to the First Colonists of the Louisiana Province ^[8]

Stalkin' Kin In Old West Texas ^[9]

Divorce Records

The Louisiana Legislature granted divorces from 1805 to 1846. These records are currently found in printed copies of the Legislative Calendar and Official Journal. These volumes are available at most of the university libraries and larger public libraries in Louisiana. A few records after 1846 are also included.

In 1827 the district courts in the Louisiana parishes and the parish court of Orleans Parish were given jurisdiction over divorce cases. To locate parish divorce records, contact the clerk of the court in each parish. The New Orleans Public Library has some clerk of court records for many parishes.

The FamilySearch Library has divorce records for some Louisiana parishes. For example, the library has divorce records from Orleans Parish from 1813 to 1924. Divorce records in the FamilySearch Library Center are listed under LOUISIANA, [COUNTY], - COURT, PUBLIC, or VITAL RECORDS.

Death Records

On microfilm, the FamilySearch Library has state death certificates 1900-1954 ^[10]Deaths before 1904 are limited. The index for these records lists a parish code number, volume and certificate number. The films are organized by year, parish name, and volume number. The parish code numbers are effective for entire time period the index covers. Death certificates can be accessed by year, then volume number or parish name, and then certificate number. Use the chart above to match the appropriate parish code and name.

Cause of Death

Causes of Death - use this resource when trying to interpret a disease or medical condition listed on a death record or certificate

Burned, Lost and Missing Records

Claiborne Parish courthouse burned 1849.

Substitute Records

Tips

Information listed on vital records is given by an informant. Learn the relationship of the informant to the subject(s) of the record. The closer the relationship of the informant to the subject(s) and whether or not the informant was present at the time of the event can help determine the accuracy of the information on the record.
If you are unable to locate vital records recorded by govenments, search for church records of christening, marriage, death or burial. A family Bible may have been used to record births, marriages and deaths.
Records for African American may be recorded in separate files with separate indexes.
Privacy laws may restrict your access to some vital records. Copies of some vital records recorded in the last 100 years may be uanavailable to anyone except a direct relative.
If the survival of a baby was questioned, the birth may not have been recorded.
Search for Vital Records in the FamilySearch Catalog by using a Place Search and then choosing Vital Records. Search for Louisiana to locate records filed by the State and then search the name of the county to locate records kept by the county.

Archives, Libraries and Societies

Louisiana Archives and Libraries
Louisiana Societies

Additional Sources

Louisiana Vital Records are available at Vital Records Office

Louisiana Death Records & Indexes (deathindexes.com)

You can search for deaths that occurred over 50 years ago in the Louisiana Death Records Database and order certified copies which are mailed to you for $5.00 USD.
You can search for births in Orleans parish that occurred over 100 years ago and order a certified copy which is mailed to you for $5.00 USD.
You can also search for marriages in Orleans parish that occurred over 50 years ago and order certified copies of marriage licenses. They are delivered by mail for $5.00 USD.

Records of birth, baptism, marriage, death, burial, and probate have been transcribed and published in the following series. Many of the names of the individuals in these publications are listed in the Family History Catalog or some of these records may be indexed and searchable on FamilySearch.org.

South Louisiana Records ^[11]This includes records of 1794 to 1905.

Southwest Louisiana Records: Church and Civil Records ^[12]This includes records from 1756 to 1908.

Church records in Louisiana are often an excellent source of vital information, especially the Roman Catholic Church records (which often include marriage records of Protestants). See the “Church Records” page for more information.

For further information on the history and availability of records, refer to Guide to Public Vital Statistics Records in Louisiana ^[13]

References

↑ Louisiana death records/certificates, ca. 1850-1875, 1894-1954; indexes, 1900-1954FS Library Film 1575613 Items 1 - 3;
↑ FamilySearch Library FS Library Film 2322973;and 1916-1921 FamilySearch Library FS Library Film 2322974 Items 1 - 2.
↑ Bourguard, Shirley Chaisson. Marriage Dispensations in the Diocese of Louisiana and the Floridas, 1786-1803. New Orleans, Louisiana: Polyanthos, 1980. FS Library Book 973 A1 no. 323
↑ Forsyth, Alice Daly. Louisiana Marriage Contracts: A Compilation of Abstracts From Records of the Superior Council of Louisiana During the French Regime, 1725-1769 2 vols. New Orleans, Louisiana: Polyanthos, 1980. FS Catalog book 976.3 V2f.
↑ Mills, Elizabeth Shown. Natchitoches, 1729-1803: Abstracts of the Catholic Church Registers of the French and Spanish Post of St. Jean Baptiste des Natchitoches in Louisiana. New Orleans: Polyanthos, 1977. FS Library Book 976.365 V26
↑ Mills, Elizabeth Shown. Natchitoches, 1800-1826: Translated Abstracts of Register Number Five of the Catholic Church Parish of St. François des Natchitoches in Louisiana. New Orleans: Polyanthos, 1980. FS Library Book 976.365 K2
↑ Mills, Elizabeth Shown. Natchitoches Church Marriages, 1818-1850: Translated Abstracts from the Registers of St. François des Natchitoches, Louisiana. Tusacaloosa, Alabama: Mills Historical Press, 1985. FS Library Book 976.365 K2
↑ DeVille, Winston. The New Orleans French, 1720-1733: A Collection of Marriage Records Relating to the First Colonists of the Louisiana Province. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1973. FS Library Book 976.3 V25d.
↑ From: Stalkin' Kin In Old West Texas, Vol XVI, No. 2.(San Angelo Genealogical and Historical Society, Inc. Aug 1988)
↑ 661 rolls of film beginning with FamilySearch Library FS Library Film 1575614.
↑ Hebert, Donald J. South Louisiana Records. 12 vols. Cecilia, La.: D.J. Hebert, 1978-1985. (FS Library book FS Library Fiche 6010588; FS Library Book 976.3 K2he, vols. 1-12.)
↑ Hebert, Donald J. Southwest Louisiana Records: Church and Civil Records. 40 vols. Eunice, Louisiana.: D.J. Hebert, 1974-1985.FS Library Fiche 6010598, FS Library Book 976.35 V2h; vols. 1-34.
↑ Guide to Public Vital Statistics Records in Louisiana (New Orleans, Louisiana: Historical Records Survey, 1942) FS Library Film 1036701 item 7, Fiche 6046989, Book 976.3 V2h.

[1] Louisiana death records/certificates, ca. 1850-1875, 1894-1954; indexes, 1900-1954FS Library Film 1575613 Items 1 - 3;

[2] FamilySearch Library FS Library Film 2322973;and 1916-1921 FamilySearch Library FS Library Film 2322974 Items 1 - 2.

[3] Bourguard, Shirley Chaisson. Marriage Dispensations in the Diocese of Louisiana and the Floridas, 1786-1803. New Orleans, Louisiana: Polyanthos, 1980. FS Library Book 973 A1 no. 323

[4] Forsyth, Alice Daly. Louisiana Marriage Contracts: A Compilation of Abstracts From Records of the Superior Council of Louisiana During the French Regime, 1725-1769 2 vols. New Orleans, Louisiana: Polyanthos, 1980. FS Catalog book 976.3 V2f.

[5] Mills, Elizabeth Shown. Natchitoches, 1729-1803: Abstracts of the Catholic Church Registers of the French and Spanish Post of St. Jean Baptiste des Natchitoches in Louisiana. New Orleans: Polyanthos, 1977. FS Library Book 976.365 V26

[6] Mills, Elizabeth Shown. Natchitoches, 1800-1826: Translated Abstracts of Register Number Five of the Catholic Church Parish of St. François des Natchitoches in Louisiana. New Orleans: Polyanthos, 1980. FS Library Book 976.365 K2

[7] Mills, Elizabeth Shown. Natchitoches Church Marriages, 1818-1850: Translated Abstracts from the Registers of St. François des Natchitoches, Louisiana. Tusacaloosa, Alabama: Mills Historical Press, 1985. FS Library Book 976.365 K2

[8] DeVille, Winston. The New Orleans French, 1720-1733: A Collection of Marriage Records Relating to the First Colonists of the Louisiana Province. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1973. FS Library Book 976.3 V25d.

[9] From: Stalkin' Kin In Old West Texas, Vol XVI, No. 2.(San Angelo Genealogical and Historical Society, Inc. Aug 1988)

[10] 661 rolls of film beginning with FamilySearch Library FS Library Film 1575614.

[11] Hebert, Donald J. South Louisiana Records. 12 vols. Cecilia, La.: D.J. Hebert, 1978-1985. (FS Library book FS Library Fiche 6010588; FS Library Book 976.3 K2he, vols. 1-12.)

[12] Hebert, Donald J. Southwest Louisiana Records: Church and Civil Records. 40 vols. Eunice, Louisiana.: D.J. Hebert, 1974-1985.FS Library Fiche 6010598, FS Library Book 976.35 V2h; vols. 1-34.

[13] Guide to Public Vital Statistics Records in Louisiana (New Orleans, Louisiana: Historical Records Survey, 1942) FS Library Film 1036701 item 7, Fiche 6046989, Book 976.3 V2h.

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Louisiana Vital Records

Online Louisiana Birth, Marriage and Death Records

Births

Marriages

Deaths

City & County Databases

Divorce

Order Original Records

Birth Records

Parish Records

Early Parish Records of Births and Deaths