Death certificates in Louisiana
In Louisiana, a certified copy of a death certificate costs $7 from the Louisiana Department of Health, Center for Vital Records and Statistics. Each copy costs the same. You can order online, by mail or in person. The funeral home can often order the first copies for you.
Last checked on the Louisiana Department of Health, Center for Vital Records and Statistics site. General information, not legal advice. Fees change, so confirm before you pay.
How to order in Louisiana
| Office | Louisiana Department of Health, Center for Vital Records and Statistics |
|---|---|
| First certified copy | $7 |
| Each extra copy, same order | $7 The state charges $7 per copy. Add a $0.50 state charge to each mail or VitalChek order. VitalChek online, phone and kiosk orders add a security fee. Participating parish Clerks of Court charge $26 per copy. |
| Who can order | Louisiana is a closed record state. The surviving spouse listed on the record, a parent, adult child, sibling, grandparent or grandchild may order. Some others may order with proof, such as a succession representative, an insurance or account beneficiary, or an attorney or notary handling a small succession. |
| ID you need | A photo ID is required, in person or as a copy with a mail order. |
| Ways to order | Online, by mail or in person. The state takes online orders only through VitalChek, a private company, which adds its own fee. By mail or in person costs only the state fee. Walk-in service at the Vital Records Central Office in New Orleans, or at participating parish Clerks of Court for deaths on or after July 7, 2012. |
| How long it takes | About 8 to 10 weeks for mail orders |
Do funeral homes order the first copies?
Often, yes. The funeral director files the death certificate with the state, so ordering copies at the same time is common. The FTC lists death certificates among the cash advance items a funeral home may buy for you and add to its bill. Ask what it charges per copy.
For more copies later, order from the office above. How many copies do you need? Our calculator counts one for each bank, insurer and agency.
Questions people ask
- How much is a death certificate in Louisiana?
- $7 for the first certified copy from the Louisiana Department of Health, Center for Vital Records and Statistics, and $7 for each extra copy ordered at the same time. The state charges $7 per copy. Add a $0.50 state charge to each mail or VitalChek order. VitalChek online, phone and kiosk orders add a security fee. Participating parish Clerks of Court charge $26 per copy.
- Who can order a death certificate in Louisiana?
- Louisiana is a closed record state. The surviving spouse listed on the record, a parent, adult child, sibling, grandparent or grandchild may order. Some others may order with proof, such as a succession representative, an insurance or account beneficiary, or an attorney or notary handling a small succession.
- How do I order a death certificate in Louisiana?
- You can order online, by mail or in person. Online orders go through VitalChek, a private company the state uses, which adds its own fee. A photo ID is required, in person or as a copy with a mail order.
Sources
- Louisiana Department of Health, Center for Vital Records and Statistics: ldh.la.gov/page/how-to-order-death-records
- Louisiana Department of Health, Center for Vital Records and Statistics: ldh.la.gov/page/691
- CDC/NCHS: Funeral Directors' Handbook on Death Registration and Fetal Death Reporting, 2019
- FTC: Complying with the Funeral Rule (cash advance items)