Birth Certificate Department

The Lafayette Parish Clerk of Court office has access to Louisiana birth certificates only. Birth Certificates are issued from 8:30 am – 3:30 pm, Monday through Friday except for legal holidays, at the Lafayette Parish Courthouse located at 800 South Buchanan Street, Lafayette, La 70501. We can retrieve birth certificates from approximately 1930 until near current date. This is a walk-in service only. The cost to receive a birth certificate is $34.00. The cost to receive a birth certificate and a birth card is $48.00. A birth card cannot be purchased by itself as per LA R.S. 40:39.1. The fees are payable in cash only.

ATTENTION:

Louisiana is a closed record state, meaning that birth certificates are not public record. Please read the entitlement and identification requirements listed below. For your convenience and to make this process as efficient as possible, you will find a link to our Birth Certificate Application Form. Please bring in the completed application, proper identification and fees to our office. We cannot process the certificate until you come in to our office to complete the application process and present your proper identification and fees.

WHO IS ENTITLED TO PURCHASE A CERTIFIED COPY OF A BIRTH CERTIFICATE:

  • Person named on the certificate

  • Current legal spouse of person named on the certificate

  • Child of person named on the certificate

  • Brother or sister of person named on the certificate

  • Mother or Father of person named on the certificate

  • Grandchild of person named on the certificate

  • Legal guardian of person named on the certificate
    Legal guardian must provide a     Judgment of Custody. Custody by mandate or provisional custody from a notary will not be accepted. Transfer of custody witnessed by a notary will not be accepted.

A non-family member may request a certified copy of a birth certificate on behalf of an entitled individual with a signed letter of authorization from the entitled party. The letter must include name of the party authorized to obtain the certificate, the person named on the certificate and their date of birth. A copy of the valid state drivers' license or state ID for the entitled individual is required. A copy of this authorization letter can be found on the sidebar.

Attorney Entitlement – An attorney representing the person named on the certificate or representing any of the legally entitled individuals listed above is entitled to purchase a birth certificate with a letter of representation on original letterhead. Attorney's bar roll number is required on the application.

Attorney's paralegal or runner may purchase a birth certificate with a letter on original letterhead stating the case docket number, attorney's bar roll number, and the name of the person to whom the document is to be released.

LSA R.S. 40:61 a fine of not more than ten thousand dollars or imprisonment of not more than five years or both shall be imposed on any person who willfully and knowingly makes any false statement on any application for a certified copy of a vital record.

IDENTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

Applicants must produce one primary document or two secondary documents from the lists below.

  1. Primary documents – Any one of these:

    • Current state issued driver's license that displays a photograph which clearly identifies the applicant

    • Current state issued picture identification that displays a photograph which clearly identifies the applicant

    • Current U.S. military identification card that displays a photograph which clearly identifies the applicant

    • Current U.S. issued or Foreign issued passport

    • U.S. Certificate of Naturalization (Form N–550, N–570 or N–578)

    • U.S. Certificate of Citizenship (Form N–560 or N–578)

    • High School Students – a current school yearbook or a current school identification document with a photograph which clearly identifies the applicant

  2. Secondary documents – Any two of these:

    • Current student picture identification card from a college or university when accompanied by a 100% fee paid receipt for the current semester (Counts as two documents)

    • A W–2 form issued within the last two years plus an original signed Social Security Card. The Social Security numbers must match (Counts as two documents)

    • Original adoption papers

    • Official certified deeds or title to property

    • Certificate of vehicle title

    • Insurance policy must show the name of the applicant (Health, Home, Life or Auto)

    • Payroll Stub (cannot be handwritten) showing the name and social security number of the applicant

    • Current U.S. military dependent identification card that displays a photograph which clearly identifies the applicant

    • Original DD–214 military discharge document which clearly identifies the applicant

    • Voter's Registration application (certified true copy)