Death Certificate Department

The Lafayette Parish Clerk of Court office has access to Louisiana death certificates for deaths that occurred after July 9, 2012. For deaths prior to that timeframe, you may contact Louisiana Vital Records office at 504-593-5100. 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. This is a walk-in service only. The cost to receive a death certificate is $26.00 payable in cash only.

Louisiana is a closed record state, meaning that death 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 Death Certificate Application Form on the sidebar. 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 DEATH CERTIFICATE:

  • Surviving spouse of person named on the certificate (Must be listed as the Surviving Spouse on the certificate)

  • Mother or Father of person named on the certificate

  • Child of person named on the certificate

  • Brother or sister of person named on the certificate

  • Grandmother or grandfather of person named on the certificate

  • Grandchild of person named on the certificate

  • Beneficiary on an insurance policy (Must have a signed copy of the policy listing applicant as beneficiary)

  • Succession Representative (Must provide a certified Letter of Testamentary or Letter of Administration certified by the Clerk of Court).

  • Attorney – The credentials of an attorney, together with a written declaration that he is preparing a small succession pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure Article 3431 et seq for the deceased person whose death certificate is being requested or is representing one of the above entitled named parties (must be on letterhead and include bar roll number)

A non-family member may request a certified copy of a death certificate on behalf of an entitled individual with a signed letter of authorization from the entitled party. . The letter must include the name of the person who is authorized to obtain the certificate, the name of the deceased person and their date of birth and date of death. 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.

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)