Louisiana Death Records Available Online

The Louisiana Death Records index is now available online from 1911-1957. The index lists death certificates more than 50 years old. Unfortunately, the entire image of the death certificate is not available for viewing or printing.

However, you can search the index for a family member and then order the certificate by mail for $5.49 or you can go to the Research Library in Baton Rouge and print the a microfilm copy of the death certificate for 50 cents.

Below is an example of a search I did on my Brittentine line.

Results
Year Age Month Day Name Parish
1932 17 11 18 BRITTENTINE , BEATRICE Caddo
Order Page: 12159 Volume: 31
1946 56 5 23 BRITTENTINE , ERNEST Caddo
Order Page: 401 Volume: 5
1920 19 8 6 BRITTENTINE , JUDY Caddo
Order Page: 8428 Volume: 18
1927 28 9 3 BRITTENTINE , LILLIAN Bossier
Order Page: 10404 Volume: 23
1926 7 MO 4 1 BRITTENTINE , NORA LEE Bossier
Order Page: 10655 Volume: 25
1943 45 6 13 BRITTENTINE , SALLIE Bossier
Order Page: 699 Volume: 508

You can assess the new site at http://www.sos.louisiana.gov/tabid/640/Default.aspx. or click the link on the bottom right of this page labeled "Louisiana Death Certificate (Orders).

Be forewarned that there are a few glitches on the new site. The PDF order form will not come up if your pop-up blocker is on. If this happens, I would recommend that you just print screen the index page your subject appears on, highlight it and send your request with your fee to:

STATE OF LOUISIANA
SECRETARY OF STATE
P.O. BOX 94125
BATON ROUGE, LA 70804-9125
(225) 922-1000
www.sos.louisiana.gov


Ancestry.com also has a Louisiana Death Index for the same period. Once you find the name, you can print the page and send with your $5.00 fee. However, Ancestry.com is a paid site but you can use it for free at your Public Library. I have ordered certificates from Louisiana before and they are fairly prompt.

Because Louisiana is a "closed record" state, meaning birth and death certificates less than 50 years old are not public records, all these requests must include proper identification. In addition, you can only obtain a certified copy of a death certificate if you are the surviving spouse of the person named on the document, parent of the person named on the document, adult child of the person named on the document, sibling of the person named on the document, grandparent of the person named on the document, adult grandchild of the person named on the document, or the beneficiary of an insurance policy of the person named on the document. You can order these at:

Vital Records Registry, P.O. Box 60630, New Orleans, LA 70160; Phone (504)568-5152 or visit their web site at www.dhh.state.la.us for more information.

Good luck with your Louisiana Death cerificate research.