Louisiana Birth Records

Are Birth Records Public in Louisiana

Unlike Louisiana death records which become public after 50 years, birth records are usually confidential until 100 years after the birth occurred. Hence, public birth records only become available after 100 years. Birth records in Louisiana are only open to the record holder, individuals listed on the document (like a spouse, sibling, grandparents, or grandchildren), and legal representatives. Louisiana birth certificate application can be made at the Louisiana Vital Records Registry online (through a third-party online vendor who offers expedited service), by mail, or in person. Note that walk-in services are possible at the State Vital Records Office.

What are Birth Records in Louisiana?

A Louisiana birth record refers to the official documentation of vital information about an individual's birth and that the birth occurred in Louisiana. It serves as proof of citizenship of Louisiana and the United States.

Documentation of births has a wide array of individual and societal benefits, including the identification and facilitation of legal entitlements, citizenship, and voting rights, social security benefits, social inclusion, access to health and education services, and proof of age. It also aids the Louisiana Bureau of Vital Statistics to be able to collect data and make reports on births that occur in the state. For instance, the Louisiana Bureau of Vital statistics report revealed that about 61,163 births occurred in the state in 2017. For more information on the statistics of other vital events (like divorce records and marriage records) in Louisiana, visit the Bureau of Vital Statistics' official website. Individuals can also review how to obtain birth, marriage, and death certificates online, by mail, or in person from the website.

Louisiana issues two forms of birth certificates: short-form birth certificates and long-form birth certificates. Short-form Louisiana birth certificates, also known as birth cards, include birth-related information such as:

• Name at birth
• Date of birth
• Parish of birth
• Father's initials
• Mother's last name and first initial
• File date
• Issue date

Long-form Louisiana birth certificates contain the following data:

• Name at birth
• Date of birth
• Parish of birth
• Hospital of birth
• Mother's residence at the time of birth
• Mother and father's full names
• Parent's place of birth
• Age of parents at the time of birth
• File date
• Issue date

Birth certificates issued in Louisiana have a raised seal and are legally certified copies of birth records. However, birth cards may not be accepted for certain purposes. Most Louisiana births are filed electronically using the Louisiana Birth registry online tool and are available for issuance once the physician electronically certified the birth record.

The Louisiana Department of Health Bureau of Vital Records and Statistics is the official government organization that maintains records of vital events that occurs in the state. Records seekers can obtain birth records, death records, marriage records, and divorce records from their official website. For instance, only individuals who got married in Orleans Parish can obtain Louisiana marriage certificates from the vital records office. While an eligible individual can get a birth or death certificate online, by mail, or in person at the same office.

Where to Find Public Birth Records in Louisiana

Louisiana public birth records are available at the Louisiana State Archives office. This is the official government organization that maintains birth records from 1819 to 1920. Record seekers can request Louisiana public birth records online, by mail, or in person. Certified copies of birth certificates cost $10 per copy, and non-certified copies cost $5 per copy. There are two ways to conduct searches using the online Louisiana birth index:

• Basic search: Record seekers would have to search for records by the child’s name, father’s name, or mother’s maiden name.
• Advanced search: Record seekers are expected to search by the last name, first/middle name, mother’s last name, mother’s first/middle name, father’s last name, father’s first/middle name, parish, month, date, or year.

The online Louisiana birth index tool automatically conducts a search when appropriate information is typed into any of the search boxes. The search will reveal a list of everyone on record bearing such information. For instance, if the name John is typed in the basic search box or the last name field in the advanced search box, the birth records of everyone with the name John will appear.

How to Find and Request Birth Records Online in Louisiana?

Louisiana is a closed record state; hence, the state makes no provisions for requesters to look up birth records online. Only eligible persons or authorized individuals can obtain birth records online through Louisiana's partnership with an independent company. The company allows requesters to place orders online for birth records in a convenient way. Using any of the major credit card companies, requests can be placed from almost any kind of device that can connect to the internet. Online requests typically cost $15 per copy and $12.95 for the processing fee, but additional fees apply for expedited service.

Considered open to citizens of the United States, public records are available through both traditional, government sources, and through third-party websites and organizations. In many cases, third-party websites make the search easier as they are not limited geographically or by technological limitations. They are considered a good place to start when looking for a specific record or multiple records. In order to gain access to these records, interested parties must typically provide:

• The name of the person listed in the record. Juveniles are typically exempt from this search method.
• The last known or assumed location of the person listed in the record. This includes cities, counties, and states.

While third-party sites offer such services, they are not government-sponsored entities, and record availability may vary on these sites when compared to government sources.

How to Get Birth Records in Louisiana?

Louisiana birth records are available to qualified persons by mail or in-person at various locations in the state. However, a requester must pay the proper fee and present acceptable identification before a certified copy of the record can be obtained. Louisiana birth certificate application must include one supporting documentation from the primary list of acceptable ID, or two documents from the secondary list of acceptable identification.

The documents listed on the primary list are:

• Current state-issued driver's license that displays a photograph that clearly identifies the applicant.
• Current state-issued picture ID that displays a photograph that clearly identifies the applicant.
• Current U.S. military ID that displays a photograph that 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)
• Students (high school or younger) a current school yearbook or a current school ID with a photograph that clearly identifies the applicant.
  The documents listed on the secondary list are:
• A current student picture ID 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 a property
• Certificate of vehicle title
• Insurance policy which shows 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 ID that displays a photograph that clearly identifies the applicant
• Original DD-214 Military Discharge document which clearly identifies the applicant
• Voter's Registration application (certified true copy)

Requesters who need to obtain a birth certificate with an apostille must contact the Louisiana Secretary of State. Apostille copies of birth records are required for foreign use especially in situations such as when an individual:

• Is transferred by an employer to a foreign country
• Wants to marry in a foreign country
• Adopts a child in a foreign country
• Applies for dual citizenship in a foreign country

An apostille consists of a certified copy of a birth certificate signed by the State Registrar along with an additional certification signed by the Louisiana Secretary of State (SOS). To obtain an apostille:

• Make a written request for the apostille or provide a certificate stating the country to which the document will be sent. Include a daytime telephone number where the requester may be contacted. An Authentication Request Form is available on the Louisiana Secretary of State official website.
• Include a copy of the certified birth record obtained from the Louisiana Vital Records Registry.
• Provide a prepaid mailing envelope or a completed return label with the requester's account number for the Louisiana SOS to return the certified documents by courier service. The return label must not list the Secretary of State or address.
• Enclose the appropriate fee

For mail request placed using FedEx, UPS, DHL, send to:

Louisiana Secretary of State
Commissions Division
8585 Archives Ave.
Baton Rouge, LA 70809

For regular mail, use the following address:

Louisiana Secretary of State
Commissions Division
P.O. Box 94125
Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9125

For additional information on obtaining an apostille from the Louisiana SOS, call (225) 922-0330.

How to Get Louisiana Birth Records in Person?

To obtain a Louisiana birth record in person, visit the Vital Records Central Office at the Louisiana Department of Health located at:

1450 Poydras Street
Suite 400
New Orleans, LA 70112

A requester will need to complete the Application for Certified Copy of Birth/Death Certificate Form and present acceptable photo identification to be able to conduct a Louisiana birth certificate application in person. The required fee must also be paid before a certified copy of a birth record can be issued. The Vital Records Central Office provides walk-in services between 8:00 A.M. and 3:30 P.M (excluding holidays), but requesters would have to first order birth records via a third-party online vendor. They must choose the "Will Call" option for delivery, and an email will be sent once the certificate is ready for pick up.

Some Clerks of Courts in Louisiana issue certified copies of birth records at several locations around the state. Requesters can find the list of participating Louisiana Clerks of Court on the state's Department of Health website. Both long and short-form birth certificates are available at these locations. An additional fee may be charged by the Clerk of Court for this service.

Louisiana also provides Vital Records Kiosks through which eligible persons may order birth records. Kiosk orders require applicants to complete an identity authentication screening. Once a birth record order is placed in a kiosk service location, the order is shipped via USPS or expedited shipping. The order may also be made available for pickup at the Vital Records Central Office. Note that shipping costs and a security fee apply for kiosk orders. Kiosk service locations around Louisiana operate from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. except for state holidays.

How to Get Louisiana Birth Records by Mail?

To obtain a Louisiana birth record by mail, enclose the completed Application for Certified Copy of Birth/Death Certificate Form along with photo identification and appropriate fee to:

Vital Records Registry
P.O. Box 60630
New Orleans, LA 70160

Where Can I Find Birth Records in Louisiana?

Louisiana birth records are maintained by the Louisiana Vital Records Office, a division of the state's Department of Health. Certain Clerks of Court in the state are also authorized to issue birth records to eligible requesters. Louisiana makes birth records available at several Vital Record Kiosk locations around the state. Louisiana public birth records older than 100 years can be found at the Louisiana State Archive.

How to Get Birth Records From a Hospital in Louisiana?

Certified copies of birth records cannot be obtained from Louisiana hospitals. However, a complimentary certified copy is provided to the birth parents, free of charge, once the birth record has been registered. Birthparents who have not yet received their child's complimentary birth certificate within four months from the date of their child's birth may call the Louisiana Vital Records Central Office at (504) 593-5100.

Can Anyone Get a Copy of a Birth Certificate in Louisiana?

Birth records are not public records in Louisiana. Therefore, only eligible persons can order a birth certificate. Note that all requests for birth records must include proper identification, appropriate fees, and a completed application.

The following categories of persons can order a birth record in Louisiana:

• The person named on the document
• The current spouse of the person named on the document
• Mother or father of the person named on the document
• An adult child of the person named on the document
• Sister/brother of the person named on the document
• Grandmother or grandfather of the person named on the document
• A grandchild of the person named on the document
• A legal representative or attorney representing one of the above with a signed contract of representation or authorization.

Any other persons not listed above who seek to obtain a birth record of a child must present a judgment of custody of the child. Provisional custody mandates or notarized custody papers are not acceptable.

Anyone who willfully and knowingly obtains a birth record under a false pretense is subject upon conviction to a fine of not more than $10,000 or imprisonment of not more than five years, or both.

How Much Does a Birth Certificate Cost in Louisiana?

A long-form birth certificate costs $15 while a birth certificate (long-form) ordered with the short-form as a pair costs $24 per pair. A Clerk of Court issued long-form birth certificate costs $34 per copy. There is a $0.50 state charge added to each mail-in or online order. The authorized independent company providing online birth record service in Louisiana also charges an additional fee for online orders. In-person requesters can make payments by cash, check, money order, and credit or debit cards. Orders placed at the kiosk service locations attract extra fees in security fees and shipping costs. Mail orders can be paid by check or money orders. For mail-order payments, make the check and money order payable to the "Louisiana Vital Records".

Louisiana Birth Records fees are set by statute and are subject to change during any legislative session. The fees are not subject to waiver.

How Long Does It Take to Get a Birth Certificate in Louisiana?

An in-person order is typically completed on the same day of request. Mail orders take about 8-10 weeks to deliver. Requesters usually receive responses to online orders within 3-5 business days.

How to Get a New Birth Certificate in Louisiana

The Louisiana Vital Records is responsible for issuing new birth certificates after an adoption has been finalized and when amendments need to be made to an original birth certificate. This is how to get a new birth certificate in the case of:

• Adoption: The court that legalized the adoption will send a certified Adoption Report form (OCS Form 61) to the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). Then a new birth certificate will be prepared with the child's new name and the new parents' name. The adoptive parents must put their signature on the new birth certificate. DCFS will submit the new birth certificate and the certified Adoption Report to the Louisiana Bureau of Vital Records and Statistics for the new birth certificate to be processed. When the new birth certificate is completed, the original copy is sealed with other supporting documentation like court order and adoption report. This is because Louisiana adoption records are confidential and sealed.
• Amendment of birth records: Individuals who want to make minor changes to their birth records can request new birth certificates by submitting an amendment request online or by mail. Mail requesters must submit an Application to Amend Certificate of Birth form to the Louisiana Vital Records Registry. Record holders requesting their own certificate must submit the application form alongside supporting documentation like a valid government ID, the incorrect birth certificate, and a fee of $27.50. Likewise, parents requesting a correction to their children’s birth certificate must submit the application form, a valid government-issued photo ID, the child’s incorrect birth certificate, and the necessary fee.

Can You Find Lousiana Birth Certificates Online?

Yes. Records seekers can process Louisiana birth certificates through a third-party online vendor authorized by the Louisiana Bureau of Vital Records and Statistics. This search costs $15 per copy and $12.95 for the processing fee. Individuals requesting expedited service should be ready to pay additional fees. Individuals must provide the following information to be able to conduct a search using the online tool:

• Whose birth certificate are they ordering
• The full name of the subject
• State and city of birth
• Date of birth
• What the birth certificate will be used for

Individuals can also use the third-party online tool to search for the records of other vital events (death records, divorce records, and marriage records) in the state. For instance, individuals who got married in Orleans Parish can request for Louisiana marriage certificate online using a third-party online tool. Note that couples who get married outside Orleans Parish cannot obtain their Lousina marriage certificate using this tool. They would have to visit the Clerk of Court in the parish the marriage occured.

Alternatively, record seekers can use the Louisiana State Archives’ search tool to find birth certificates of births between 1819 and 1920 and those in Orleans parish in 1790.

How to Expunge Your Birth Records in Louisiana?

Expungement describes the deletion of parts or all of a record. Louisiana does not make provisions for the deletion of the details contained in birth records.

How to Seal Your Birth Records in Louisiana?

Upon the completion of the adoption proceeding in a Louisiana court, the court seals the Louisiana adoption records including the original birth certificate along with other evidentiary documents. Hence, adoptive parents need not submit a petition to seal Louisiana adoption records. The Vital Records Office of the Louisiana Department of Health is then tasked with completing the process for a new birth certificate. The sealed birth certificate cannot be unsealed unless a court order is obtained from a court of competent jurisdiction. The amended birth certificate will be issued to the adoptive parents and is a legal document that can be used for identity and other legal purposes.

How to Unseal Your Birth Records in Louisiana?

Adult adoptees in Louisiana cannot access their original birth certificates except by obtaining a court order from a court of competent jurisdiction. The court will require an adult adoptee to demonstrate "compelling reasons" before an order may be given to obtain the certificate. Other than the adult adoptee, an original birth certificate can only be obtained by:

• The descendants of the adoptee if the adoptee is deceased
• Adoptive parents
• The State Registrar
• Recognized public or private social agency that was a party to the adoption

“Compelling reasons" are often based on inheritance rights, medical necessity, or other requirements of state or federal law. The court may appoint a curator to review the record to determine whether it needs to be unsealed. When unsealed, Louisiana law requires that the original birth record only shows as little identifying information about the biological family as possible. Curators help in satisfying the requirement that information is revealed only to the extent necessary to satisfy the compelling reasons shown.

Who Signs Birth and Death Certificates in Louisiana?

Per Louisiana Revised Statutes §40:45, birth certificates of births that occur in or en route to a hospital are usually signed by the physician or anybody around during the birth. If the physician or anybody present at the birth can not sign the birth certificate, the person in charge of the hospital can do it. Birth certificates of children born outside the hospital are signed by the physician, midwife, or any other person present when the birth occured. If any of these people are not available, then any of the parents can sign it. The local registrar at the Louisiana birth registry will sign the birth certificate if any parents cannot. Individuals can request birth certificates from the Lousiana Vital Records Office online, in-person, or by mail. Note that the Office offers walk-in services.

Per Louisiana Revised Statutes §40:49, if death occured with medical attendance, the deceased person’s death certificate will be signed within 24 hours by the last physician that attended to the person. If the death occured without medical attendance, the local registrar would be notified, who will then refer the case to the coroner or medical examiner for investigation and certification. Upon determining the cause of death, the coroner will sign the death certificate within 48 hours after taking charge of the case. When death is registered in Louisiana, individuals can obtain the deceased person’s death certificate online, by mail, or in person at the Lousiana Vital Records Office. Note that the vital records office does not offer death certificates directly, they do it through a third-party online vendor.

What is a Louisiana Birth Index?

The Louisiana birth index is a database that contains information regarding the births that occur in the state. Lousiana birth index includes the name, sex, date of birth, mother's maiden name, and county of birth. For instance, the Louisiana State Archives has a Birth Records Index Database where record seekers can search for information regarding births that occurred between 1819 and 1920.