In Louisiana, certified death certificates are issued by Center for Vital Records and Statistics (Vital Records Registry), Louisiana Department of Health. The state fee is $7 for the first certified copy and the same for each additional copy.
Here is who can order a certified copy, how to order it, and how long it takes, taken from the office’s own pages. Fees and times change, so check the office’s page before you pay.
How much a death certificate costs in Louisiana
| Item | State fee |
|---|---|
| First certified copy | $7 |
| Each additional copy | $7 |
$7 per copy (LSA-R.S. 40:40). Add a $0.50 state charge to each mail or VitalChek order; VitalChek internet/phone/kiosk orders also carry a security fee. Clerk of Court-issued death certificates cost $26 per copy.
Who can order a certified copy
Surviving spouse (must be listed as such on the certificate); parent, adult child, sibling, grandparent or grandchild; a person named in a court proceeding as immediate/surviving family; beneficiaries of an insurance policy, trust, retirement plan or payable-on-death account; a universal/general legatee; a succession representative; an attorney or notary handling a small succession; a bail-bond surety agent; or a federally insured financial institution (documentation required for most).
How to order
- Online (official vendor: VitalChek)
- In person
- County/local office
Participating Clerks of Court issue certified death certificates for deaths on or after July 7, 2012 ($26).
How long it takes
LDH: for mail requests, "allow approximately 8-10 weeks for delivery.".
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The funeral home’s role
The office’s pages do not describe the funeral home’s role. Many families ask the funeral director to order the first copies when arrangements are made.
Louisiana is a closed-record state. Per CDC, the state office keeps death records for 50 years; older records are at the Louisiana State Archives.
How many copies to order
Most banks, insurers, pension plans and government agencies each want their own certified copy. Count the accounts and policies before you order, because ordering more later means another application and fee. How many death certificates you need has a worksheet.
Who decides the funeral in Louisiana
State law sets who has the right to make funeral arrangements. See who has the right to make funeral decisions in Louisiana.
Related guides
- What to do when someone dies: the first 24 hours
- Who to call when someone dies, and in what order
- How much a funeral costs, line by line
- Help paying for a funeral: Social Security, VA and FEMA
- Official funeral resources for every state
Sources
- Center for Vital Records and Statistics (Vital Records Registry), Louisiana Department of Health
- CDC: Where to Write for Vital Records (Louisiana)
- Center for Vital Records and Statistics (Vital Records Registry), Louisiana Department of Health
Checked 2026-09-24. General information, not legal advice.