Marriage Records States Genealogy Genealogy Directory Search for Ancestors Surname Queries

Louisiana Genealogy

If you are studying Louisiana genealogy, you will have several avenues to pursue. The main source for information is through the state-registered vital records but there are other places you can look for alternative material as well. Overall, the state basically started collecting birth and death registrations in 1907 though some parishes have their own records that are older.

Louisiana Vital Records

Though there may be birth records that go back to 1907 or farther (death and marriage start in 1957), you will have some difficulty getting copies of them unless you are a direct relation to the person on the record. Privacy laws keep birth records private for 100 years, except to immediate family members. After 100 years, you are free to request any records you would like. Similar restrictions exist for death records, only the time is just 50 years.

Anything within those time frames can be requested from the Department of Health, the Vital Records and Statistics section in New Orleans. Their website has the proper forms for this along with the fees and current instructions. You can also order marriage records from this office as long as the marriage took place in New Orleans parish. For other marriages, you will have to make your request at the parish office.

Birth records are issued as either a long form or a short form, and they will cost $15 and $19 respectively to get copies. Death and marriage records go for $7 each. When the clerks cannot find the record you have requested, you will get a notice saying that no file was found. Don't expect to get a refund.

If you are after birth records more than 100 years old, or death records more than 50 years old, you will have to turn your Louisiana genealogy search elsewhere.

Louisiana State Archives

The vital records no longer kept by the Vital Records office are moved to the State Archives. Along with older vital records, their collections have quite a bit more Louisiana genealogy material available for public research. Visiting their Baton Rouge location can yield census records, church records, immigration documents, passenger manifests, colonial documents and a database of Confederate material as well.

If you cannot bet to Baton Rouge, they will make copies of documents for you and send them by mail. There are fees for this, and you will have to contact the Archives for the details.

Other Groups and Societies

More serious Louisiana genealogy research will probably benefit from membership in one of the many groups on the subject. There are genealogy societies based in each county, and larger state-wide groups as well. The Louisiana Genealogy and Historical Society is the largest and most wide-spread group, but there are also regional options such as the Southwest Louisiana Genealogy Society.

Not only will these groups put you in touch with other members who may have information on your family, the group may have its own collection of references separate from what you would find at the State Archives. Either way, there is more information to be found through any of these groups.

State Resources Sites

Cemeteries 

Death Records & Obits

  • Louisiana Biography and Obituary Index   The Louisiana Biography and Obituary Index references obituaries and death notices published in New Orleans newspapers from 1804-1972 and biographical information published in older Louisiana collective biographies
      

Databases and Indexes

Libraries & Museums

Marriages

Military

People

Other Louisiana Genealogy Resources

Maps

Select a state
AL  | AK  | AZ  | AR  | CA | CO  |  CT  | DE  | FL | GA  |  IA  | ID  | ILIN | KS  | KY  | LA  | MA | MD | MI  | MN  |  MO  | ME  | MSMT  | NC  |  NDNE  | NH | NJ  | NM  | NV | NY  | OH | OK   | OR  | PA  | RI  |  SC | SD  | TN  | TX  | UT  |  VAVT  |  WA  |  WIWV  | WY

  

  View and post searchable marriage records
  
  All Genealogy Sites Directory

 

 

 

Home

African American
Beginners
Birth Records
Cemeteries
Census
Church Records
Coal Mines
Colonial America
Commercial Sites
Crime/Criminals
Databases
Death/Obits
Diaries & Letters
Family Bibles
Females
Goodspeed's History
History
International
Libraries
Marriage Records
Medical Terms
Military
Native American
Orphan Trains
Prisons/Prisoners
Resource Sites
States
State Archives
Supplies
Surnames

  

New Sites
You'll Want to See!

Ancestor Archive  Find photos of your ancestors 

All Ancestors  Find the records your ancestors left!

All Surnames  Surname resources

Surname Archive  Find your surnames!

Genealogy Finds   Scanned documents with names! 

Colonial Ancestors  The colonies

All Biographies  Online Biographies

Ancestor Surnames 

Female Ancestors
Genealogy Data
Contact Us
Add a Site
Death Records on Surname Archive 

Free Searches:
Search for Ancestors
Free Look Ups

The Genealogy Register

Site Index