Laplace Birth Records
Laplace birth records are handled through St. John the Baptist Parish, not through any city office. Laplace is an unincorporated community with no city government, so residents who need a birth certificate must use the St. John the Baptist Parish Clerk of Court. Conveniently, the Clerk operates a LaPlace office right in the community at 1811 W. Airline Highway, which means most Laplace residents do not have to travel to the parish seat in Edgard to get a birth certificate.
Laplace Quick Facts
St. John the Baptist Parish Clerk - LaPlace Office
The St. John the Baptist Parish Clerk of Court has two office locations. LaPlace residents should use the eastern office at 1811 W. Airline Hwy, LaPlace, LA 70068. The phone for this office is (985) 652-8041. The parish seat office is in Edgard at 2393 Highway 18, Edgard, LA 70049, phone (985) 497-3331. Both offices issue birth certificates and are open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.
Birth certificates are issued from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM. Make sure to arrive before 4:00 PM if you need a certificate that day. The Clerk's office is closed on state holidays. Cash is the only accepted payment for birth certificates. Bring exact cash of $34.00 to avoid any issues at the counter.
| LaPlace Office | 1811 W. Airline Hwy LaPlace, LA 70068 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (985) 652-8041 |
| Edgard (Main) Office | 2393 Highway 18, Edgard, LA 70049 |
| Edgard Phone | (985) 497-3331 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM (Birth Certs: 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM) |
| Payment | Cash only, exact cash preferred |
| Website | sjbparishclerk.gov |
St. John the Baptist Parish Clerk of Court
The St. John the Baptist Parish Clerk of Court website covers birth certificate services at both the LaPlace and Edgard offices, along with contact details and eligibility information for Laplace residents.
Clerk of Court Felicia C. Feist, sworn in on June 30, 2024, oversees birth certificate issuance at both the LaPlace and Edgard offices. The LaPlace office is the most convenient location for Laplace community residents.
Birth Records Available at the LaPlace Clerk Office
The St. John the Baptist Parish Clerk has Louisiana birth records from 1915 to the present. Records before that date are not available at the parish level. Statewide registration of births began in 1911, and Orleans Parish is the only parish with records from before that date. For Laplace-area birth records prior to 1915, the Louisiana State Archives at 3851 Essen Lane, Baton Rouge, LA 70809 may have relevant historical documents.
One important rule applies for newborns. Birth certificates for infants are not available for 90 days after birth. If you are trying to get a certificate for a recently born child in Laplace, you will need to wait out the 90-day period. This is a state-level requirement that applies statewide, not just in St. John the Baptist Parish. After that window, the certificate is available at the LaPlace office or through the state Vital Records Registry.
Under LSA R.S. 40:36, Louisiana birth records are confidential for 100 years from the date of birth. Once a record passes that threshold, it becomes public and can be accessed at the Louisiana State Archives.
Fees for Laplace Birth Certificates
The St. John the Baptist Parish Clerk charges $34.00 for a birth certificate. Cash only. Exact cash is preferred. There is no credit card or check payment option at the Clerk's office for vital records. A birth card cannot be purchased separately; it must be ordered with a birth certificate, and the combined cost is $48.00 under Louisiana law.
The state Vital Records Registry charges less. If you order from the state office in New Orleans, the cost is $15.00 for a long-form birth certificate, $9.00 for a birth card, or $24.00 for both together. The state office is at 1450 Poydras Street, Suite 400, New Orleans, LA 70112. Phone is (504) 593-5100. Walk-in hours are 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM weekdays. Laplace is close enough to New Orleans that a same-day trip to the state office is a practical option if cost matters to you.
You can also order through VitalChek online or by calling 1-877-605-8562. VitalChek adds processing fees on top of the state rate, but it lets you order from home without making a trip to the office.
Who Can Request Birth Records in Laplace
Louisiana is a closed-record state. Birth records are restricted to eligible individuals under LSA R.S. 40:41. The list includes the person named on the certificate, their current legal spouse, parents, adult children, siblings, grandparents, and grandchildren. An attorney who represents one of those people can also request a certificate. A legal guardian may request a record for a child in their custody but must provide a judgment of custody signed by a judge. Notarized papers are not accepted.
In-laws, ex-spouses, step-parents, cousins, aunts, and uncles are not eligible to request someone else's birth certificate in Louisiana. Everyone must show valid photo ID. Bring a current driver's license, state-issued photo ID, military ID, or U.S. passport. If you do not have a primary document, you may be able to use two secondary documents. Contact the LaPlace Clerk office at (985) 652-8041 to ask what secondary documents they accept before your visit.
Louisiana Vital Records for Laplace Residents
Laplace residents who want to order from the state directly can mail a request to P.O. Box 60630, New Orleans, LA 70160. Include a completed application, a copy of your photo ID, and a check or money order payable to "Vital Records Registry." Mail orders take 8 to 10 weeks, so plan ahead if you go this route. The Louisiana Vital Records website has the current application and step-by-step instructions.
Processing time for a newborn's first certificate is generally faster than mail orders. Most births are filed electronically by the hospital, and the state Vital Records Registry mails a complimentary certified copy to the parent within a few months after birth. If you have not received your child's complimentary copy within four months, call the state office at (504) 593-5100 to follow up.
The Louisiana Vital Records Registry manages all birth certificate records for Laplace and St. John the Baptist Parish through the state's centralized vital records database, which the parish Clerk taps into when printing local copies.
St. John the Baptist Parish Birth Records
Laplace is in St. John the Baptist Parish. All birth certificate services for Laplace residents run through the St. John the Baptist Parish Clerk of Court. For complete details on the parish birth records system, both office locations, and all available services, visit the parish page.