Search New Orleans Birth Records
New Orleans is the only city in Louisiana where the state Vital Records office is located, making it the central hub for birth certificate requests across the state. New Orleans birth records go back to 1790, making Orleans Parish the only one in Louisiana with pre-1911 records. Whether you were born in New Orleans or just need a Louisiana birth certificate, this page covers where to go, what to bring, and how to get a certified copy.
New Orleans Quick Facts
Louisiana Vital Records Office in New Orleans
The Louisiana Vital Records Registry is the state agency that issues certified birth certificates. Its main office sits in New Orleans at 1450 Poydras Street, Suite 400. This office serves the entire state, not just New Orleans residents. Anyone born in Louisiana can request their birth certificate here, in person or by mail.
Walk-in service runs Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM. The call center number is (504) 219-4500, and the main line is (504) 593-5100. You can also email the office at vitalweb@dhh.state.la.us. Staff can help you figure out whether your record is on file at the state level or if you need to contact a parish clerk. For detailed fee and ordering information, visit ldh.la.gov.
| Office | Louisiana Vital Records Registry |
|---|---|
| Address | 1450 Poydras Street, Suite 400 New Orleans, LA 70112 |
| Phone | (504) 593-5100 / Call Center: (504) 219-4500 |
| vitalweb@dhh.state.la.us | |
| Walk-In Hours | Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 3:30 PM |
| Website | ldh.la.gov/vital-records |
The state office handles the bulk of birth certificate requests for New Orleans residents. If you were born at a hospital in the city after 1911, your record is almost certainly on file here. Pre-1911 births and historical records require a different process, covered further down this page.
The Louisiana Department of Health Vital Records page lists all the ways to request a certified New Orleans birth certificate, including walk-in, mail, and online options through VitalChek.
The LDH site shows current fees, accepted forms of ID, and downloadable mail-in request forms for New Orleans and all other Louisiana parishes.
Orleans Parish Clerk of Court Birth Records
The Orleans Parish Civil District Court Clerk also issues certified birth certificates. The clerk's office is at 421 Loyola Avenue in downtown New Orleans. Phone: (504) 592-9100. Email: cdcclerk@orleanscivilclerk.com. Hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Visit orleanscivilclerk.com for more details.
What makes Orleans Parish unique is the depth of its records. Orleans Parish began keeping birth records in 1790 — well before Louisiana became a state. No other parish in Louisiana holds records that far back. If you are searching for a birth that occurred in New Orleans before 1911, the parish clerk and the Louisiana State Archives are your best starting points. The state did not require statewide registration until 1918, but Orleans Parish had its own system running long before that.
The Louisiana State Archives holds the Orleans Parish birth record index from 1790 to 1914. Researchers looking for ancestors born in New Orleans during that period should contact the archives directly or use the Secretary of State's historical resources at sos.la.gov.
New Orleans Birth Certificate Fees
The fee depends on where you request the certificate. At the state Vital Records office in New Orleans, a long-form birth certificate costs $15. A birth card costs $9. If you order both together, the total is $24. Each additional copy ordered at the same time costs $15.
At the Orleans Parish Clerk of Court, fees differ slightly. A long-form certificate runs $15.50, and a short-form (birth card) runs $9.00, with a small parish surcharge added. Payment methods vary by office, so call ahead to confirm what forms of payment are accepted before your visit.
Note: Fees are subject to change. Confirm current amounts with the office before submitting your request.
Who Can Request New Orleans Birth Records
Louisiana birth records are confidential for 100 years under LSA R.S. 40:36. Not everyone can get a certified copy. Under LSA R.S. 40:41, the following people can request a birth certificate in New Orleans:
- The person named on the record (if 18 or older)
- A parent listed on the birth certificate
- A legal guardian with court documentation
- An authorized legal representative
You must show valid government-issued photo ID when you request a New Orleans birth certificate in person. If you are ordering by mail, include a notarized statement with your request. Making a false statement to obtain a birth record is a criminal offense under LSA R.S. 40:61, which carries a fine of up to $10,000 or five years in prison, or both.
The LDH how-to-order page walks through the exact steps for requesting a New Orleans birth record by walk-in, mail, or online through VitalChek.
This page covers required ID, accepted payment methods, and current processing times for birth certificate requests from the New Orleans state office.
How to Get a New Orleans Birth Certificate
You have three ways to get a certified New Orleans birth certificate: walk-in, mail, or online through VitalChek.
Walk-in is the fastest option. Go to 1450 Poydras Street, Suite 400, between 8:00 AM and 3:30 PM on a weekday. Bring valid photo ID and payment. Most requests are processed the same day. If your record was filed before 1983, staff may need additional time to locate it. Birth records filed before 1983 are on paper and may need to be updated in the state system, which can add 30 minutes to an hour to your wait.
Mail requests take 8 to 10 weeks. Download the request form from ldh.la.gov, complete it, have your signature notarized, and mail it with a copy of your ID and a check or money order to the office. Do not send cash by mail.
Online orders go through VitalChek at vitalchek.com or by phone at 1-877-605-8562. VitalChek charges a service fee in addition to the state fee. Processing times through VitalChek vary but are generally faster than standard mail.
Newborns must wait 90 days after registration before a birth certificate can be issued. If a birth occurred in New Orleans within the past 90 days, you will need to wait before placing a request.
Pre-1911 New Orleans Birth Records
Orleans Parish has the only birth records in Louisiana that predate 1911. The parish kept its own vital records going back to 1790, more than 120 years before the state required registration. This makes New Orleans a key resource for genealogy and family history research in Louisiana.
The Louisiana State Archives holds New Orleans birth record indexes from 1790 to 1914. You can search these records through the Secretary of State's historical resources. Note that vital records were not required by Louisiana state law until 1918, so older records may be incomplete or filed under different naming conventions. Church records and other parish-level sources often supplement the official birth registers for this era.
For records 100 years old or older, the confidentiality restrictions under LSA R.S. 40:36 no longer apply, and the records are considered public. Contact the Louisiana State Archives at 3851 Essen Lane in Baton Rouge for access to historical New Orleans birth records.
Orleans Parish Birth Records
New Orleans sits entirely within Orleans Parish. For full details on the Orleans Parish Clerk of Court, including historical record depth, clerk office hours, fees, and nearby parish resources, visit the Orleans Parish birth records page.