Caddo Parish Birth Records

Caddo Parish birth records are available through the Caddo Parish Clerk of Court in Shreveport, which serves as a local access point for certified birth certificates issued by the Louisiana Office of Vital Records. Whether you need a birth certificate for yourself or an eligible family member, the Caddo Clerk's Office can help you get a certified copy the same day you visit, as long as you have valid ID and arrive before the 4:00 PM certificate cutoff.

Caddo Parish Clerk of Court

The Caddo Parish Clerk of Court handles birth certificate requests as a service to the public. The office has direct access to the State Registrar's system, which means they can issue certified copies of birth certificates and death certificates on-site. You don't have to mail your request to New Orleans or wait weeks for a response. You can walk in, show your ID, pay the fee, and walk out with a certified copy in hand.

One thing to keep in mind: certificate requests are only accepted until 4:00 PM, even though the office stays open until 5:00 PM. If you arrive after 4:00 PM, you may need to come back the next business day, depending on the availability of the state's computer system. Plan your visit early in the day when you can.

The Caddo Parish birth records page on the clerk's website has current information on what you need to bring. The screenshot below shows that page, which lists ID requirements, fee amounts, and what types of records the office can issue.

The Caddo Clerk's birth records page is the best place to start before your visit. It lays out exactly what the office can provide and what you need to bring.

The page is straightforward and updated regularly. It covers the fee schedule, accepted forms of payment, and who is eligible to request records.

The main clerk website also links to other civil and criminal records available through the office, along with general courthouse information for visitors.

Getting Birth Records in Caddo Parish

To request a Caddo Parish birth certificate, visit the clerk's office at 501 Texas Street, Room 103, Shreveport. The process is straightforward. You show up, present your ID, fill out a request form if needed, pay the fee, and receive your certified copy. Most requests are fulfilled the same day. Births that occurred before 1983 may take longer because older records sometimes need to be updated in the state system, adding 30 minutes to an hour to your wait.

Caddo Parish birth records go back many decades. The clerk's office has access to the state registrar database, so as long as the birth occurred in Louisiana, the office should be able to pull the record. If the birth happened outside Louisiana, you'll need to contact that state's vital records office directly.

If you can't make it to the Shreveport office in person, you have a couple of other options. The City of Shreveport also offers vital records assistance. You can check the Shreveport Vital Records page for additional local resources. For mail-in orders or online requests handled by the state, the Louisiana Department of Health processes applications through VitalChek at vitalchek.com or by calling 1-877-605-8562. Mail orders through the state typically take 8 to 10 weeks, so the Caddo Clerk's Office is a much faster option for Shreveport-area residents.

The Shreveport city page shows local vital records resources that residents can use alongside the parish clerk's office.

Who Can Request Caddo Parish Birth Records

Louisiana is a closed record state. That means not just anyone can walk in and request a birth certificate. Under LSA R.S. 40:36, birth records in Louisiana are confidential for 100 years. Only certain people are allowed to request a copy.

The list of eligible requestors includes the person named on the certificate, their current spouse, their parents, an adult child, a sibling, a grandparent, a grandchild, an attorney representing any of the above, or a legal guardian who can show a court judgment of custody. Notarized papers alone are not enough to qualify as a legal guardian. You need an actual court judgment.

When picking up a birth certificate for a close relative or for someone under age 18, you will need two forms of identification on the person whose certificate you're picking up, in addition to your own ID. This is a state rule, not just a Caddo Parish requirement. It applies across all Louisiana parishes.

Providing false information on a birth record request is a serious offense. Under LSA R.S. 40:61, making false statements can result in up to a $10,000 fine or five years in prison. The state takes record integrity seriously, and so does the Caddo Clerk's Office.

The Louisiana Department of Health directory, shown above, lists all parish-level offices that issue birth records, including the Caddo Parish Clerk of Court.

Birth Certificate Fees in Caddo Parish

The fee for a birth certificate at the Caddo Parish Clerk of Court is $34.00. If you also want a birth card, the combined cost is $48.00, and the birth certificate and birth card are sold as a pair only per Act 270 (LSA R.S. 40:39.1). You cannot buy the birth card on its own. Death certificates cost $26.00 each.

Payment is accepted in cash or by credit card only. No checks or money orders are accepted. If you're paying by credit card, bring a card that works for in-person transactions. It's a good idea to bring cash as a backup in case there are any issues with card processing.

These fees are set by the state and are the same at every parish clerk's office across Louisiana. The state office in New Orleans charges the same amounts. What differs is convenience. The Caddo Clerk's Office is local, fast, and doesn't require you to mail in a request or wait 8 to 10 weeks for a response from the state.

Louisiana State Vital Records Office

If you prefer to order directly through the state, the Louisiana Office of Vital Records is located at 1450 Poydras St, Suite 400, New Orleans, LA. The main phone number is (504) 593-5100. You can also visit ldh.la.gov/vital-records for forms and instructions.

Online and phone orders can be placed through VitalChek. Mail-in requests go to the state office in New Orleans and usually take 8 to 10 weeks to process. For Caddo Parish residents in the Shreveport area, the local clerk's office is almost always the faster choice. Same-day service at the clerk's office beats an 8-week wait by a wide margin.

Newborns typically need to wait 90 days from the birth date before a certified copy can be issued. This is a statewide rule. The birth has to be registered and processed in the state system before any office can issue a certified copy. If your newborn's birth just happened, wait the full 90 days before visiting the clerk's office.

Cities in Caddo Parish

Shreveport is the largest city in Caddo Parish and serves as the parish seat. It is the only city in Caddo Parish with a dedicated birth records page on this site.

Nearby Parishes

Caddo Parish borders several other northwest Louisiana parishes. Each has its own clerk of court that handles birth certificate requests locally.