Access Grant Parish Birth Records

Grant Parish birth records are handled by the Clerk of Court in Colfax. The local office maintains birth records going back to July 1914 and issues certified copies during regular business hours. This guide explains how to request Grant Parish birth records, what the fees are, who qualifies to make the request, and how the local process compares to statewide options for ordering remotely.

Grant Parish Clerk of Court

The Honorable "Randy" Briggs serves as the Grant Parish Clerk of Court. The office is located at 200 Main Street in Colfax and is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. The clerk's office issues certified birth certificates and other vital records for Grant Parish. Walk-in service is available during regular hours. The office has local birth records dating from July 1914 to the present.

The Louisiana Secretary of State maintains a statewide clerk directory at voterportal.sos.la.gov/clerk, where Grant Parish contact details can be verified.

Below is a screenshot from the Louisiana Secretary of State's clerk directory at voterportal.sos.la.gov.

That directory lists current contact information for all parish clerks in Louisiana, including Grant Parish.

The Louisiana Department of Health also maintains a directory of local vital records offices. Below is a screenshot from ldh.la.gov showing the Grant Parish detail listing.

That detail page includes phone numbers, hours, and the office address as listed by the state health department.

The broader LDH vital records directory at ldh.la.gov/directory/category/279 lists all parish-level offices. Below is a screenshot of the directory page.

That page is a useful statewide reference if you need to contact multiple parishes or compare how different offices are organized.

Getting Birth Records in Grant Parish

Walk in to the Grant Parish Courthouse during business hours to request a birth certificate. Bring your ID, fill out the request form at the counter, and pay the fee. Same-day issuance is standard for records that are already in the state's database. For most people with a straightforward request, the whole process takes under 30 minutes.

Grant Parish has local birth records going back to July 1914. That is a longer local record history than many other Louisiana parishes. If you are looking for a record from 1914 or later, the Colfax office should be your first call. For births before July 1914, the records may not exist at the parish level, and the Louisiana State Archives at 3851 Essen Lane, Baton Rouge, (225) 922-1208, would be the next place to look.

Pre-1983 records may require a state-level update before the local clerk can print them. This adds 30 minutes to an hour in some cases. Calling ahead to let the clerk know what year the record is from can help them prepare and give you a realistic estimate of how long your visit will take. The office phone is (318) 627-3246.

For newborn birth certificates, there is a 90-day waiting period. The hospital files the initial registration with the state, the state processes it, and after 90 days the local clerk can issue a certified copy. If you need one before then, contact the state vital records office at 1450 Poydras St., Suite 400, New Orleans, (504) 593-5100.

If you cannot come to Colfax in person, VitalChek at vitalchek.com or 1-877-605-8562 handles remote requests. Mail orders through the state take 8 to 10 weeks. The State Archives at sos.la.gov holds older records for genealogical research and can be a helpful resource for records outside the standard vital records system.

Who Can Request Grant Parish Birth Records

Louisiana law under LSA R.S. 40:36 makes birth records confidential for 100 years. Access is limited to people with a direct legal connection to the person named on the record. Grant Parish follows these statewide rules. You must be an eligible requestor and show proper ID before the clerk can issue a certified copy.

Eligible requestors include the person named on the certificate, a current spouse, a parent, an adult child, a sibling, a grandparent, a grandchild, a licensed attorney, or a legal guardian with a proper court judgment. A notarized affidavit or provisional custody mandate does not qualify. You need a full court judgment if you are claiming legal guardianship for the purpose of this request.

ID is required. One primary document works: a state driver's license, a state photo ID, a military ID, a U.S. or foreign passport, or a Certificate of Naturalization or Citizenship. If you do not have a primary document, two secondary documents can sometimes be accepted. Call the clerk at (318) 627-3246 to ask about what secondary documents they accept if you are unsure.

Making false statements to obtain a vital record is a criminal offense under LSA R.S. 40:61. The maximum penalty is a $10,000 fine or five years in prison. All information you provide at the time of the request must be accurate. This rule applies to every Louisiana parish clerk's office, including Grant Parish.

Birth Certificate Fees in Grant Parish

The standard fee for a certified birth certificate in Grant Parish is $34.00. If you also want a birth card, the combined cost is $48.00 under LSA R.S. 40:39.1, which requires the birth card to be sold only alongside a full certificate. You cannot purchase just a birth card alone.

Death certificates carry a standard fee as well. Check with the clerk at (318) 627-3246 for the current death certificate fee, as local rates can vary slightly across parishes. Payment methods accepted at the Grant Parish Clerk's office should also be confirmed by phone before your visit. Some offices require cash only, and others accept cards or checks.

If you need more than one certified copy, each copy costs the same flat fee. Most agencies and institutions require their own certified copy. Government offices, courts, passport agencies, and financial institutions all need certified originals, not photocopies. Getting two or three in a single visit is always the smarter move.

State and Historical Records Options

Louisiana's statewide vital records office in New Orleans holds birth records from across all parishes, including Grant Parish. If the local clerk cannot fulfill a request, the state office at 1450 Poydras St., Suite 400, New Orleans, (504) 593-5100, is the next option. Mail orders through the state take 8 to 10 weeks, and VitalChek at vitalchek.com handles online requests.

For birth records from before July 1914, when the Grant Parish local record system begins, the Louisiana State Archives is likely the only source. The Archives at 3851 Essen Lane, Baton Rouge, (225) 922-1208, maintains historical vital records that predate the statewide registration system. Their website at sos.la.gov includes a catalog of available records.

Records that are more than 100 years old become accessible to the general public under LSA R.S. 40:36, when the confidentiality period expires. Genealogical researchers often look to the State Archives, Ancestry, and FamilySearch for these older Louisiana birth records. Certified copies for legal use still come from the state vital records office or the local clerk.

Nearby Parishes

Grant Parish is located in central Louisiana and borders several neighboring parishes. Each maintains its own clerk and vital records procedures.