Search Lafayette Parish Birth Records

Lafayette Parish birth records are available on a walk-in basis at the Lafayette Parish Clerk of Court on South Buchanan Street, where the office issues certified copies of Louisiana birth certificates from approximately 1930 to near the present date. The office accepts cash only and handles birth certificate requests during a dedicated window each weekday morning and afternoon, making it important to plan your visit within the correct hours.

Lafayette Parish Clerk of Court

The Lafayette Parish Clerk of Court is led by Louis J. Perret, with Melissa Hebert as Chief Deputy. The office is located at 800 South Buchanan Street, Lafayette, LA 70501. The general office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM, but birth certificates are issued during a shorter window: 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM only. Do not arrive after 3:30 PM expecting to get a birth certificate. The main phone line is (337) 291-6400. You can also call the Birth Certificate Department directly at (337) 291-6330. The fax number is (337) 291-6392.

The clerk's office is very clear about the walk-in-only nature of this service. There is no mail-in option and no phone request process. You must come in person, complete the form in front of staff, show your ID, and pay in cash. The office handles only Louisiana birth certificates, not records from other states. If you were born in another state, you'll need to contact that state's vital records agency directly.

The birth certificate page on the clerk's site gives the full details. Visit lpclerk.com/birth-certificate before your visit.

The page covers hours, fees, payment requirements, and the range of records available through the office.

The main clerk homepage at lpclerk.com covers all services and departments.

This homepage is the starting point for all Lafayette Parish clerk services, from conveyances to civil filings.

Lafayette Parish is also listed in the Louisiana Department of Health's parish-level vital records directory at ldh.la.gov/directory/category/279.

The state directory lists contact information for every parish-level office in Louisiana that issues vital records.

Getting Birth Records in Lafayette Parish

This is a walk-in service. The office does not accept requests by mail, phone, or online submission at the local level. If you want a certified copy of a Louisiana birth certificate and you can get to the Lafayette Parish Courthouse on South Buchanan Street, walk in between 8:30 AM and 3:30 PM on any weekday. Fill out the application, show your ID, hand over your cash, and the clerk will print the record from the state database on the spot.

The clerk has access to Louisiana birth certificates from approximately 1930 until near the current date. Records from before 1930 may not be in the system. If you're looking for a very old record, you may need to contact the Louisiana State Archives in Baton Rouge at (225) 922-1207 or visit the Louisiana Office of Vital Records directly.

Records from before 1983 can sometimes take additional time. The Bureau of Vital Statistics may need to update older records before they can be printed as a certified copy. If your birth was before 1983, arrive early in your visit window. The update can add 30 minutes to an hour, so do not plan to arrive right at 3:30 PM if your record is from that era.

Newborns must wait 90 days before a certificate can be issued through the parish clerk's system. If you had a baby in the last 90 days and need their certificate right away, contact Louisiana Vital Records in New Orleans at (504) 593-5100 or visit ldh.la.gov/vital-records for information on next steps.

If you cannot come in person to Lafayette, the statewide option is to order through VitalChek. Online orders take longer and include additional fees, but they do not require a trip to Jennings or Lafayette.

Who Can Request Birth Records in Lafayette Parish

Louisiana restricts access to birth records under LSA R.S. 40:36. Birth certificates are confidential for 100 years from the date of birth. They are not open public documents. You must qualify under state law to get a certified copy.

People eligible to request a certified copy include the person named on the certificate; that person's current spouse; parents listed on the birth record; an adult child; a sibling; a grandparent; a grandchild; a licensed attorney representing the named individual; or a legal guardian holding a court judgment. Notarized documents alone do not qualify as proof of legal guardianship. A court judgment is required by the state.

You must present ID at the time of your visit. One primary document or two secondary documents are required. Primary ID options include a state driver's license, a state-issued picture ID, a military ID card, a U.S. or foreign passport, or a Certificate of Naturalization. If you only have secondary documents, you need two of them. Examples of secondary documents include utility bills, insurance cards, or voter registration cards.

Under LSA R.S. 40:61, submitting false information on a birth certificate application is a criminal act. Penalties include fines up to $10,000 or up to five years in prison. The person who signs the form is the one held accountable. Make sure all information you provide is accurate before you sign.

Birth Certificate Fees in Lafayette Parish

At the Lafayette Parish Clerk of Court, a single certified birth certificate costs $34.00. If you want both the birth certificate and a birth card, the combined cost is $48.00. The $14 difference is the add-on cost for the card.

Under LSA R.S. 40:39.1, a birth card cannot be purchased by itself. State law requires that it only be sold as a bundle with the full birth certificate. This rule applies at every parish clerk's office in Louisiana, including Lafayette. Do not expect to buy just the card on its own.

Payment is cash only. The Lafayette Parish Clerk of Court does not accept credit cards, debit cards, checks, or money orders for birth certificate requests. Come prepared with exact cash if possible. If you are not sure of the total before your visit, call (337) 291-6330 to confirm current fees and have a bit extra just in case.

Cities in Lafayette Parish

Lafayette Parish is home to the city of Lafayette, which has its own birth records page with details on local courthouse access and services.

Nearby Parishes

Lafayette Parish is in south-central Louisiana. The parishes below share borders with Lafayette and have their own clerk offices for birth records.