Lafourche Parish Birth Records

Lafourche Parish birth records are available in person at the Clerk of Court office in Thibodaux, which accesses the Louisiana Bureau of Vital Records database to issue certified copies of birth certificates for people born anywhere in the state. The office handles requests Monday through Friday during morning and early afternoon hours, accepts cash only, and does not process mail or phone requests for birth records.

Lafourche Parish Clerk of Court

The Lafourche Parish Clerk of Court is Annett Fontana. The office is located at 303 West Third Street, Thibodaux, LA 70301. The mailing address is P.O. Box 818, Thibodaux, LA 70302. You can reach the main office at (985) 447-4841. For birth and death certificate matters specifically, call (985) 447-5266. The fax number is (985) 447-5800. Birth and death certificate services are available Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM, in person only at the Thibodaux location.

The clerk's office is the only location in Lafourche Parish where you can walk in and get a certified Louisiana birth certificate. The office accesses the Vital Records database to print these copies. As the clerk's site states directly: "A certified copy of Louisiana Birth and Death certificates may be obtained in person only at the Thibodaux Clerk of Court Office. We access the Vital Records database to print these copies." There is no second location and no remote option through the local office.

For detailed information on the birth and death certificate process, visit lafourcheclerk.com/birth-death-certificates/.

The page lists fees, hours, and instructions for obtaining certified copies at the Thibodaux office.

The clerk's main site at lafourcheclerk.com covers all parish clerk services.

You can find additional info on conveyances, civil matters, and elections from the main homepage.

Lafourche Parish is also listed in the Louisiana Department of Health's statewide vital records directory at ldh.la.gov/directory/category/279.

The state directory is useful for comparing parish options and confirming contact information across Louisiana.

Getting Birth Records in Lafourche Parish

You must go in person to the Thibodaux office. There is no mail option and no phone request process through the local clerk. Walk in during the 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM window on a weekday, show your ID, fill out the form, and pay in cash. The clerk prints the record from the state database at the time of your visit.

The office can issue birth records from approximately 100 years ago to the present. If you need a record older than 100 years, it must be obtained from the Louisiana State Archives in Baton Rouge. Call the Archives customer service line at (225) 922-1207 for guidance on accessing historical vital records. The Thibodaux clerk's office cannot print records older than 100 years, and staff will direct you to the Archives if your request falls outside their range.

Death certificate availability is more limited. The Lafourche Parish Clerk can only issue death certificates for deaths that occurred after July 2012. Records before that date must also go through the Louisiana State Archives or the Vital Records office in New Orleans. If you need a death certificate from before July 2012, plan ahead and contact the right agency before making a trip to Thibodaux.

Pre-1983 birth records may need to be updated by the Bureau of Vital Statistics before a certificate can be printed at the clerk's level. If your birth was before 1983, arrive as early as possible in the day. The update process can take 30 minutes to an hour. Newborns have a 90-day wait period before their birth certificates are accessible in the state system. For new parents who need a certificate sooner, contact Louisiana Vital Records in New Orleans at (504) 593-5100.

If you cannot visit Thibodaux in person, VitalChek offers online ordering for Louisiana birth certificates. Processing times vary and fees are higher than in-person rates, but it is a valid option when an in-person visit is not possible.

Who Can Request Birth Records in Lafourche Parish

Under LSA R.S. 40:36, Louisiana birth certificates are confidential for 100 years from the date of birth. They are not open public records. To get a certified copy in Lafourche Parish, you must fall into one of the categories defined by state law.

Eligible requesters include the person named on the certificate; that person's current spouse; parents listed on the record; an adult child; a sibling; a grandparent; a grandchild; a licensed attorney representing the named person; or a legal guardian with a valid court judgment. Notarized papers are not accepted in place of a court order. A judgment from a court is what the state requires from legal guardians.

You must bring ID. One primary document or two secondary documents are required at the time of your visit. Primary ID includes a state driver's license, state picture ID, military ID, U.S. or foreign passport, or a Certificate of Naturalization. Two secondary documents may be used in place of primary ID if needed. Accepted secondary documents vary, so call (985) 447-5266 in advance to confirm what you can bring.

Under LSA R.S. 40:61, submitting false information on a vital records application is a criminal offense punishable by a fine of up to $10,000 or up to five years in prison. The person who signs the application is the one prosecuted. This rule applies in Lafourche Parish just as it does in every other parish in Louisiana.

Birth Certificate Fees in Lafourche Parish

The Lafourche Parish Clerk of Court charges $34.00 for a single certified birth certificate. If you want the birth certificate and a birth card together, the combined cost is $48.00. Under LSA R.S. 40:39.1, a birth card cannot be sold on its own. It is only available as a bundle with the full birth certificate. This state law applies at every parish clerk's office, including Lafourche.

Death certificates cost $26.00 each at the Lafourche clerk's office. Remember that only death certificates from July 2012 onward are available here. Records from before that date require a request to the Louisiana State Archives.

Payment is cash only at the Lafourche Parish Clerk of Court. No credit cards, no checks, no money orders. Bring exact cash if possible. If you are unsure of the total, call (985) 447-5266 before your visit to confirm current fees and any additional charges that may apply to your specific request.

Nearby Parishes

Lafourche Parish is in southeast Louisiana along Bayou Lafourche. If you need birth records from a neighboring parish, use the links below to find the right office.