Union Parish Birth Records

Union Parish birth records are available through the Clerk of Court in Farmerville, which serves as the local access point for certified birth certificates under the Louisiana Vital Records program. This page explains how to request Union Parish birth records, who qualifies under Louisiana law, what documents to bring, and how to reach the state office in New Orleans when a local visit is not possible.

Union Parish Clerk of Court

The Union Parish Clerk of Court is located at 100 E. Bayou, Suite 105 in Farmerville. The office handles birth certificates, death certificates, and other vital records services for Union Parish residents. The clerk's office operates as part of Louisiana's statewide vital records network, printing certificates directly from the Louisiana Vital Records database when a request is made in person.

The LDH directory entry for Union Parish at ldh.la.gov/directory/detail/6966 confirms the office's status as an authorized vital records issuance point.

The LDH directory listing confirms the Union Parish Clerk's contact information and its authorization to issue birth certificates on behalf of the Louisiana Vital Records Registry.

Requesting Birth Certificates in Union Parish

Walk-in service is available at the Farmerville office during regular hours. You do not need an appointment to request a birth certificate. The clerk accesses the Louisiana Vital Records database to print certificates on-site. This means the office cannot modify or correct any information on the record. If a birth certificate has an error, the correction must go through the Louisiana Bureau of Vital Statistics in New Orleans, not through the Farmerville clerk.

Statewide registration of births began in 1911. Records from that year onward are available in the state system. The Union Parish Clerk can access records for anyone born in Louisiana from 1911 to the present. For births that occurred before 1911, you would need to contact the Louisiana State Archives in Baton Rouge, which maintains older historical records. Louisiana did not require statewide birth registration until 1914 in practice, so some early records may be incomplete or absent from the state database even for births shortly after 1911.

A certified birth certificate at the Union Parish level costs $34.00, which is the standard parish clerk fee set by the state. Call (318) 368-3055 to confirm current payment methods before your visit. Some Louisiana clerk offices require cash only, and it is worth verifying before making the trip to Farmerville.

Note: Newborn birth certificates require time to register through the state system. Wait at least 90 days after birth before requesting a certificate. Parents of newborns typically receive a complimentary first copy from the state. If you have not received it within four months of the birth, call the Louisiana Vital Records office at (504) 593-5100.

Eligibility for Union Parish Birth Records

Louisiana is a closed-record state for vital records. Birth certificates are not public records under LSA R.S. 40:36, which keeps them confidential for 100 years from the year of birth. You must meet the state's eligibility requirements to receive a certified copy. This applies at the parish level and at the state office.

Eligible requestors include the person named on the birth certificate, their current legal spouse, the mother or father, an adult child, a sibling, a grandparent, a grandchild, a licensed attorney who represents one of the above parties, and a legal guardian who holds a court judgment of custody. Notarized guardianship papers do not satisfy the requirement. An actual court order is required. Step-parents, cousins, aunts and uncles, in-laws, and former spouses are not eligible under Louisiana law, regardless of how close the relationship feels in practice.

To apply, you need to present valid photo identification. One primary document is enough on its own. Primary ID includes a current state-issued driver's license, a state picture ID, a U.S. military identification card, a current U.S. or foreign passport, or a U.S. Certificate of Naturalization or Citizenship. Students at the high school level or below may use a current school ID or yearbook with a photo. If you can only provide secondary documents, you need two of them. Secondary options include a W-2 with a Social Security card, a payroll stub with a Social Security number, a voter registration card, property deeds, or an insurance policy.

Under LSA R.S. 40:61, knowingly making false statements on a vital records application can result in a fine of up to $10,000, imprisonment for up to five years, or both. The clerk applies eligibility checks carefully, and the person who signs the application is held responsible for its accuracy.

State-Level Birth Certificate Access for Union Parish

Residents of Union Parish who cannot visit the Farmerville office have other options. The Louisiana Vital Records Registry in New Orleans processes all statewide birth certificate requests. Their address is 1450 Poydras Street, Suite 400, New Orleans, LA 70112. The main phone is (504) 593-5100. Walk-in hours are 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM, Monday through Friday, excluding state holidays.

The LDH page on how to order birth records at ldh.la.gov/page/how-to-order-birth-records has details on mail-in procedures, required forms, and identification requirements.

The LDH ordering guide explains the step-by-step process for mail-in requests, what to include with your application, and where to send it.

Mail orders to the state office typically take 8 to 10 weeks. If speed matters, visiting the Farmerville clerk or the New Orleans state office in person is faster. The mailing address for the state office is P.O. Box 60630, New Orleans, LA 70160. Online ordering through VitalChek at vitalchek.com is also available, or by phone at 1-877-605-8562. Additional processing fees apply for online and phone orders.

The state charges $15.00 for a long-form birth certificate, $9.00 for a birth card, and $24.00 for the pair. These state-level fees are lower than the $34.00 charged at the parish clerk level. Both produce valid, certified copies. For older historical records that are more than 100 years old, the Louisiana State Archives at 3851 Essen Lane, Baton Rouge, LA 70809 maintains those records. Phone is (225) 922-1208. Their website is sos.la.gov.

Nearby Parishes

Union Parish is in northeast Louisiana. Neighboring parishes have their own clerk offices for vital records requests.