Vermilion Parish Birth Records

Vermilion Parish birth records are available through the Clerk of Court in Abbeville, Louisiana. The office issues certified birth certificates for anyone born in Louisiana, and this page covers how to request those records, what identification to bring, what the fees are, and what to expect when you visit the clerk in person.

Vermilion Parish Clerk of Court

The Vermilion Parish Clerk of Court office in Abbeville is the local point of contact for birth certificates in the parish. The office has access to Louisiana's statewide Vital Records database and prints certificates directly from that system. You must apply in person. Phone orders are not accepted. The clerk handles Louisiana records only, so if you were born in another state, you will need to contact that state's vital records office.

The birth certificate page on the clerk's website has the details you need before your visit. It spells out the steps, the fees, and what ID to bring.

The Vermilion Parish birth certificate page describes the full process for obtaining a certified copy. The office keeps it straightforward: show up, bring your ID, fill out the form, and pay the fee. Most requests are handled the same day.

The screenshot below is from the official Vermilion Parish Clerk of Court birth certificate page.

The clerk's site gives you a clear picture of what to expect when you go in person to request Vermilion Parish birth records.

How to Get Birth Records in Vermilion Parish

To get a Vermilion Parish birth certificate, you must go to the clerk's office in person at 100 N. State Street in Abbeville. The clerk will have you fill out an application form on site. You cannot call ahead and place an order by phone. Once you submit your application and pay the fee, the clerk prints the certificate directly from the state database. The whole process is usually fast for recent births.

For anyone born before 1984, plan for a longer wait. The clerk notes that birth certificates from before 1984 may take anywhere from 15 minutes to a full hour to process. This happens because older records sometimes need to be updated by the Louisiana Office of Vital Records before they can be printed. The wait is not guaranteed, but it is common enough that you should budget extra time if your birth year falls before 1984.

Delayed birth certificates are a different matter. If you were born at home or your birth was never registered, the Vermilion Parish Clerk cannot help with that. Delayed birth certificates must be obtained directly from the Louisiana Vital Records Registry in New Orleans. You can reach the state office at (504) 593-5100 or visit their website at ldh.la.gov/vital-records.

Note: Statewide registration of births began in 1911. For births before that year, records may be incomplete or unavailable at the parish level.

Birth Certificate Fees in Vermilion Parish

The fees for Vermilion Parish birth records are set by the state. The clerk's office does not set them on its own. A certified birth certificate costs $34.00. If you want a birth certificate and a birth card together, the pair costs $48.00. A birth card cannot be purchased by itself under Louisiana law, specifically LSA R.S. 40:39.1, which requires the card to be sold only as a bundle with the full certificate. A death certificate costs $26.00.

The office accepts cash, checks, and credit cards. That gives you a few options compared to some other parish offices that only take cash. Still, it is good to confirm payment options when you call ahead, as policies can change.

The Louisiana Department of Health also lists the Vermilion Parish office in its directory of authorized birth certificate issuance locations. You can view that listing at ldh.la.gov/directory/detail/10689.

The LDH directory entry confirms office details and contact information for Vermilion Parish, useful if you need to verify what you find on the clerk's own site.

Note: Fees are subject to change. Always confirm the current rate with the clerk's office before your visit if you plan to bring exact cash.

Who Can Request Vermilion Parish Birth Certificates

Louisiana treats birth records as confidential documents. Under LSA R.S. 40:36, birth records are closed to the public for 100 years from the date of birth. Only certain people are allowed to obtain a certified copy of a Vermilion Parish birth certificate.

Eligible requestors include the person named on the record, their current legal spouse, parents, adult children, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, a licensed attorney acting for any of those parties, and a legal guardian who holds a court-issued judgment of custody. A notarized statement of guardianship is not sufficient. You need an actual court order signed by a judge.

When you apply at the Vermilion Parish Clerk's office, you must show a valid government-issued photo ID. Acceptable primary ID includes a current driver's license, state-issued picture ID, military ID, U.S. or foreign passport, or a certificate of naturalization or citizenship. If you do not have primary ID, you can present two qualifying secondary documents instead. Call the office at (337) 898-1992 if you have questions about what qualifies.

Under LSA R.S. 40:61, making a false statement on an application for a certified copy of a vital record can result in a fine of up to $10,000, imprisonment of up to five years, or both. The clerk takes identity verification seriously at every step of the process.

State and Online Options for Vermilion Parish Residents

If you cannot make it to Abbeville, you can request a Vermilion Parish birth certificate through the Louisiana Vital Records Registry in New Orleans. The state office is at 1450 Poydras Street, Suite 400, and handles statewide birth certificate requests by walk-in, mail, or online. Walk-in hours are 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Mail orders typically take 8 to 10 weeks to process.

VitalChek is the authorized third-party service for ordering Louisiana birth certificates online or by phone. Visit vitalchek.com or call 1-877-605-8562. Additional processing fees apply through VitalChek, so factor that into your decision if cost is a concern. If speed matters, going in person to the Vermilion Parish Clerk or to the state office in New Orleans is faster than ordering by mail.

For historical birth records more than 100 years old, contact the Louisiana State Archives at 3851 Essen Lane, Baton Rouge. Their phone number is (225) 922-1208. Records that old become public under state law and may be accessible for genealogical research. The archives website is sos.la.gov.

Nearby Parishes

Vermilion Parish borders several neighboring Louisiana parishes. If you need records from an adjacent area, the clerks listed below can help.