Access West Feliciana Parish Birth Records

West Feliciana Parish birth records are available through the Clerk of Court in St. Francisville, Louisiana. This office issues certified birth certificates but has strict limited hours for vital records service and accepts cash only. This page covers everything you need to know before visiting the St. Francisville office to request West Feliciana Parish birth records, including the exact service window, fees, and what ID to bring.

West Feliciana Parish Clerk of Court

The West Feliciana Parish Clerk of Court is Stewart Hughes, located at 4785 Prosperity Street in St. Francisville. The office handles a range of legal and vital records services for the parish, including birth and death certificates. There is one critical thing to know before you go: birth and death certificates are only issued between 8:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. After 2:00 p.m., the office will not process vital records requests even though the office itself may still be open until 4:30 p.m. If you arrive after 2:00 p.m., you will be asked to return another day.

The clerk's website confirms the limited hours and cash-only policy. You can visit westfelicianaclerkofcourt.org for general office information, or call (225) 635-3794 before your visit to ask questions about your specific record.

The West Feliciana Parish Clerk of Court site covers available services in St. Francisville, including vital records with the critical note about limited issuance hours.

Getting West Feliciana Parish Birth Records

To request a West Feliciana Parish birth certificate, you must visit the clerk's office in person at 4785 Prosperity Street in St. Francisville. You need to arrive before 2:00 p.m. This is not a soft guideline. The clerk's office is explicit: "Done only between 8:30 A.M. and 2:00 P.M." If you show up at 2:05 p.m., you will not be served that day. Plan your visit accordingly, especially if you are driving from outside the parish.

When you arrive, bring cash (exact amount preferred), your valid photo ID, and be ready to complete an application form. The clerk will look up your record in the Louisiana Vital Records database and print your certificate. The office handles Louisiana-born records only. Records printed at the clerk's level cannot be amended there. Any corrections to your birth record must go through the Louisiana Office of Vital Records in New Orleans.

The birth certificate page on the clerk's website has more detail on exactly what to bring. Visit westfelicianaclerkofcourt.org/birth-death-certificates.html before you go to review the current requirements and confirm nothing has changed.

The West Feliciana Parish birth and death certificate page spells out the 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. service window clearly, along with the cash-only requirement for all vital records requests.

Note: Statewide registration of births began in 1911. Records from before that year may be incomplete or available only through the Louisiana State Archives.

Fees and Payment in West Feliciana Parish

A certified West Feliciana Parish birth certificate costs $34.00. Death certificates cost $26.00. The office accepts cash only. No checks, credit cards, or money orders are accepted for vital records. Bring the exact amount if possible since making change can slow down the process for everyone.

Under LSA R.S. 40:39.1, a birth card cannot be purchased on its own. It must be bought together with a full birth certificate. The combined cost for a birth certificate and birth card is $48.00.

The Louisiana Department of Health directory entry for West Feliciana Parish is at ldh.la.gov/directory/detail/6970. That listing confirms the office is authorized to issue certified Louisiana birth certificates and provides additional contact information.

The LDH directory confirms West Feliciana Parish participation in the state vital records program and provides the contact details for the St. Francisville office.

Note: Fees are established by Louisiana statute and may change if the legislature revises the underlying law. Confirm current rates when you call (225) 635-3794.

Eligibility for West Feliciana Parish Birth Certificates

Louisiana is a closed-record state when it comes to birth certificates. Under LSA R.S. 40:36, birth records are confidential for 100 years from the date of birth. This means you cannot request a copy for just anyone. The eligible parties are: the person named on the certificate, their current legal spouse, their mother or father, their adult children, their siblings, their grandparents, their grandchildren, a licensed attorney acting for one of those parties, and a legal guardian who holds a court-issued judgment of custody signed by a judge.

A notarized affidavit of guardianship is not sufficient. The court must have formally issued a judgment. When you arrive at the West Feliciana Parish Clerk's office, you must show valid identification. Acceptable primary ID includes a current state-issued driver's license or picture ID, a current U.S. military identification card, a valid U.S. or foreign passport, or a certificate of naturalization or citizenship. If you have only secondary documents, you need two of them. Call (225) 635-3794 if you are unsure what will be accepted.

Under LSA R.S. 40:61, providing false information on a birth certificate application can result in a fine of up to $10,000 or imprisonment of up to five years. The clerk's office takes this seriously, and identity verification is required for every request.

Other Ways to Get West Feliciana Parish Birth Records

If the limited 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. window at the parish clerk is not workable for you, the Louisiana Vital Records Registry in New Orleans is the next best option. The state office at 1450 Poydras Street, Suite 400, New Orleans, LA 70112 accepts walk-ins from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday without the strict early cutoff. The phone number is (504) 593-5100. More information is at ldh.la.gov/vital-records. Mail orders through the state take about 8 to 10 weeks.

VitalChek at vitalchek.com or 1-877-605-8562 handles online and phone orders for Louisiana birth certificates. Extra processing fees apply, and delivery times vary. However, VitalChek is the most convenient option if you need to order without traveling. The state office fees are also lower than parish-level fees, so ordering through the state can save money compared to visiting the clerk.

For genealogical research on births more than 100 years old, the Louisiana State Archives at 3851 Essen Lane, Baton Rouge has those records. They can be reached at (225) 922-1208. Their website is sos.la.gov. Records that old are public under state law and are a good resource for ancestry research in the Felicianas region.

Nearby Parishes

West Feliciana Parish is in the Florida Parishes region of Louisiana along the Mississippi River. The clerk offices in neighboring parishes handle their own birth certificate requests.