Certified Copies in Louisiana: Where and What It Costs
Certified copies
Ordering Certified Copies in Louisiana
Where to order a certified vital record or corporate record issued in Louisiana, what it costs, what the office requires, and what happens to it afterwards.
- Birth certificate
- $15.00 plus $0.50 state charge for mail requests
- Death certificate
- $7.00 plus $0.50
- Marriage
- $5.00 plus $0.50, Orleans Parish only
- Divorce
- Varies; parish Clerk of Court
Vital records
Issued by: Louisiana Center of Vital Records and Statistics
Post to: Center of Vital Records and Statistics, P.O. Box 60630, New Orleans, LA 70160
Verify current fees: (504) 593-5100
| Record | Certified copy |
|---|---|
| Birth | $15.00 plus $0.50 state charge for mail requests |
| Death | $7.00 plus $0.50 |
| Marriage | $5.00 plus $0.50, Orleans Parish only |
| Divorce | Varies; parish Clerk of Court |
What Louisiana requires
- Marriage records outside Orleans Parish come from the Clerk of Court in the parish that issued the licence.
- A copy of valid photo ID is required.
- Cheque or money order to Center of Vital Records and Statistics.
Corporate records
A certificate of good standing and certified copies of formation documents for a Louisiana entity come from Louisiana Secretary of State, Commissions Division, normally online and often the same day.
Louisiana Secretary of State, Commissions Division
- Order from the state where the entity was formed, not where it trades.
- A certificate of good standing is a statement of current status. A certified copy of the articles is a different product; if a foreign authority asks for the formation documents, you need the latter.
- Ask for a certified or exemplified copy. A plain download from the state website carries no seal and cannot be authenticated.
What happens next
Once you hold the certified copy, authentication in Louisiana goes through Louisiana Secretary of State, Commissions Division, at $20.00 per authentication.
Questions people actually ask
Where do I order a Louisiana birth certificate?
From Louisiana Center of Vital Records and Statistics. Post to Center of Vital Records and Statistics, P.O. Box 60630, New Orleans, LA 70160. A certified copy is $15.00 plus $0.50 state charge for mail requests.
Does the Louisiana Secretary of State issue birth certificates?
No. Vital records come from the health department; the Secretary of State handles corporate records and, in most states, the apostille. They are separate offices with separate fees.
Can I get a certified marriage certificate from the state of Louisiana?
Not in the ordinary way. $5.00 plus $0.50, Orleans Parish only Plan on dealing with the county rather than the state office.
What will Louisiana reject?
Marriage records outside Orleans Parish come from the Clerk of Court in the parish that issued the licence.
Can I have it apostilled straight away?
Yes, and that is the right order. Order the certified copy first, then send it for authentication. Do not sign, stamp or laminate it in between, and do not open a sealed envelope.
This guide is published by a private document processing service. It is not legal advice and we are not a government agency. Requirements change without notice, so confirm anything critical with the mission before you post documents.
