Louisiana Public Records

Thank you for coming to this page. We are here to help you find what you need. We will do our best to guide your Louisiana Public Records Search. This guide aims to give you the key facts fast. We want this to be a great tool for you.

If you need to start your Louisiana Public Records Search right now, you can visit https://louisianaofficialrecords.com/. This resource allows you to begin searching for various types of public records across the state promptly. It provides a direct way to access available information. Visit https://louisianaofficialrecords.com/ to initiate your search if you need immediate access to records without delay. It is designed to help users navigate the search process effectively.

Louisiana Public Records Law

The main law is the Louisiana Public Records Act. It is found in La. R.S. 44:1 through 44:41. The state constitution also backs this right. Article XII, Section 3 says people can view public papers. This law helps people know what the state does. It helps them take part in public life. A "public record" is almost any document kept by a state or local body. This includes books, maps, tapes, and emails. The record must be used for official work. This work must be done under state law or local rules.

Who Can Request Records?

Any person can ask for public records. You do not need to give a reason. The group holding the record cannot ask why you want it. But they might ask if you seek a fee waiver. There is one main block. People now in jail cannot ask for most public records. They can only ask if it helps their case after they were found guilty.

How to Ask for Records

You should make your request in writing. A letter or form works best. Some state groups have forms you can use. You send the request to the record keeper. This is the head of the public group. Or it is someone they picked to handle requests. You can also ask in person. If you ask in person, they should show you the record right away. If it is in use or not there, they must tell you why. They must do this in writing soon. They must set a time within three work days for you to see it. They must give you a good place to look at the records.

Costs for Copies

Groups must charge set fees for copies. The law says how much they can charge. These fees aim to be low. This helps more people get state information. You may have to pay before you get the copies. Ask the group about their exact fees.

Accessing Louisiana Vital Records

Louisiana is a "closed record" state for some files. This rule is in state law R.S. 40:41. This means birth and death records are not fully public. You must prove who you are to get them. You also need to pay a fee.

Birth Certificates

Only certain people can get a birth record. This list includes the person on the record. It includes their mom or dad. Their current husband or wife can ask. Their grown child can ask. A sister or brother can ask. A grandma or grandpa can ask too. You must show proof you are one of these people. You will need a good photo ID.

There are a few ways to order a birth certificate. You can mail a request form. Send it with a copy of your ID and the fee. Mail it to the Vital Records Registry. The address is PO Box 60630, New Orleans, LA 70160. This way takes about 8 to 10 weeks. You can also go in person. Visit the Vital Records Central Office. It is at 1450 Poydras Street, Suite 400, New Orleans, LA 70112. Their walk-in hours are 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM on work days. They take cash, checks, or money orders. Bring the exact cash amount. Some Parish Clerks of Court also offer birth records. There is an extra fee for this. Call your local clerk to check. You can find a list of clerks at the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) site: https://ldh.la.gov/index.cfm/directory/category/279. Kiosks are also an option in some Parish Health Units. Check the LDH site for kiosk spots: https://ldh.la.gov/index.cfm/directory/category/278. You can use the VitalChek service online or by phone (1-877-605-8562). They charge extra fees. The base fee for a birth certificate is often $15, but check the LDH site for current costs. Use the official application form found here: https://ldh.la.gov/assets/oph/Center-RS/vitalrec/Birth_DeathOrderingPacket.pdf. For general questions, call LDH at (225) 342-9500.

Death Certificates

Getting death records is like getting birth records. Louisiana's law R.S. 40:41 puts limits on who can get them. Close family members can usually ask. The spouse, parent, adult child, or sibling may request one. You need to prove your link to the person. You also need to show ID and pay the fee.

You can ask for death records by mail. Send the form, ID copy, and fee to: Vital Records Registry, PO Box 60630, New Orleans, LA 70160. You can go in person to the Central Office in New Orleans. The address is 1450 Poydras Street, Suite 400. Hours are 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM on work days. Or you can use the VitalChek service online or by phone (1-877-605-8562). This service costs more. Always use the official application form. Check the LDH website (https://ldh.la.gov/) or call (225) 342-9500 for the current fee and forms.

Marriage Records

Marriage records show when two people got wed. To get a copy, you need to know where the license was given. Go to the Clerk of Court in that parish. They keep the official record. You can get a certified copy from them. For records less than 50 years old, the Louisiana Department of Health may have an index. For records older than 50 years, try the Louisiana State Archives. You will need the names of both spouses. You also need the date of the marriage. Fees vary by parish clerk office. Contact the Clerk of Court directly. For example, the Lafayette Parish Clerk’s marriage department phone is (337) 291-6335.

Divorce Records

Divorce records show when a marriage ended. These are kept by the Clerk of Court. You need to go to the clerk in the parish where the divorce was finalized. Ask for the civil records department. You will need the names of the people involved. Knowing the year of the divorce helps too. There will be a fee to get copies. The cost depends on the parish clerk. Contact the specific Clerk of Court for details. For instance, the Lafayette Parish Clerk's Civil Records phone is (337) 291-6303. Their main office is at 800 South Buchanan St, Lafayette, LA 70501.

Finding Louisiana Court Records

Court records hold details about legal cases. These can be civil cases, like lawsuits. They can be criminal cases. They can also be probate cases, like wills. Traffic cases are often kept too. Where you find these depends on the court level.

Parish Court Records

Each parish in Louisiana has a District Court. The Clerk of Court in that parish keeps the records. This person is the official record keeper. How you get records can change by parish. Many clerks now offer online search tools. Some are free to search basic case info. Others may need you to pay or sign up. You can always go to the Clerk’s office in person. It helps if you have information. Know the names of the people in the case. A case number is best if you have it. An estimate of the date helps too. Some clerks have request forms. You can often ask by mail. You might need to send a copy of your ID. A self-addressed stamped envelope is often needed. You will pay for copies. Getting certified copies costs more. Contact the specific Clerk of Court for their rules and fees. For example, the Lafayette Parish Clerk of Court is at 800 South Buchanan St, Lafayette, LA 70501. Their main phone is (337) 291-6400.

State Appellate & Supreme Court Records

Cases can move up to higher courts. These are the Courts of Appeal and the Louisiana Supreme Court. Each of these courts has its own clerk. These clerks keep the records for their court. Many appeals courts offer online tools. You can search case dockets or decisions. For example, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal has an online case search: https://www.fifthcircuit.org/searchcases.aspx. The Second and Fourth Circuits also have online opinion lists. You can find contact info for the Louisiana Supreme Court Clerk and the clerks of the different Courts of Appeal on the state judiciary website (https://www.lasc.org/). Accessing records directly might involve contacting the specific clerk's office for that court. Procedures and fees may apply.

Louisiana Property Records Search

Property records show who owns land. They also list debts tied to the land. These debts can be mortgages or liens. Deeds show when land changes hands. These are important public records.

Where to Find Property Records

In Louisiana, property records are kept at the parish level. The Clerk of Court is usually in charge. They act as the Recorder of Mortgages and Conveyances. You need to contact the Clerk in the parish where the property sits. Many parishes now have online databases. You might search these from home. Some require payment to see full details or images. You can also visit the Clerk's office. Go to the recording or land records department.

Information Needed for Search

To find records, you usually need some details. The owner's name is often used. The property address helps. A parcel ID number is very useful if you know it. Sometimes you can search by subdivision name. For example, East Baton Rouge Parish has an online Property Lookup tool: https://city.brla.gov/gis/propertylookup.asp.

Fees for Copies

Searching records might be free in person. Online searches may have fees. Getting copies always costs money. The fee is often per page. Getting a certified copy costs extra. Check with the parish Clerk of Court for their fee list. For example, contact the Lafayette Parish Clerk’s Recording department at (337) 291-6310 for their specific costs.

Business and Corporate Records in Louisiana

The Louisiana Secretary of State keeps records for businesses. This includes firms set up in Louisiana. It also includes firms from other places doing work here. The Commercial Division handles these records.

Searching Business Records Online

The main tool is the geauxBIZ portal: https://geauxbiz.sos.la.gov/. There is also a direct business entity search page: https://coraweb.sos.la.gov/commercialsearch/commercialsearch.aspx. This search tool is free to use. You can search by the business name. You can also search by charter number. Or search by the name of an officer or agent. The search shows the business's official name. It shows its status (like active or inactive). It lists key dates, like when it was formed. You can see the registered agent's name and address. Names of officers or directors are often listed too. You can view filed documents like annual reports.

Types of Records Available

The Secretary of State holds many business files. These include:

• Articles of Incorporation (for corporations).

• Articles of Organization (for LLCs).

• Annual Reports filed by businesses.

• Trade Name registrations.

• Trademark and Service Mark filings.

• Information on partnerships.

Fees and Contact Information

Searching the database is free. If you need copies of documents, there are fees. Getting a certified copy costs extra. A Certificate of Good Standing also has a fee. Contact the Secretary of State's Commercial Division for help.

• Phone: (225) 925-4704 or (225) 922-2880

• Physical Address: 8585 Archives Ave, Baton Rouge, LA 70809

• Mailing Address: PO Box 94125, Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9125

• Hours: 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday.

Accessing Louisiana Criminal History Records

Criminal records in Louisiana are mostly not public. State law R.S. 15:587 limits access. Only certain agencies and people can see full criminal histories. The Louisiana State Police (LSP) keeps the main state database. This is done by the Bureau of Criminal Identification and Information (BCII).

What Criminal Information is Public?

Very little criminal history is public record. Under R.S. 15:574.12, some details about inmates might be shared. This can include age, the crime type, sentence length, and conviction date. But full rap sheets are private.

Statewide Background Checks

The LSP BCII handles official state background checks. These are often needed for jobs or licenses. They are fingerprint-based. Individuals can ask for their own record. This is called a "Right to Review."

How to Request Your Own Record (Right to Review)

There are three ways to ask for your own criminal record from LSP:

1. In Person: Go to the BCII office. It is at 7919 Independence Blvd, Baton Rouge, LA. Office hours are 7:30 AM to 3:30 PM on weekdays. You must bring a valid state ID or driver's license. You need to fill out two forms: the Right to Review Authorization Form and the Disclosure Form. The fee is $26. They will take your fingerprints there, which costs an extra $10. Requests made before 3:00 PM might get a same-day response.

2. By Mail: Mail the completed Authorization and Disclosure forms. Include a copy of your valid photo ID. Send a money order or cashier's check for $26. Mail everything to: Bureau of Criminal Identification, PO Box 66614, Mail Slip A-6, Baton Rouge, LA 70896. This process takes about 15 to 21 business days.

3. Online (Name-Based Check): LSP offers an Internet Background Check (IBC). This is a name-based search, not fingerprint-based. It costs $26. You need to provide the person's full name, date of birth, and Social Security number. Find this service on the LSP website: https://www.lsp.org/. This check might not be accepted for all purposes.

For questions, call LSP BCII at (225) 925-6095.

Local Arrest Records and Police Reports

Local police departments and parish sheriff's offices keep records of arrests they make. They also have police incident reports. Getting these often requires contacting the specific local agency. Procedures and fees vary widely. Some parts of reports might be blacked out (redacted) to protect privacy. Contact the local police or sheriff directly for their process.

Louisiana Inmate Records

Information about people in state prisons is kept by the Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections (DOC). Most inmate records are not public under state law (R.S. 15:574.12).

Finding Inmate Location and Status

The DOC provides an online tool. It is part of the Louisiana Automated Victim Notification System (LAVNS). This is also known as VINELink. You can search for an offender here: https://www.vinelink.com/. The search usually shows the inmate's location. It may show their status and possible release dates. This is for public safety and victim notification.

Requesting Records from DOC

The DOC handles public records requests for its own operations. This does not usually include detailed inmate files. If you need DOC administrative records, send a written request. Mail it to: La. Department of Public Safety and Corrections, Attn: Deputy Secretary's Office, P.O. Box 94304, Baton Rouge, LA 70804. You can also email: docpublicrecords@la.gov. The phone number is (225) 342-6744. Remember, this is not for inmate background checks. Those go through the State Police.

Other Louisiana Public Records Resources

Besides the main types, other records exist. Here are key places for other searches.

Louisiana State Archives

The State Archives keeps old and important state records. It was set up in 1956. Its job is to collect, save, and share state history records. They have things like old vital records. For example, marriage records older than 50 years are here. They also have historical government papers and photos. You can visit their research room. Some records might be indexed online.

• Location: 3851 Essen Lane, Baton Rouge, LA 70809

• Phone: (225) 922-1000

• Website: https://www.sos.la.gov/HistoricalResources/LearnAboutTheArchives (Part of Secretary of State site)

Voter Registration Records

The Louisiana Secretary of State manages voter records. Access to full voter lists is often limited. It depends on state law and why you need the list. Contact the Elections Division of the Secretary of State's office. They can tell you the rules for getting voter data. Find their contact info on the main SoS website: https://www.sos.la.gov/Elections. 

Helpful Resources

Michigan Public Records | Louisiana Death Records | Louisiana Warrant Search