Kenner Obituary Records
Kenner obituary records and death certificates are handled through Jefferson Parish, where Kenner is an incorporated city on the East Bank. The Jefferson Parish Clerk of Court manages civil records and issues certified death certificates for recent deaths, while the Louisiana Department of Health Vital Records Registry handles statewide death record requests. The Jefferson Parish Library system provides access to obituary databases and genealogy resources that can help locate death notices for Kenner residents going back to the early 1970s and beyond.
Kenner Quick Facts
Louisiana Vital Records for Kenner Deaths
Death records in Louisiana are confidential for 50 years under RS 40:41. During that window, only specific individuals may request a certified death certificate for a Kenner resident. Eligible persons include the surviving spouse, parents, adult children, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, attorneys, insurance beneficiaries, and succession representatives.
To request a death certificate, contact the Louisiana Vital Records Registry. The walk-in office is at 1450 Poydras Street, Suite 400, New Orleans, LA 70112, open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM. Mail requests go to PO Box 60630, New Orleans, LA 70160. Allow 8 to 10 weeks for mail processing. For faster service, call VitalChek at 1-877-605-8562. The fee is $7.00 for the first certificate plus $0.50 per additional copy.
Jefferson Parish participates in the state's Parish Clerk death certificate program. For deaths on or after July 7, 2012, the Jefferson Parish Clerk of Court can issue certified copies at roughly $26 per copy. This is more convenient for Kenner residents than going to the state office. Deaths older than 50 years are public. Search the free SOS online index at vitalrecords.sos.la.gov. Order photocopies for $5 or certified copies for $10 from the Secretary of State by mail.
The Louisiana State Archives at 3851 Essen Lane, Baton Rouge, LA 70809, phone (225) 922-1206, holds microfilmed death records from 1911 to 1974. For older Kenner-area deaths before state registration began, check the Jefferson Parish Clerk historical filings or Catholic church records from the region.
Jefferson Parish Clerk of Court
Kenner is an incorporated city in Jefferson Parish, so all civil records and court filings for Kenner residents go through the Jefferson Parish Clerk of Court. The clerk's office handles succession proceedings, estate filings, and civil case records that can document deaths in Kenner and throughout Jefferson Parish. Succession records in particular are worth searching because they are public, filed in connection with deaths, and often include copies of death certificates along with family relationship information.
The Jefferson Parish Clerk of Court has two locations. The main office is in Gretna at P.O. Box 10, Gretna, LA. The East Bank office, which serves Kenner and other East Bank communities, is at 1221 Elmwood Park Boulevard, New Orleans, LA. The main clerk phone is (504) 364-2900. The Jefferson Parish website at jeffparish.gov provides information on services and office hours for both locations.
The Jefferson Parish government website covers the clerk of court, library system, and health services that Kenner residents use for obituary and death record access.
The Jefferson Parish government site links to the clerk's offices on both the East and West Banks, the library obituary database, and other parish services relevant to Kenner death records.
| Office | Jefferson Parish Clerk of Court |
|---|---|
| Mailing | P.O. Box 10, Gretna, LA |
| East Bank Office | 1221 Elmwood Park Blvd, New Orleans, LA |
| Phone | (504) 364-2900 |
| Website | jeffparish.gov |
| Death Certs (post-7/7/2012) | ~$26 per copy |
City of Kenner Government Resources
Kenner is a full incorporated city with its own government, unlike neighboring Metairie which is an unincorporated Census Designated Place. The City of Kenner is at 1801 Williams Boulevard, Kenner, LA 70062, phone 504-468-7200. City Hall serves as a local government hub, though death records are not issued by the city directly. The city website at kenner.la.us can point residents to parish and state offices for vital records needs.
Kenner sits just west of Metairie and borders the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport. As a city within Jefferson Parish, Kenner residents share the same parish clerk, library system, and court district as Metairie, Marrero, Terrytown, and other Jefferson Parish communities. For death records and obituary research, the resources that serve Jefferson Parish broadly also serve Kenner specifically.
The City of Kenner website provides local government information and can direct residents to the Jefferson Parish offices that handle death records and vital records for Kenner.
The Kenner city site at kenner.la.us covers local departments and services, and serves as a starting point for residents who need to identify the right parish or state office for their records request.
Jefferson Parish Library Obituary Database
The Jefferson Parish Library maintains an obituary database covering 1972 through 1978 and 1980 through the present. This is one of the most useful free tools for finding published obituaries for Kenner residents. The database indexes death notices from area newspapers and lets researchers search by name. Library staff can assist with searches for entries that may not be indexed online.
Jefferson Parish Library cardholders also get free access to genealogy and newspaper archive databases including resources that span the greater New Orleans metro area where Kenner is located. Published obituaries from area papers are available through these databases, often including the full text of the notice with survivor names and funeral home details. This is a practical first step before starting a formal death certificate request through the state or parish clerk.
Multiple library branches operate throughout Jefferson Parish on both the East and West Banks. Branches closest to Kenner on the East Bank are most convenient, but any branch can give cardholders access to the parish-wide obituary database and digital genealogy resources. The library local history staff can assist with more complex obituary searches.
Historical Records and State Archives
The SOS Online Public Vital Records Index at sos.la.gov covers death records that have passed the 50-year confidentiality window. The index is free to search and returns basic record information. Order copies by mail from the Secretary of State: $5 for a photocopy, $10 for a certified copy. This index is a practical tool for genealogical research on older Kenner-area deaths.
The Louisiana State Archives in Baton Rouge holds microfilmed death records from 1911 to 1974. If the death falls within those years and is now public, the State Archives is the main source. Contact the Archives at (225) 922-1206 or visit in person at 3851 Essen Lane, Baton Rouge, LA 70809. Staff can assist with mail-in requests if travel is not practical.
For deaths before 1911, church records and notarial records are often the best sources. Catholic churches in the Kenner area and the Archdiocese of New Orleans hold burial and baptismal records that document deaths in this part of Jefferson Parish going back well into the colonial period. These records require direct contact with church or archdiocesan archives and are not held by the state or the clerk.
How to Get a Kenner Death Record
The process depends on how long ago the death occurred. For deaths within the last 50 years, you must be an eligible person and provide proof of your relationship to the deceased. A government-issued photo ID is required. A birth certificate, marriage license, or other legal document showing your relationship is also needed along with the fee payment by check or money order.
For recent deaths on or after July 7, 2012, you can request from either the LDH Vital Records Registry or the Jefferson Parish Clerk. For older deaths still in the confidential window, only the LDH registry can issue certified copies. For deaths from 1911 to 1974 that are now public, the State Archives is the right office. Use the SOS online index to confirm a record exists before ordering.
Fact-of-death letters are a simpler option under RS 44:19. These letters confirm a death occurred and are available to the spouse, parent, sibling, or child of the deceased. They do not carry the same restrictions as a full certified death certificate during the 50-year window and can serve many common administrative needs such as closing accounts or notifying insurance companies.
Nearby Cities
Obituary records for communities near Kenner can be found through these nearby Louisiana cities with their own local resources.