Shreveport Obituary Records
Shreveport obituary records are held across several offices and archives in Caddo Parish, the largest city in north Louisiana. Death certificates for Shreveport residents are issued by the Louisiana Department of Health, not by the city itself. For historical obituary research, the Caddo Parish Clerk of Court, the Shreve Memorial Library, and the state's online death index each serve a different role. This guide covers where to search, who to contact, and how Louisiana's access rules apply to Shreveport obituary and death records.
Shreveport Quick Facts
Shreveport Death Certificates and Vital Records
The City of Shreveport does not issue birth or death certificates. All vital records for Shreveport residents are handled at the state level through the Louisiana Department of Health Vital Records Registry. Under RS 40:41, death records remain confidential for 50 years after the year of death. Access during that window is limited to immediate family members, legal representatives, and those with a documented tangible interest.
Walk-in requests go to the Vital Records Central Office at 1450 Poydras Street, Suite 400, New Orleans, open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM. Mail requests go to PO Box 60630, New Orleans, LA 70160, with an 8 to 10 week processing time. The fee is $7.00 plus $0.50 per death certificate. Phone orders are available through VitalChek at 1-877-605-8562.
For local convenience, the Caddo Parish Health Unit also serves Shreveport residents on vital records matters. Their office is at 1035 Creswell Avenue, Shreveport, LA 71101, phone (318) 676-5222. The Caddo Parish Clerk of Court can issue certified death certificate copies for deaths on or after July 7, 2012, at approximately $26 per copy, which saves Shreveport residents a trip to New Orleans.
Records older than 50 years are available to the public through the Louisiana SOS online death records database. Photocopies are $5 and certified copies are $10, ordered by mail from the Secretary of State. The Louisiana State Archives in Baton Rouge at (225) 922-1206 holds microfilmed death records from 1911 to 1974 and some older Caddo Parish records.
Caddo Parish Clerk of Court Records
Shreveport is the parish seat of Caddo Parish, and the Caddo Parish Clerk of Court holds the official civil court records for the area. The clerk's office at 501 Texas Street, Room 103, maintains succession records, estate filings, and civil case documents. These records can document deaths that led to court proceedings, making them a useful supplement to official death certificates when researching Shreveport obituary history.
The Caddo Parish Clerk runs a staff of approximately 70 people and offers civil e-filing for attorneys and parties. For researchers, the clerk's office is the place to request copies of succession proceedings, which are frequently filed in connection with deaths and can include biographical details about the deceased and their survivors.
| Office | Caddo Parish Clerk of Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 501 Texas Street, Room 103, Shreveport, LA 71101 |
| Phone | (318) 226-6788 |
| Website | caddoclerk.com |
The screenshot below shows the Caddo Parish Clerk of Court website, where you can access civil case searches and find information on requesting records for Shreveport obituary and estate research.
The Caddo Clerk's online case search tool allows researchers to look up civil case numbers, succession filings, and judgment records tied to deaths in Shreveport and the wider Caddo Parish area.
Shreveport City Government and Local Resources
The City of Shreveport serves as the seat of local government in Caddo Parish. While the city does not manage vital records directly, it links to the local offices and health agencies that do. Mayor Tom Arceneaux's office is located at City Hall, 505 Travis Street, Shreveport, LA 71101, phone (318) 673-5050.
| Office | City of Shreveport |
|---|---|
| Address | 505 Travis Street, Shreveport, LA 71101 |
| Phone | (318) 673-5050 |
| Website | shreveportla.gov |
The screenshot below shows the City of Shreveport's official website, which can direct residents to local public health and records offices for obituary and death record requests.
The Shreveport city website connects residents to Caddo Parish agencies and state resources for death records, making it a useful starting point before contacting the clerk or state vital records office.
Shreve Memorial Library Genealogy Collections
The Shreve Memorial Library is one of the best public genealogy resources in north Louisiana. The main branch is at 424 Texas Street, Shreveport, LA 71101, phone (318) 226-5877. The library holds local history collections, Shreveport-area newspaper archives, and genealogy databases that cover decades of regional death notices and obituaries.
The Shreveport Times is the major regional newspaper and has published obituaries continuously for well over a century. Published death notices and full obituaries from the Times are searchable online at shreveporttimes.com. The library's newspaper archive holdings and digital database access help researchers extend that search back further into Shreveport's past.
The Shreveport-Bossier Journal also publishes obituaries, typically at a cost to families of around $95 for paid notices. These shorter paid obituaries appear in print and online and are often the only published record of a death for Shreveport residents who did not receive a full obituary write-up in the Times.
Note: Shreve Memorial Library has multiple branches throughout Caddo Parish, some of which also hold local history materials and provide access to genealogy databases for registered borrowers.
Louisiana Records Law and Access for Shreveport
Louisiana's public records framework under RS 44:31 gives broad access to government records, but vital records are specifically restricted under RS 40:41 during the 50-year confidential period. The Louisiana Sunshine Act requires agencies to respond to public records requests within five days and allows any individual to file suit if an agency fails to honor a valid request. However, death certificates fall outside the general public records framework until the confidential window closes.
Under RS 44:19, fact-of-death letters are public records. These letters are available to the spouse, parent, sibling, or child of the deceased and confirm the basic fact of death. For many administrative purposes, a fact-of-death letter is sufficient and can be obtained more quickly than a full death certificate during the 50-year restricted period.
Administrative procedures for requesting certified records follow La. Admin. Code tit. 48, §V-11707. Requesters must indicate their relationship to the deceased, provide identifying information, and submit payment by check or money order. Cash sent through the mail cannot be accepted by the state registry.
Nearby Louisiana Cities
Researchers with connections to northwest Louisiana may also find obituary records in Bossier City, just across the Red River, and other nearby communities with qualifying city resources.
Caddo Parish Obituary Records
Shreveport residents file all vital records and court proceedings through Caddo Parish. The Caddo Parish Clerk and the parish health unit are the key local offices for death documentation. For a full guide to Caddo Parish obituary record sources, search tools, and fees, visit the parish page.