Caddo Parish Obituary Records

Caddo Parish obituary records and death certificates are available through multiple offices in Louisiana. The Caddo Parish Clerk of Court in Shreveport manages court records, succession filings, and civil case documents related to deaths in the parish. For certified death certificates, the Louisiana Department of Health Vital Records Registry is the primary state source. Historical records from 1911 onward are accessible through the State Archives and the Secretary of State's online index. This page covers how to find and request Caddo Parish death records from each source.

Caddo Parish Clerk of Court

The Caddo Parish Clerk of Court is at 501 Texas Street, Room 103, in Shreveport. Clerk Mike Spence heads an office of 70 employees and 900 election commissioners, making it one of the larger clerk offices in the state. The office is part of the 1st Judicial District Court and keeps records for mortgages, conveyances, marriage licenses, civil suits, criminal cases, and court minutes. Succession and probate filings that document deaths and estate settlements are also part of the Clerk's holdings.

The Caddo Clerk's office is now set up for civil e-filing and online UCC submissions. These systems make it easier to search civil case records remotely. While you can't get a death certificate directly from the Clerk, you can search civil case records that may include succession and probate filings tied to a Caddo Parish death. Visit the official Caddo Parish Clerk website for more on available services and online access.

Succession records at the Caddo Clerk's office document deaths indirectly. When an estate is opened in the 1st Judicial District Court, the Clerk files the succession petition, which typically lists the date of death, heirs, and the property involved. These records are public and available to anyone who requests them.

Caddo Parish Death Records and Clerk Resources

The screenshot below is from the Caddo Parish Clerk of Court website in Shreveport. This site provides information on record types held, online filing, and how to contact the office for records requests.

Use the Caddo Clerk's site as your starting point for finding civil case records, succession filings, and other court documents related to deaths and estates in Caddo Parish.

The screenshot below is from the Louisiana Secretary of State's vital records index page, which is one of the key tools for searching historical Caddo Parish deaths. The SOS vital records database covers deaths from more than 50 years ago and is free to search.

The SOS index is searchable for free and is one of the best tools available for finding historical Caddo Parish death records before ordering copies.

Louisiana Death Certificate Rules for Caddo Parish

Death certificates in Louisiana are confidential for 50 years under RS 40:41. Only eligible persons can get a certified copy of a recent Caddo Parish death certificate. The eligible persons are: surviving spouse, parents, adult children, siblings, grandparents, and grandchildren. Also eligible are attorneys acting on behalf of these family members, succession representatives with certified Letters of Testamentary, and insurance beneficiaries with signed policy documents.

Certified death certificates cost $7.00 plus $0.50 per copy. Requests go to the Louisiana Department of Health Vital Records Registry. You can visit in person at 1450 Poydras Street, Suite 400, New Orleans, open from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Mail requests go to PO Box 60630, New Orleans, LA 70160, and take around 8 to 10 weeks. VitalChek at 1-877-605-8562 handles phone and online orders for extra fees. The complete instructions are at ldh.la.gov.

For deaths that occurred on or after July 7, 2012, the Caddo Parish Clerk of Court may be able to issue certified copies locally for approximately $26 each. Call the Shreveport office at (318) 226-6788 to ask about local death certificate copies and whether that service is available.

Note: Under RS 44:19, fact of death letters are public records in Louisiana and are available to immediate family members without the full certified copy process.

Historical Caddo Parish Obituary Records

The Louisiana State Archives holds microfilmed Caddo Parish death records from 1911 to 1974. The Archives are at 3851 Essen Lane, Baton Rouge, LA 70809, reachable at (225) 922-1206. Deaths older than 50 years are public records, so pre-1976 Caddo Parish deaths can be requested by anyone without proving eligibility.

The online death index at vitalrecords.sos.la.gov is the free search tool for deaths from more than 50 years ago. Photocopy orders are $5 and certified copies are $10, both sent by mail. Searching is free and is a smart first step before paying for copies. The full guide to the SOS database is at sos.la.gov/archives.

Caddo Parish, as one of Louisiana's most populous parishes, has significant historical records. The Clerk's office in Shreveport may hold older probate records from the 1800s. Newspaper archives from the Shreveport Times and earlier publications often contain historical obituaries and death notices not found in the state death index. The Shreve Memorial Library in Shreveport has historical newspaper collections and local genealogy resources that can supplement state records.

Requesting Certified Caddo Parish Death Records

When writing to the Vital Records Registry to request a Caddo Parish death certificate, follow the procedures in La. Admin. Code tit. 48, Section V-11707. Include your relationship to the deceased, the full name and date of death, and payment by check or money order. Do not send cash. Incomplete requests are returned, adding weeks to the process.

• In person: 1450 Poydras St, Suite 400, New Orleans (8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. M-F)
• By mail: PO Box 60630, New Orleans, LA 70160 (allow 8-10 weeks)
• By phone or online: VitalChek at 1-877-605-8562
• Locally for post-July 2012 deaths: Caddo Parish Clerk, 501 Texas St, Room 103, Shreveport
• Historical (1911-1974): Louisiana State Archives, 3851 Essen Lane, Baton Rouge
• Online search (50+ years): vitalrecords.sos.la.gov

Louisiana's public records law under RS 44:31 allows access to most state records without stating a reason. But death certificates are an explicit exception under RS 40:41, which controls access to Caddo Parish death records during the 50-year confidentiality period. Knowing this distinction will save time if you're working through the request process.

Cities in Caddo Parish

Shreveport is the largest city in Caddo Parish and has its own dedicated records page on this site.

Nearby Parishes

Death records are filed in the parish where the death occurred. If you're not finding a Caddo Parish record, check these neighboring parishes next.