St. Helena Parish Obituary Records

St. Helena Parish obituary records and death certificates are available through the parish Clerk of Court in Greensburg for deaths registered from July 2012 to the present. For older deaths, the Louisiana Vital Records Registry and the State Archives handle requests depending on the time period. St. Helena Parish is a small rural parish in southeastern Louisiana, and this guide explains how to find death records, what fees apply, and what the law requires for access.

Death Record Access Laws in Louisiana

Louisiana classifies death certificates as confidential records. Under Louisiana Revised Statutes RS 40:41, a death record stays closed for 50 years after the year of death. So a record for a death in 2018 won't be public until 2069. This rule applies across all 64 parishes, including St. Helena.

Who can request a St. Helena Parish death certificate during that restricted period? The law allows the surviving spouse, parents, adult children, siblings, grandparents, and grandchildren. Insurance beneficiaries with a signed copy of the policy can also apply. Attorneys acting for eligible relatives and succession representatives with certified Letters of Testamentary are permitted as well. Outside of these groups, a court order is required. The state registrar checks your relationship before releasing any record.

One exception matters for general requests. Under RS 44:19, a fact of death letter is a public record. It confirms that a death occurred. It doesn't carry the full information of a certified death certificate, but anyone may request one. Louisiana's general public records law under RS 44:31 covers most government documents but does not override these vital records access rules.

Note: Deaths registered before July 9, 2012 in St. Helena Parish must be requested directly from the Louisiana Vital Records Registry at (504) 593-5100, not from the Clerk of Court.

St. Helena Parish Clerk of Court

The St. Helena Parish Clerk of Court in Greensburg issues certified death certificates for deaths registered in Louisiana from July 9, 2012 to the present. The Clerk's office has specific hours for birth and death record requests: Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM only. This window is shorter than the office's general hours, so plan ahead. More details are available at sthelenaclerk.org/birth-death-certificates.

Fees at the St. Helena Parish Clerk's office are: Death Certificate $26.00, Birth Certificate $34.00, and Birth Certificate plus Birth Card (sold as a pair only) $48.00. The office accepts cash or card. To apply, you must fill out and sign Form #PHS520F in person. Valid photo ID is required, such as a current state-issued driver's license, state ID, U.S. passport, or U.S. military photo ID.

Death certificates are usually available within 90 days of the death. If you need a record from before July 9, 2012, contact the Louisiana Vital Records Registry at (504) 593-5100. The Clerk's office in Greensburg does not hold those older records.

Note: Birth cards cannot be purchased separately at St. Helena Parish; they are only available as part of the $48.00 combination with a birth certificate.

Vital Records for Deaths Before 2012

If you are looking for a St. Helena Parish death record from before July 9, 2012, you must contact the Louisiana Department of Health Vital Records Registry. The Registry is at 1450 Poydras Street, Suite 400, New Orleans, LA 70112. Walk-in hours are 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM Monday through Friday. The phone number is (504) 593-5100. Mail requests go to PO Box 60630, New Orleans, LA 70160, and usually take 8 to 10 weeks.

The state Vital Records Registry charges $7.00 per death certificate plus a $0.50 state charge. Orders can also be placed through VitalChek at 1-877-605-8562. The Registry does not accept credit cards directly; use a check or money order for mail requests. The procedures for requesting certified copies are outlined in Louisiana Administrative Code Title 48, Section V-11707.

St. Helena Parish Historical Records at State Archives

The Louisiana State Archives in Baton Rouge holds microfilmed death certificates for events that occurred between 1911 and 1974. For St. Helena Parish deaths from that era, this is the right place to look. Records here are all more than 50 years old and open to the public. The Archives are at 3851 Essen Lane, Baton Rouge. Phone is (225) 922-1206.

The Secretary of State's online Louisiana Vital Records Index lets you search for deaths occurring more than 50 years ago. Certified copies cost $10 each by mail; photocopies are $5 each. For St. Helena Parish family history research, this online tool is a good starting point before submitting a formal order. The searchable interface at vitalrecords.sos.la.gov allows name and year searches.

For St. Helena Parish deaths before 1911, records may exist in older church or civil registers. The Archives staff can advise on what is available for specific time periods in this rural area of southeastern Louisiana.

Note: Death records at the State Archives are all public since they are all more than 50 years old. No eligibility proof is needed to request them.

Cities in St. Helena Parish

St. Helena Parish is a rural parish. The main community is Greensburg, the parish seat. No cities in St. For all obituary records and death certificate requests in St. Helena Parish, the Clerk of Court at 369 Sitman, Suite 101, Greensburg is the local contact point.

Nearby Parishes

St. Helena Parish borders several parishes in the Florida Parishes region of Louisiana. If a death occurred near a parish line, the record may be held at an adjacent Clerk of Court.