St. John the Baptist Parish Obituary Records

St. John the Baptist Parish obituary records and death certificates are available through two Clerk of Court locations, one on the Westbank in Edgard and one on the Eastbank in LaPlace. For deaths that occurred from July 2012 onward, the parish Clerk can issue certified copies. For older deaths, the Louisiana Vital Records Registry and State Archives handle requests. This page covers where to go, what to bring, and what Louisiana law requires for access to St. John the Baptist Parish death records.

Louisiana Death Record Confidentiality Rules

Louisiana is a closed-record state for death certificates. Under RS 40:41, death records stay confidential for 50 years after the year the death occurred. This rule covers St. John the Baptist Parish records just as it does all others in Louisiana. A death from 2020 will not be a public record until 2071.

Eligible requestors for restricted St. John the Baptist Parish death records include: surviving spouse, parents, adult children, siblings, grandparents, and grandchildren of the deceased. Attorneys acting for qualified relatives, insurance beneficiaries with a signed copy of the policy, and succession representatives holding certified Letters of Testamentary may also apply. Everyone else needs a court order. The state registrar verifies eligibility before releasing any document.

There is a public exception. Under RS 44:19, a fact of death letter is a public record. It confirms a death occurred without including the full detail of a certified certificate. Anyone can request one. Louisiana's general public records law under RS 44:31 does not override the 50-year rule for death certificates. Death records in St. John the Baptist Parish stay closed until that window passes.

Note: Death records in St. John the Baptist Parish are restricted for the full 50-year period with no exceptions beyond those listed in RS 40:41.

St. John the Baptist Parish Clerk of Court Locations

The St. John the Baptist Parish Clerk of Court has two offices serving opposite sides of the Mississippi River. The current Clerk is Felicia C. Feist, the first African-American elected to that position in parish history, sworn in on June 30, 2024. Both offices are open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM and can issue birth certificates and handle death record inquiries.

The official Clerk of Court website at sjbparishclerk.gov has current information on services, hours, and forms. Records can be requested at either location. Birth certificates are CASH ONLY and require exact change. Marriage licenses are available at both locations as well.

Death records restricted under Louisiana law for the 50-year period are not issued at the Clerk's office during that time. For deaths that do qualify, the fee is $34.00 and payment is CASH ONLY with exact change. For deaths prior to July 7, 2012, contact the Louisiana Vital Records Registry at (504) 593-5100.

Probate and Succession Records

The St. John the Baptist Parish Clerk of Court maintains succession and probate records for the parish. When someone dies with assets or debts, a succession case is often filed at the Clerk's office. These filings name the deceased, list heirs, and may reference the date and place of death. Probate records are court filings and are generally public. They are not subject to the 50-year restriction that applies to death certificates.

The Eastbank office in LaPlace serves the larger population center on that side of the river, while the Westbank office in Edgard handles the original parish seat area. For succession searches, either office can assist. Providing the deceased person's full name and approximate year of death will help the clerk staff locate the right records.

Louisiana Vital Records Registry

The Louisiana Department of Health Vital Records Registry holds death certificates for all Louisiana parishes, including St. John the Baptist. Walk-in service is at 1450 Poydras Street, Suite 400, New Orleans, from 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM weekdays. Phone: (504) 593-5100. Mail requests go to PO Box 60630, New Orleans, LA 70160, with an 8 to 10 week processing time.

The state Vital Records Registry charges $7.00 per death certificate plus a $0.50 state charge. VitalChek at 1-877-605-8562 handles phone orders, with additional service fees. Mail orders require a check or money order. The procedures for requesting certified copies are set out in Louisiana Administrative Code Title 48, Section V-11707. For records older than 50 years, no eligibility proof is required.

Historical Death Records for St. John the Baptist Parish

The Louisiana State Archives holds microfilmed death records for Louisiana from 1911 through 1974, including St. John the Baptist Parish. All records at the Archives are more than 50 years old and are public. The Archives are at 3851 Essen Lane, Baton Rouge. Phone: (225) 922-1206.

For deaths more than 50 years ago, the Secretary of State runs an online index at sos.la.gov. Certified copies by mail cost $10; photocopies are $5. The searchable database at vitalrecords.sos.la.gov lets you search by name and year before placing an order. This is the right tool for family history research covering St. John the Baptist Parish deaths from the mid-20th century and earlier.

Cities in St. John the Baptist Parish

LaPlace is the largest community in St. John the Baptist Parish and has a dedicated city page on this site. The Eastbank Clerk of Court office is located in LaPlace at 1811 West Airline Highway, making it the most convenient office for most parish residents.

Nearby Parishes

St. John the Baptist Parish borders five other parishes in the River Parishes and greater New Orleans region. Deaths near parish lines may have records filed in an adjacent jurisdiction.