St. Martin Parish Obituary Records

St. Martin Parish obituary records and death certificates are available through the Clerk of Court in St. Martinville for recent deaths, and through the Louisiana Vital Records Registry and State Archives for older records. One key rule sets St. Martin Parish apart from many other parishes: the Clerk's office only issues death certificates for deaths that occurred within two years of the date you submit your request. This guide explains how that rule works, who qualifies to receive records, and how to access historical St. Martin Parish death records.

Death Record Access Rules in Louisiana

Louisiana classifies death certificates as confidential records under RS 40:41. Death records stay closed for 50 years after the year of death. This applies statewide, including St. Martin Parish. A death from 2012 won't be a public record until 2063. Only eligible parties can request a copy before that point.

The St. Martin Parish Clerk of Court issues death certificates to immediate family members: current spouse, parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, sibling, and legal guardian with a judgment of custody. Beneficiaries with a copy of an insurance policy or Last Will and Testament naming them as beneficiary may also qualify. All applicants must present a valid photo ID at the time of application. LA Wallet is not accepted as valid ID at the St. Martin Parish Clerk's office, which is a specific local rule worth knowing before you visit.

Under RS 44:19, fact of death letters are public records. They confirm a death occurred but do not carry the full detail of a certified certificate. Anyone can request one without proving a family connection. Louisiana's general public records law under RS 44:31 does not override the 50-year rule for death certificates.

St. Martin Parish Clerk of Court

The St. Martin Parish Clerk of Court in St. Martinville is a unique office in one important way: it issues death certificates only for deaths that occurred within two years of the date you submit the request. If the death happened more than two years ago, you will need to contact the Louisiana Vital Records Registry instead. The Clerk also has specific processing hours for birth and death certificates: Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 3:45 PM only. The office may be open later for other services, but vital records requests must be made before 3:45 PM.

Birth certificates are available through this office for anyone born in Louisiana. The Clerk issues both birth and death certificates in St. Martin Parish as an agent for the Louisiana Vital Records Registry. Fees follow the standard parish clerk schedule. For questions about what documents to bring or whether you qualify, call the office directly at (337) 394-2210 before making the trip to St. Martinville.

Note: LA Wallet is not accepted as valid identification at the St. Martin Parish Clerk of Court for vital records requests. Bring a physical state ID, driver's license, U.S. passport, or military photo ID.

Deaths More Than Two Years Ago

If you need a death certificate for a St. Martin Parish death that happened more than two years before your request date, the Clerk's office will not be able to help. You must contact the Louisiana Department of Health Vital Records Registry directly. The Registry holds all Louisiana death records regardless of when the death occurred. Walk-in service at 1450 Poydras Street, Suite 400, New Orleans runs from 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM on weekdays. Phone: (504) 593-5100. Mail requests go to PO Box 60630, New Orleans, LA 70160, with an 8 to 10 week processing time.

Fees at the state level are $7.00 per death certificate plus a $0.50 state charge. Orders can also be placed through VitalChek at 1-877-605-8562. Mail orders require a check or money order. The administrative requirements for ordering by mail are set out in Louisiana Administrative Code Title 48, Section V-11707.

Probate and Succession Records in St. Martin Parish

Succession and probate records in St. Martin Parish are filed with the Clerk of Court in St. Martinville. When someone dies with property or debts, a succession case is often opened. These records name the deceased, list heirs, and may reference the date of death. Probate filings are court records and are generally accessible to the public. They are not subject to the 50-year confidentiality rule that applies to death certificates.

If you need to locate a probate case in St. Martin Parish, contact the Clerk's office at (337) 394-2210. Provide the deceased's full name and approximate year of death to help narrow the search. Older probate records may exist only in paper form, so an in-person visit may be necessary for records from several decades ago.

Historical Death Records at Louisiana State Archives

The Louisiana State Archives holds microfilmed death records from 1911 to 1974 for all Louisiana parishes, including St. Martin. These are all public records since they are more than 50 years old. The Archives are at 3851 Essen Lane, Baton Rouge. Phone: (225) 922-1206. No eligibility proof is required to request these records.

The Louisiana Vital Records Index online lets you search for deaths more than 50 years ago. Certified copies by mail cost $10; photocopies are $5. The searchable database at vitalrecords.sos.la.gov is a good starting point before placing a formal order for older St. Martin Parish records.

For deaths in St. Martin Parish before 1911, some records may exist in older civil registers or in church archives from the Attakapas district. The Archives staff can advise on what survives for specific time periods in this part of Louisiana.

Cities in St. Martin Parish

St. Martin Parish communities include St. Martinville, Breaux Bridge, Henderson, and Parks. For obituary records and death certificate requests anywhere in St. Martin Parish, contact the Clerk of Court at 415 St. Martin Street in St. Martinville during vital records hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 3:45 PM.

Nearby Parishes

St. Martin Parish is in the heart of Acadiana in south Louisiana. It borders several parishes, and deaths near parish lines may involve records from adjacent jurisdictions.