Vermilion Parish Obituary Records
Vermilion Parish obituary records and death certificates are handled by the Clerk of Court in Abbeville, and all applications must be made in person. This page covers how to get death records in Vermilion Parish, what to bring, the fees charged at the Abbeville courthouse, and where to look for older records through Louisiana's state vital records system.
Vermilion Parish Quick Facts
Vermilion Parish Death Certificates at the Clerk
The Vermilion Parish Clerk of Court is at 100 N. State Street, Suite 101, Abbeville, LA 70510. The main phone is (337) 898-1992, extension 243. The fax numbers are (337) 898-9803 for the main line and (337) 898-0404 for public service. You must appear in person to apply for a death certificate. The clerk does not accept phone orders for birth or death certificates.
When you arrive, you will need a valid driver's license or a government-issued photo ID. You must also complete a one-page application at the office. The clerk has access to Louisiana records only. If the death occurred in another state, you must contact that state's vital records office directly.
The fee for a death certificate is $26.00. Birth certificates cost $34.00 for the long form and $48.00 if you also need a birth card. Accepted forms of payment are cash, check, or credit card. The Vermilion Parish Clerk's office handles Louisiana records only and cannot fulfill requests for deaths that occurred outside the state.
The Vermilion Parish Clerk's vital records page at vermilionclerk.com explains the in-person process in detail. The image below shows the clerk's official certificate services page.
The clerk's certificate page lists all fees, ID requirements, and the in-person only policy for Vermilion Parish death record requests.
| Clerk of Court | Vermilion Parish Clerk of Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 100 N. State Street, Suite 101, Abbeville, LA 70510 |
| Phone | (337) 898-1992 ext. 243 |
| Fax (Main) | (337) 898-9803 |
| Fax (Public Service) | (337) 898-0404 |
| Death Certificate Fee | $26.00 |
| Application | In person only, no phone orders |
| Payment | Cash, Check, or Credit Card |
Note: Birth certificates for anyone born before 1984 may require a wait of 15 minutes to 1 hour while staff locate the older record. Plan extra time if your request involves a pre-1984 birth.
Older Death Records for Vermilion Parish
Deaths before the current clerk's records range require contact with the Louisiana Vital Records Registry. The Registry is at 1450 Poydras Street, Suite 400, New Orleans, LA 70112. Phone is (504) 593-5100. Mailing address is Vital Records Registry, PO Box 60630, New Orleans, LA 70160. Mail orders take about 8 to 10 weeks to process.
Under R.S. 40:41, death records are confidential for 50 years after the year of death. After that point, they move to the Louisiana State Archives at 3851 Essen Lane, Baton Rouge. Call (225) 922-1206 for Archives inquiries. The Archives hold microfilmed death records covering 1911 through 1974. For deaths before 1911, records may be held in church registers or older courthouse archives.
If your request involves a delayed birth certificate, the Vermilion Parish Clerk may refer you to the Louisiana Vital Records Registry office in New Orleans. Delayed certificates and records for births before formal state registration began in 1918 sometimes require a trip to the state-level office rather than the parish clerk.
The Vermilion Parish Clerk directory page at vermilionclerk.com/directory lists all departments and contacts. The image below shows the directory.
The clerk's directory is useful for finding the right department when handling probate, civil, or estate matters related to a death in Vermilion Parish.
Who May Request Vermilion Parish Death Records
Louisiana's closed-record law sets firm limits on who can get a certified copy of a recent death certificate. Close family members are first in line. The eligible list includes the surviving spouse, parents, adult children, siblings, grandparents, and grandchildren of the person named on the certificate. Others need a court order or must wait for the 50-year period to pass.
Attorneys can request records for eligible clients. They must submit a request on firm letterhead and include their bar roll number. An insurance beneficiary needs a signed copy of the policy. A succession representative must present a certified Letter of Testamentary.
When the 50-year period ends, records become public. The Louisiana Secretary of State's online database at vitalrecords.sos.la.gov covers older records. Uncertified copies cost $5.00. Certified copies are $10.00. Under R.S. 44:19, a fact of death letter is always a public record and can be requested by close family at any time regardless of how recent the death was.
Online Records Search Options
For deaths more than 50 years old, the Louisiana Secretary of State's online index at sos.la.gov is the best starting point. Search by name and order copies through the site. Recent deaths require a different approach. VitalChek at 1-877-605-8562 handles online orders for current certified copies from the state health department. Extra service fees apply.
The state's process for certified copy requests by mail is governed by La. Admin. Code tit. 48, § V-11707. You must state your relationship to the deceased and provide enough identifying details to locate the record. Payment for mail orders must be by check or money order. The Registry does not accept cash through the mail.
Obituaries and Funeral Homes in Vermilion Parish
Newspaper obituaries and death certificates are different. Death certificates are legal records. Obituaries are family notices published in papers or on funeral home websites. Both are useful for research in Vermilion Parish.
Abbeville and the surrounding Vermilion Parish area have several funeral homes that post current obituaries online. The Abbeville Meridional and other regional papers have covered the parish for many years. Old issues may be on microfilm at parish library branches or the Louisiana State Library in Baton Rouge. The Louisiana State Archives hold supplemental historical records that can fill gaps in your research when vital records are incomplete.
Cities in Vermilion Parish
Vermilion Parish is a rural parish in south Louisiana. Abbeville serves as the parish seat. For all death certificate requests, visit the Clerk of Court office at 100 N. State Street in Abbeville.
Nearby Parishes
Families from Vermilion Parish may have records in neighboring south Louisiana parishes, especially in areas where parish lines shifted over time.