Washington Parish Obituary Records

Washington Parish obituary records and death certificates are handled through the Clerk of Court in Franklinton and through Louisiana's state vital records agencies for older deaths. This page covers how to request death records in Washington Parish, who the clerk is, what fees apply, and how the 22nd Judicial District Court structure affects where you go for different types of records.

Washington Parish Clerk of Court Death Records

Hon. Johnny D. Crain, Jr. serves as the Washington Parish Clerk of Court. The office is at 908B Washington Street, Courthouse, at the intersection of Main and Washington Streets in Franklinton, LA 70438. The phone is (985) 839-4663 and the fax is (985) 839-3116. You can reach the clerk by email at Washparcoc@yahoo.com. Mail goes to P.O. Box 607, Franklinton, LA 70438.

Washington Parish is part of the 22nd Judicial District Court, which it shares with St. Tammany Parish. The clerk's office maintains death certificates for deaths registered from July 7, 2012 forward. For older deaths, the state vital records system handles requests. Office hours are Monday through Friday. Call ahead to confirm current hours before you make the trip.

The clerk's office is the main hub for official parish records. That includes court filings, civil judgments, marriage licenses, and death certificates. If you are also researching a probate case or estate connected to a death in Washington Parish, the same clerk's office handles those files.

The Washington Parish Clerk of Court website at washingtonparishclerk.org has office details and contact information. The image below shows the clerk's official site.

The clerk's website covers services available at the Franklinton courthouse, including information on how to request records in person.

Older Washington Parish Death Records

For deaths before July 7, 2012, contact the Louisiana Vital Records Registry at 1450 Poydras Street, Suite 400, New Orleans, LA 70112. The phone is (504) 593-5100. Mail to Vital Records Registry, PO Box 60630, New Orleans, LA 70160. Mail requests take around 8 to 10 weeks to process.

Louisiana's closed-record law, R.S. 40:41, makes death records confidential for 50 years from the year of death. Once that period ends, records transfer to the Louisiana State Archives at 3851 Essen Lane, Baton Rouge. Call the Archives at (225) 922-1206. They hold microfilmed death certificates for deaths from 1911 through 1974.

Washington Parish health unit information is also available through the Louisiana Department of Health at ldh.la.gov. This local unit can help answer questions about where to find vital records for the Franklinton area.

The Washington Parish health unit listing at the state health department shows local vital records contacts and services available in the Franklinton area. The image below shows that state resource for Washington Parish.

The state health department's local directory helps residents find the nearest vital records assistance for Washington Parish death certificate requests.

Who May Request Washington Parish Death Certificates

Under Louisiana law, only certain people may get a certified death certificate for a recent death. The eligible list includes the surviving spouse, parents, adult children, siblings, grandparents, and grandchildren of the person named on the certificate. Court orders can also authorize access for others.

Attorneys acting for an eligible family member must submit requests on firm letterhead with their bar roll number. Insurance beneficiaries need a signed policy copy. Succession representatives must hold a certified Letter of Testamentary.

After 50 years, the death record becomes public. Search the Louisiana Secretary of State's online index at vitalrecords.sos.la.gov. Uncertified copies are $5.00 each. Certified copies are $10.00. Under R.S. 44:19, fact of death letters are public records and can be obtained by close family members at any time.

Online Death Record Search Options

The Louisiana Secretary of State's online index at sos.la.gov covers deaths more than 50 years old. You can search by name and order copies through the site. This is the main online resource for historical Washington Parish death records from the 1970s and earlier.

For more recent deaths, VitalChek at 1-877-605-8562 handles online and phone orders. Extra service fees apply. The rules for mail-in certified copy requests are in La. Admin. Code tit. 48, § V-11707. State your relationship to the deceased, provide identifying details, and pay by check or money order. Cash through the mail is not accepted.

Louisiana's public records law under RS 44:31 applies broadly to government documents, but death certificates are a specific exemption. The 50-year confidentiality window under R.S. 40:41 controls access to those records, not the general public records law.

Obituaries and Newspapers in Washington Parish

Newspaper obituaries serve a different purpose than death certificates. Obituaries are public announcements. Death certificates are legal documents. Both are worth checking when researching a death in Washington Parish.

Franklinton has a history of local newspaper publishing. The Franklinton Era-Leader and similar papers have covered the parish for many years. Older issues may be on microfilm at the Franklinton branch of the Washington Parish Library or at the Louisiana State Library in Baton Rouge. Funeral homes in the Franklinton area also post current obituaries on their websites. The State Archives in Baton Rouge holds historical death records on microfilm that can supplement newspaper research.

Note: Washington Parish sits in a part of Louisiana where records from the early 20th century may be found in neighboring Tangipahoa, St. Helena, or St. Tammany parishes, depending on where a person lived and died.

Cities in Washington Parish

Washington Parish is a rural parish in southeast Louisiana. Franklinton is the parish seat and largest community. For all death certificate requests, contact the Clerk of Court at 908B Washington Street in Franklinton.

Nearby Parishes

Washington Parish borders several parishes in southeast Louisiana. Family records may be spread across these neighboring courthouses.