Bossier City Death Index Records

Bossier City death index records are maintained by Bossier Parish, where the Bossier Parish Clerk of Court keeps vital records for all deaths registered in the parish. Bossier City sits across the Red River from Shreveport, and it is the largest city in Bossier Parish. Every death that occurs in Bossier City is registered in the Bossier Parish system. This guide covers how to find and request Bossier City death records, who can access restricted files, what fees apply, and where to find older historical records.

Bossier Parish Clerk Handles Bossier City Death Records

The Bossier Parish Clerk of Court is the local office for Bossier City death index records. Clerk Jill M. Sessions runs the office. The parish seat for Bossier Parish is Benton, not Bossier City, so the Bossier Parish Courthouse and clerk's office are in Benton. If you plan to visit in person, note that you will need to go to Benton, which is a short drive north of Bossier City.

The clerk's office is at 204 Burt Boulevard, 3rd Floor, Benton, LA 71006. The phone number is (318) 965-2336. The clerk's website at bossierclerk.com has information on services and records available for Bossier Parish, including Bossier City. Staff can help with in-person requests and guide you through the process for mail requests. Call ahead to confirm current office hours and what identification you need to bring.

The Bossier City government website at bossiercity.org provides city-level government information, while the Bossier Parish Clerk handles vital records for deaths that occur in the city.

The City of Bossier City website links to local government services, while death index records are maintained by Bossier Parish.

The Bossier Parish Clerk of Court website below shows the parish records portal for Bossier City death index requests.

The Bossier Parish Clerk of Court at 204 Burt Blvd in Benton handles death index requests for Bossier City and all of Bossier Parish.

How to Get Bossier City Death Index Records

You can get a Bossier City death record in person at the Bossier Parish Clerk's office in Benton, by mail, through LDH, or via VitalChek. In-person visits to 204 Burt Boulevard in Benton are the fastest way to get a certified copy. Bring a valid photo ID and a completed application. Call (318) 965-2336 ahead to confirm current hours and what form you need.

Mail requests go to the Bossier Parish Clerk of Court at 204 Burt Boulevard, 3rd Floor, Benton, LA 71006. Include a copy of your photo ID, a completed request form, and payment. Mail requests take longer than in-person visits. Confirm the current form and payment method with the clerk before sending anything.

The Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) at ldh.la.gov/vitalrecords holds state-level copies of Bossier City death records. The LDH office is at 1450 Poydras St Suite 400, New Orleans, open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM. Call (504) 593-5100 or order by mail using the form at ldh.la.gov/page/643. LDH charges $7.00 per certified copy. The LDH parish directory at ldh.la.gov/directory/category/320 lists the local Bossier Parish contact.

VitalChek at vitalchek.com or (877) 605-8562 handles online orders. A service fee applies on top of the state rate.

Bossier City Death Records - Who Can Request

Louisiana restricts access to death records less than 50 years old. Under R.S. 40:41, only eligible parties can get a certified copy. Records more than 50 years old are open to the public with no restrictions.

For Bossier City death records under 50 years, eligible requesters include the surviving spouse, a parent of the deceased, an adult child, a sibling, a grandparent, or an adult grandchild. An insurance beneficiary with an original beneficiary letter may also qualify. Attorneys acting for eligible parties may request records. Succession representatives and legatees handling estate matters also have access rights under Louisiana law.

Bring a valid government-issued photo ID and proof of your relationship to the deceased when requesting a restricted record. Call the Bossier Parish Clerk at (318) 965-2336 to confirm what documents to bring.

Note: For records over 50 years old, no eligibility proof is required. These records are public and available to anyone who requests them.

Historical Death Records in Bossier City

Older death records are public. No proof of relationship is required for records more than 50 years old. This makes older Bossier Parish death records useful for genealogy research without eligibility barriers.

The Louisiana State Archives holds older records at 3851 Essen Lane, Baton Rouge, LA 70809. Hours run Monday through Friday 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM and Saturday 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Call (225) 922-1000 or visit sos.la.gov/historicalresources/researchhistoricalrecords. The online public vital records index at the online vital records index lets you search by name at no cost before ordering a certified copy. Fees at the archives are $5.00 for photocopies and $10.00 for certified copies.

Bossier City Death Record Fees

The Bossier Parish Clerk charges approximately $26.00 for a certified death certificate. LDH charges $7.00 per certified copy. The State Archives charges $5.00 for photocopies and $10.00 for certified copies of older records.

Order enough copies for all your uses. Banks, courts, and insurance companies each typically keep one copy. Pay the fee for each copy you need. Call the clerk at (318) 965-2336 to confirm current payment methods before sending a mail request.

Louisiana Law and Bossier City Death Records

Louisiana state statutes govern death records in Bossier City the same as everywhere else in the state. The rules apply uniformly across all parishes.

The 50-year confidentiality rule is in R.S. 40:41. Records under 50 years old are restricted to eligible parties. Records older than that are public. Certified copies are governed by R.S. 40:46, which defines what a certified copy must contain. A copy from the Bossier Parish Clerk or LDH has the same legal force as the original. The state registrar's duties are set in R.S. 40:40. Louisiana's broader public records law at R.S. 44:1 applies to older death records past the 50-year window.

Nearby Cities

These qualifying cities are near Bossier City in northwest Louisiana.