Houma Death Index Lookup

The Houma death index is maintained through Terrebonne Parish, the parish that governs vital records for this south Louisiana city. Deaths registered in Houma are on file at the Terrebonne Parish Clerk of Court, which sits in the heart of the city. Copies of death certificates can also be ordered through the Louisiana Department of Health. This guide explains how to search Houma death index records, request certified copies, determine who is eligible for restricted files, and find historical records for older deaths in the area.

Terrebonne Parish Handles Houma Death Records

All death records for the city of Houma are managed by the Terrebonne Parish Clerk of Court. Clerk Bobby J. Boudreaux runs the office, which is located at 7856 Main Street in Houma, LA 70360. The clerk's office is very close to Houma city hall and easy to reach from anywhere in the city. You can call the office at (985) 873-6535.

The clerk's website at terrebonnecoc.com lists contact information and office services. Visit the site before you go to confirm current hours and any updated procedures for death record requests. Staff at this office handle both in-person visits and mail requests for certified death certificates from Houma and across Terrebonne Parish.

The Louisiana Department of Health vital records page covers all parishes, including Terrebonne, and is an alternative to the local clerk's office for ordering Houma death certificates.

Getting Houma Death Index Records

There are four main ways to get a death record connected to Houma. Visit the Terrebonne Parish Clerk in person, send a mail request, order through the Louisiana Department of Health, or use VitalChek online.

In person at the clerk's office on Main Street is the fastest approach. Show a valid photo ID, bring any required forms, and the clerk's staff can often process the request the same day. This works well when you need a death certificate quickly. Call (985) 873-6535 ahead of time to confirm what documentation is required for your specific type of request.

Mail requests go to the Terrebonne Parish Clerk of Court at 7856 Main Street, Houma, LA 70360. Include a completed application form, a copy of your government-issued ID, and a check or money order for the fee. Mail turnaround takes longer than in-person visits, so give yourself extra time. The clerk can tell you over the phone what form to use and how to submit payment by mail.

The Louisiana Department of Health at ldh.la.gov/vitalrecords handles statewide death record orders. Their New Orleans office is at 1450 Poydras Street, Suite 400, and is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM. Phone is (504) 593-5100. The mail order form is at ldh.la.gov/page/643. LDH charges $7.00 per certified copy.

VitalChek at vitalchek.com is an authorized online service for ordering Louisiana vital records. Phone orders go to (877) 605-8562. A service fee applies beyond the base record cost.

Who Can Access Houma Death Records

Louisiana law restricts access to death records less than 50 years old. Under R.S. 40:41, only eligible parties may receive a certified copy of a recent death record. Records older than 50 years are public and open to any requester without any eligibility requirement.

For death records from Houma that are less than 50 years old, 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 holding an original beneficiary letter may also request the record. Attorneys acting on behalf of any of these eligible parties are allowed to file requests. A succession representative or legatee connected to the estate of the deceased may also get access.

You must provide a valid photo ID and documentation showing your relationship to the deceased. The Terrebonne Parish Clerk will walk you through what to bring if you call before your visit. Having the right paperwork ready avoids delays at the counter.

Note: The role and authority of Louisiana's state registrar are defined under R.S. 40:40, which covers how vital records are managed at the statewide level across all parishes including Terrebonne.

Historical Death Records in Houma

Older death records from Houma and the surrounding Terrebonne Parish area are open to the public once they are more than 50 years old. Genealogists, family researchers, and historians can access them without showing any connection to the deceased. This makes historical death index records from Houma an important resource for tracing families in this part of Louisiana.

The Louisiana State Archives hold death records for Terrebonne Parish going back to the early statewide registration period. The archives are located at 3851 Essen Lane, Baton Rouge, LA 70809. Phone is (225) 922-1000. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, and Saturday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Their research portal is at sos.la.gov/historicalresources/researchhistoricalrecords.

The state archives are the main source for historical Houma death index entries and older Terrebonne Parish records that predate recent decades.

You can also search the online public vital records index at no cost at the online vital records index page. This tool lets you look up basic entry information by name and confirm whether a record exists before ordering a full certified copy. Louisiana's statewide death registration dates to 1911.

Fees at the archives are $5.00 per photocopy and $10.00 for certified copies. For old records, this is often less expensive than ordering through the parish clerk.

Fees for Houma Death Records

The cost depends on which office you use. The Terrebonne Parish Clerk of Court charges approximately $26.00 for a certified death certificate. The Louisiana Department of Health charges $7.00 per certified copy. The Louisiana State Archives charges $5.00 for photocopies and $10.00 for certified copies of older records.

Each copy costs the full fee again. Probate, insurance, financial institutions, and government agencies often require their own certified copy. If you know you need the record for multiple purposes, ordering extra copies now saves you from returning later and paying again.

Call the Terrebonne Parish Clerk at (985) 873-6535 to confirm payment methods accepted for in-person and mail requests before you send anything in.

Louisiana Law and Houma Death Records

State law controls access to death records across all Louisiana parishes, including Terrebonne. The key statutes that apply to Houma death index records cover confidentiality, certified copies, and the public records framework.

The 50-year rule is in R.S. 40:41. This statute restricts death records for 50 years from the date of death. After that period, the record is public. The Terrebonne Parish Clerk applies this rule to all Houma death record requests without exception.

Certified copies are governed by R.S. 40:46. This law defines the required content and legal status of certified copies. A certified copy from the clerk in Houma or from LDH carries full legal weight and is accepted by courts, banks, and government agencies as proof of death.

The public records framework is set out in R.S. 44:1, which gives citizens a general right to access government records. Death records older than 50 years fall under this right. Records still within the confidentiality period are exempt from the general public records statute under the specific vital records laws.

Nearby Cities

These cities are near Houma and each has a death index page with local records information.