Shreveport Death Index Lookup

Shreveport death index records are held at the Caddo Parish Clerk of Court in downtown Shreveport. All deaths that occur in Shreveport are registered in Caddo Parish, making the parish clerk the primary local source for certified death certificates. The Louisiana Department of Health also holds state-level copies, and the Louisiana State Archives holds older records. This guide explains how to find and request Shreveport death records, who qualifies to access restricted files, and what the fees are.

Caddo Parish Clerk of Court - Shreveport Death Records

The Caddo Parish Clerk of Court is the local office for Shreveport death index records. Clerk Mike Spence runs the office, which is located in the Caddo Parish Courthouse in downtown Shreveport. The clerk keeps records for Caddo Parish including mortgages, conveyances, marriage licenses, civil suits, criminal cases, and vital records. For death records, this is the first place to call in Shreveport.

The office address is 501 Texas Street, Room 103, Shreveport, LA 71101. They are on the first floor in Room 103. Office hours run Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, excluding holidays. You can reach the clerk by phone at (318) 226-6776. The clerk's website at caddoclerk.com has more information on services, fees, and available records. Staff can help with in-person requests and guide you through the mail request process.

The screenshot below shows the Shreveport city website, which links to local government services including vital records contacts in Caddo Parish.

The City of Shreveport website connects residents to local government services including vital records resources in Caddo Parish.

The Caddo Parish Clerk's website screenshot below shows the courthouse portal for records in Shreveport.

The Caddo Parish Clerk of Court at 501 Texas Street is the primary local office for Shreveport death index requests.

How to Get Shreveport Death Index Records

There are four ways to get a death record in Shreveport. You can visit the Caddo Parish Clerk in person, mail a request to the clerk, order through LDH, or use VitalChek. Each option has different timelines and steps.

In person is the fastest way. Go to 501 Texas Street, Room 103 during business hours. Bring a valid photo ID and any application form the office requires. The clerk can pull records and issue certified copies the same day in most cases. If you need the document right away, this is the best method.

Mail requests go to the Caddo Parish Clerk of Court at 501 Texas Street, Shreveport, LA 71101. Include a copy of your ID, a completed request form, and payment. Call (318) 226-6776 first to confirm the current form and payment methods before mailing anything. Mail requests take longer than in-person visits.

The Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) at ldh.la.gov/vitalrecords holds state copies of Shreveport death records. Their main 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. The state charges $7.00 per certified copy. The LDH parish directory at ldh.la.gov/directory/category/320 lists the local Caddo Parish contact.

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

Who Can Request Shreveport Death Records

Louisiana law restricts access to death records that are less than 50 years old. Under R.S. 40:41, only eligible parties may get a certified copy of a restricted record. Once the record is more than 50 years old, it is open to anyone.

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

You must show proof of your relationship along with a valid photo ID. Call the Caddo Parish Clerk at (318) 226-6776 to confirm what documents to bring before your visit.

Note: For records over 50 years old, no proof of relationship is needed. These records are public and can be requested by anyone.

Historical Death Records in Shreveport

Records more than 50 years old are open to the public. No eligibility proof is required. This makes older Shreveport death records useful for genealogy research and historical work.

The Louisiana State Archives holds older Caddo Parish death records. The archives are 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. Photocopy fees at the archives are $5.00, and certified copies cost $10.00.

Shreveport Death Record Fees

The Caddo 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 tend to keep one copy. If you need multiple certified copies, you pay the fee per copy. Check with the clerk at (318) 226-6776 for current payment methods before you send a mail request.

Louisiana Law and Shreveport Death Records

The same state laws apply to Shreveport death records as to every other Louisiana city. These statutes set the rules for access, certified copies, and record maintenance.

The 50-year rule is in R.S. 40:41. Records less than 50 years old are restricted. Records older than that are public. Certified copies are governed by R.S. 40:46, which defines what a certified copy must contain and what legal force it carries. A copy from the Caddo Clerk or LDH is legally equivalent to the original. The state registrar's authority is set in R.S. 40:40. Louisiana's general public records access law is at R.S. 44:1, which applies to older death records that have passed the 50-year confidentiality window.

Nearby Cities

These qualifying cities are near Shreveport. Death records for each city are handled by the parish where the death was registered.