Bossier Parish Death Index Search
The Bossier Parish death index contains records of deaths registered in the parish going back more than a century. You can search these records through the Louisiana Department of Health, the Louisiana State Archives, and the Bossier Parish Clerk of Court in Benton. This guide covers every way to find and obtain death records tied to Bossier Parish.
Bossier Parish Quick Facts
Louisiana Department of Health Death Records
The Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) is the main source for death certificates in Bossier Parish. LDH has kept official records of deaths since 1914. If the person died in Bossier Parish after that date, the death certificate is on file with LDH's Vital Records office in New Orleans.
Access to death records in Louisiana is restricted for 50 years after the date of death. Louisiana R.S. 40:41 sets out who may obtain a certified copy of a death certificate within that window. Only the surviving spouse, a parent, an adult child, a sibling, a grandparent, an adult grandchild, an insurance beneficiary with a letter from the company, an attorney for any of those people, or a succession representative may request a record less than 50 years old. Deaths older than 50 years are available to any member of the public.
The LDH Vital Records office is located at 1450 Poydras Street, Suite 400, New Orleans. It is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM. You can reach the office by phone at (504) 593-5100. Walk-in service and mail requests are both accepted. The fee for a certified death certificate from LDH is $7.00 per copy.
The screenshot below is from the LDH Vital Records website. The site explains what documents you need to bring and how to place an order for a Bossier Parish death certificate.
The Louisiana Department of Health Vital Records page has current instructions for ordering a death certificate by walk-in or mail.
LDH is the primary state agency responsible under R.S. 40:40 for registering vital events, including all deaths that occur in Bossier Parish.
Bossier Parish Clerk of Court Death Records
The Bossier Parish Clerk of Court maintains older indexes and historical records that can help trace deaths in the parish. Jill M. Sessions serves as the current Clerk of Court. Her office is on the 3rd floor of the courthouse at 204 Burt Boulevard in Benton.
In Louisiana, birth and death records are primarily handled by the Louisiana Department of Health. While some historical records might be available at the parish level, LDH is the primary source for recent records. The clerk's office can be a helpful starting point when you know a death occurred in Bossier Parish but you are not certain of the exact date or need to track down older records not held by LDH.
The Bossier Parish Clerk of Court website provides information on how to search and request records. The screenshot below shows the clerk's office contact page.
Visit bossierclerk.com to check current services and any online search tools the office offers.
Copy fees at the Bossier Parish Clerk of Court are $1.00 per page for plain copies and $5.00 per document for certified copies. Call (318) 965-2336 to confirm current fees before you visit.
| Clerk of Court | Jill M. Sessions |
|---|---|
| Address | 204 Burt Boulevard, 3rd Floor, Benton, LA 71006 |
| Mailing Address | PO Box 430, Benton, LA 71006 |
| Phone | (318) 965-2336 |
| Fax | (318) 965-2713 |
| jillsessions@bossierclerk.com | |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Website | bossierclerk.com |
| Copy Fees | $1.00 per page | $5.00 certified per document |
How to Find Death Records in Bossier Parish
There are three main ways to search the Bossier Parish death index: through the Louisiana State Archives online index, by contacting the LDH Vital Records office, or by visiting the Clerk of Court in Benton. Each method works best for different situations. The Archives index is good for older records. LDH is best for deaths after 1914. The clerk's office can help when you need supporting court or probate documents.
The Louisiana Secretary of State maintains a free online index of vital records. You can search the index at the Louisiana Vital Records Online Index. This tool lets you search by name and get basic identifying information. The index does not give you a certified copy, but it tells you when and where to request one. It covers many historical deaths in Bossier Parish.
To request a certified copy of a death certificate by mail, you can use the LDH death certificate order page. You can also order through VitalChek by phone at (877) 605-8562. VitalChek charges a service fee on top of the state fee. Many people find it convenient for out-of-state requests.
The Louisiana State Archives in Baton Rouge holds original registers and indexes of historical vital records. The Archives are open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, and Saturday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Call (225) 922-1000 for help before your visit. The Archives website at sos.la.gov has more detail on what collections are available.
Bossier Parish Death Record Access Rules
Louisiana law controls who can access death records and how. R.S. 40:41 makes death records confidential for 50 years from the date of death. After that period, any person may request a copy. Before 50 years pass, the record is restricted to the deceased's immediate family and certain legal representatives.
People who may request a death certificate within the 50-year window include the surviving spouse, a parent, an adult child, a sibling, a grandparent, an adult grandchild, an insurance beneficiary who provides a letter from the insurance company, an attorney representing any of these people, and a succession representative or legatee with a legal interest in the estate. If you fall into one of these categories, you will need to show proof of your relationship when you submit the request.
The Vital Records Registrar is the officer responsible for maintaining these records under R.S. 40:40. The rules for obtaining certified copies are set out in R.S. 40:46, which covers the fees, the form of the certified copy, and the procedures the Registrar must follow. Death records that are part of court proceedings, such as probate filings, may also be subject to R.S. 44:1, Louisiana's Public Records Law.
Historical Bossier Parish Death Index at the State Archives
For genealogy research or older deaths, the Louisiana State Archives is a key resource. The Archives hold original death registers, statewide indexes, and microfilm collections. Many Bossier Parish death records from the late 1800s and early 1900s are available through the Archives. Some of these records predate the LDH system.
The screenshot below shows the Louisiana State Archives research portal where you can begin searching for historical Bossier Parish death records.
The Louisiana State Archives historical records page lists all collections available for on-site and online research.
The Archives charge $5.00 for plain copies and $10.00 for certified copies. Staff can help locate death records for Bossier Parish when you provide the name and approximate year of death.
Cities in Bossier Parish
Bossier Parish includes several communities. Deaths in all of them are registered through the same state and parish system. Bossier City is the largest city in the parish and is located directly across the Red River from Shreveport. All death records for Bossier City residents are filed under the Bossier Parish registration system.
Nearby Parishes
These parishes share borders with Bossier Parish. Death records for each parish are held separately by that parish's clerk and by LDH under the applicable registration district.