Find Death Records in Catahoula Parish
The Catahoula Parish death index covers all deaths registered in this rural central Louisiana parish. The Louisiana Department of Health in New Orleans holds certified death certificates for Catahoula Parish, while the Clerk of Court in Harrisonburg keeps related probate and court records. This page explains how to search the death index and obtain records through every available source.
Catahoula Parish Quick Facts
Catahoula Parish Clerk of Court
Paige H. Vines serves as the Catahoula Parish Clerk of Court. The office is at 301 Bushley Street, Room 6, in Harrisonburg, Louisiana. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. You can reach the office by phone at (318) 744-5497 or by fax at (318) 744-5611. Email contact is phvcoc@bayou.com.
The clerk's office handles court records for the 7th Judicial District Court in Catahoula Parish. This includes civil cases, criminal cases, probate matters, and succession filings. When a resident of Catahoula Parish dies and an estate must be settled, the succession case is filed with this clerk. Those records are public documents under R.S. 44:1 and can be accessed by any person during normal business hours.
Catahoula Parish is a small, rural parish. The clerk's staff is limited, and calling ahead before your visit is strongly recommended. The clerk can help you find older index entries and locate filings that relate to a death in the parish.
| Clerk of Court | Paige H. Vines |
|---|---|
| Address | 301 Bushley Street, Room 6, Harrisonburg, LA 71340 |
| Mailing Address | PO Box 243, Harrisonburg, LA 71340 |
| Phone | (318) 744-5497 |
| Fax | (318) 744-5611 |
| phvcoc@bayou.com | |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Website | catahoulaclerk.com |
Death Certificates from Louisiana Department of Health
The Louisiana Department of Health is the main source for Catahoula Parish death certificates. Under R.S. 40:40, the Vital Records Registrar maintains a statewide index of all deaths registered in Louisiana. LDH has records for Catahoula Parish going back to 1914. The LDH office is at 1450 Poydras Street, Suite 400, New Orleans, LA, open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM. Phone: (504) 593-5100.
The fee for a certified death certificate is $7.00. You can order in person, by mail using the form on the LDH order page, or through VitalChek at (877) 605-8562. VitalChek is a good option for anyone who cannot travel to New Orleans. A service fee applies on top of the state fee.
Catahoula Parish death records are restricted for 50 years under R.S. 40:41. Only close relatives, legal representatives, and certain other qualified parties may request a certified copy within that window. After 50 years, any person may request the record. The rules for the certified copy form are in R.S. 40:46.
Below is a screenshot from the LDH Vital Records website. It shows the current ordering options for a Catahoula Parish death certificate.
The Louisiana Department of Health Vital Records page has all the details you need to order a certified death certificate for Catahoula Parish.
LDH is the official registrar for all deaths that occur in Louisiana, including those in rural parishes like Catahoula.
Historical Catahoula Parish Death Index
The Louisiana State Archives in Baton Rouge holds original death registers and microfilm collections for Catahoula Parish. These records go back well before the LDH system began in 1914, making the Archives the best source for older deaths. Staff can help you search by name and approximate year when you visit or call ahead. The Archives are open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, and Saturday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Phone: (225) 922-1000.
A free online search tool is available through the Louisiana Secretary of State at the Louisiana Vital Records Online Index. The index covers many historical Catahoula Parish deaths. It shows the year of death and the registration number. You can use that information to order a certified copy from LDH or the Archives. No account or login is needed to use the free index.
More information about all collections at the Archives is on the Louisiana State Archives research page. Copy fees at the Archives are $5.00 for plain copies and $10.00 for certified copies.
The screenshot below shows the Louisiana State Archives online portal, which covers historical Catahoula Parish death records.
The Louisiana State Archives are free to use in person and maintain extensive collections for central Louisiana parishes, including Catahoula.
For deaths in Catahoula Parish before 1914, the Archives are often the only source for a formal record.
Communities in Catahoula Parish
Catahoula Parish is a rural parish in central Louisiana. Harrisonburg is the parish seat. No communities in the parish meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page. All deaths in the parish are registered under the Catahoula Parish vital records district with the Louisiana Department of Health.
Nearby Parishes
Catahoula Parish borders six other parishes. Each has its own clerk and its own LDH registration district for death records.