Claiborne Parish Death Index Records
The Claiborne Parish death index contains records of deaths registered in this north Louisiana parish. The Louisiana Department of Health in New Orleans holds certified death certificates for Claiborne Parish going back to 1914, and the Claiborne Parish Clerk of Court in Homer keeps probate filings and court records tied to deaths in the parish. This page covers all the ways to search and obtain Claiborne Parish death records.
Claiborne Parish Quick Facts
Claiborne Parish Clerk of Court
Sherry D. McGraw serves as the Claiborne Parish Clerk of Court. The office is at 512 Main Street in Homer, Louisiana. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Call (318) 927-9601 to reach the office by phone, or fax documents to (318) 927-7145.
The clerk's office handles all court records for the 2nd Judicial District Court in Claiborne Parish. That includes civil cases, criminal cases, probate filings, and succession records. When someone dies in Claiborne Parish and a succession must be opened, the case goes through this clerk. Succession records are public documents under R.S. 44:1, and any person may request them during office hours.
For actual death certificates, you need to go to the Louisiana Department of Health or the State Archives. The clerk's office is the place to look for documents tied to the legal proceedings that follow a death, not for the certificate itself. Still, probate records often contain useful identifying information such as the date of death, the names of heirs, and a list of estate assets.
| Clerk of Court | Sherry D. McGraw |
|---|---|
| Address | 512 Main Street, Homer, LA 71040 |
| Mailing Address | PO Box 330, Homer, LA 71040 |
| Phone | (318) 927-9601 |
| Fax | (318) 927-7145 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Website | claiborneparishclerk.com |
Louisiana Department of Health Death Certificates
The Louisiana Department of Health is the official source for Claiborne Parish death certificates. Under R.S. 40:40, the Vital Records Registrar keeps a statewide index of all deaths registered in Louisiana. LDH has maintained records for Claiborne Parish since statewide registration began in 1914.
The LDH Vital Records office is at 1450 Poydras Street, Suite 400, New Orleans, LA. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM. Phone: (504) 593-5100. The fee for a certified death certificate is $7.00 per copy. Walk-in, mail, and third-party ordering are all available. Mail requests use the form on the LDH order page.
Third-party ordering is available through VitalChek at (877) 605-8562. VitalChek adds a processing fee but ships the record directly to you, which is convenient if you cannot travel to New Orleans. Allow extra time for mail and third-party orders, especially around state holidays.
Under R.S. 40:41, Claiborne Parish death records are confidential for 50 years after the death. Within that window, only a surviving spouse, parent, adult child, sibling, grandparent, adult grandchild, insurance beneficiary with a letter, attorney for those parties, or succession representative may obtain a certified copy. After 50 years, the record is open to any person. Certified copy rules are set by R.S. 40:46.
The screenshot below shows the LDH Vital Records website where you can start a request for a Claiborne Parish death certificate.
The Louisiana Department of Health Vital Records page has all current ordering options and required documents listed clearly.
LDH is the most reliable source for Claiborne Parish death certificates from 1914 to the present.
Free Online Claiborne Parish Death Index
The Louisiana Secretary of State runs a free online index of vital records. You can search historical Claiborne Parish deaths at the Louisiana Vital Records Online Index. No account is needed. The index shows the year of death and the registration number. You can use that information to request a certified copy from LDH or the Archives.
The Louisiana State Archives in Baton Rouge holds original death registers and microfilm for Claiborne Parish. These collections cover deaths going back to the parish's earliest years, including records that predate the LDH system. 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. The Louisiana State Archives research page lists all available collections. Copy fees are $5.00 for plain and $10.00 for certified copies.
Below is a screenshot from the LDH order page, which guides you through the steps to request a Claiborne Parish death certificate by mail or in person.
Visit ldh.la.gov/page/643 to find the current mail request form and instructions for ordering a Claiborne Parish death certificate.
For genealogy work or estate matters, having both the death certificate from LDH and any succession records from the clerk's office gives you the most complete picture of a death in Claiborne Parish.
Communities in Claiborne Parish
Claiborne Parish is a rural north Louisiana parish. Homer is the parish seat and the main population center. No communities in Claiborne Parish meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page. All deaths in the parish are registered under the Claiborne Parish vital records district with the Louisiana Department of Health.
Nearby Parishes
Claiborne Parish borders four other parishes. Death records for each are kept separately by that parish and by LDH under a distinct registration district.