St. Helena Parish Death Index

The St. Helena Parish death index is the starting point for locating death records filed in this small rural parish in southeast Louisiana. Certified death certificates are available through the Clerk of Court in Greensburg and through the Louisiana Department of Health. Whether you need a recent record for legal use or an older entry for family research, this page covers where to look, who qualifies, and what to expect from each source.

St. Helena Parish Death Index - Clerk of Court

The St. Helena Parish Clerk of Court is the primary local office for death-related court records in the parish. Clerk Trecia M. Odums runs the office at 369 Sitman Street in Greensburg. Mail can be sent to PO Box 307, Greensburg, LA 70441. The clerk's office serves the 21st Judicial District Court and handles succession filings, probate records, and certified copies of court documents.

Succession cases filed here often name the deceased, give the date of death, list heirs by name, and include property details. Death certificates are sometimes attached as court exhibits. This makes succession records a useful secondary source when you need more than what the basic death index entry shows. Court records of this type are public under R.S. 44:1. You can request copies at the office or ask staff what the current search options are.

The St. Helena Parish Government website is a good place to confirm current office contacts and local procedures. Their stated mission is to serve the people of St. Helena by providing the best local government services possible while maintaining the parish's rural character.

The screenshot below is from the St. Helena Parish government site, which lists local offices including the Clerk of Court in Greensburg.

The parish government office and the Clerk of Court are both in Greensburg and handle inquiries from residents across St. Helena Parish.

How to Get St. Helena Parish Death Records

Certified death certificates for St. Helena Parish come from the Louisiana Department of Health. LDH holds the statewide death index under R.S. 40:40. Every death in the parish is registered with the state. LDH issues certified copies when you qualify and make a valid request.

There are a few ways to place an order. In person, visit the LDH Vital Records office at 1450 Poydras Street, Suite 400, in New Orleans. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM. Bring a valid photo ID and any proof of relationship to the deceased. For mail orders, use the form at ldh.la.gov/page/643 and send it with a copy of your ID and a check or money order. The state fee is $7.00 per certified copy.

If you prefer not to deal directly with LDH, you can order through VitalChek at vitalchek.com or by phone at (877) 605-8562. VitalChek is an authorized third-party service. They charge a service fee above the state's base rate. You can also find St. Helena Parish listed in the LDH parish directory at ldh.la.gov/directory/category/320.

Who Can Request St. Helena Death Index Records

Louisiana restricts access to death records less than 50 years old. Under R.S. 40:41, only certain people may get a certified copy of a recent death certificate. Once a record is 50 or more years old, it becomes public and anyone can request it without proving eligibility.

For records under 50 years old, the people who may request a certified copy are the surviving spouse, a parent of the deceased, an adult child, a sibling, a grandparent, or an adult grandchild. An insurance beneficiary who provides an original beneficiary letter from the insurer also qualifies. Attorneys acting on behalf of any of the eligible parties may request records. A succession representative or legatee also has the right to access a death record.

You must show proof of your relationship when requesting a restricted record. A government-issued photo ID is required. You may also need a document that proves your connection to the deceased, such as a birth certificate, marriage record, or court order. Call LDH at (504) 593-5100 or the clerk's office before visiting to confirm what to bring.

Note: If you are unsure whether a record falls within the 50-year restriction, contact LDH before submitting your request to avoid processing delays.

Historical Death Records in St. Helena Parish

Records more than 50 years old are open to the public in Louisiana. No family connection is required. This makes older death records useful for genealogy and historical research. The Louisiana State Archives is the best source for these records.

The Louisiana State Archives is at 3851 Essen Lane in Baton Rouge. It is run by the Secretary of State's office. You can reach them at (225) 922-1000 or visit their research page at sos.la.gov/historicalresources/researchhistoricalrecords. The archives hold death records for St. Helena Parish going back into the 19th century. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, and Saturday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Before placing a formal order, use the free online index at the online public vital records index. You can search by name and confirm that a record exists. Once you find the entry, you can order a plain copy for $5.00 or a certified copy for $10.00. Both rates are lower than what LDH charges for the same records.

St. Helena Parish is a rural area in southeast Louisiana's Florida Parishes region. The archives may also hold supplemental materials such as early church registers and cemetery lists that help fill gaps in the official death index for this area. Ask archives staff what other sources exist when you contact them about St. Helena Parish records.

Death Record Fees in St. Helena Parish

Fees vary by source. The St. Helena Parish Clerk of Court charges approximately $26.00 for a certified copy of a court document. This is the standard parish-level rate across Louisiana. The fee applies to certified court records, not to death certificates themselves, which come from LDH.

LDH charges $7.00 for each certified death certificate. This rate applies regardless of which parish the death occurred in. If you need more than one copy, you pay the fee for each. Banks, insurance companies, courts, and government agencies each tend to keep their own copy, so order enough for all of your intended uses at once.

The Louisiana State Archives charges $5.00 for plain photocopies and $10.00 for certified copies of older records. For genealogy research, a plain copy is usually enough. For legal or estate use, you need a certified copy. Confirm payment methods with each office before sending anything by mail.

St. Helena Death Records and Louisiana Law

Louisiana's vital records statutes set the rules for access, fees, and record-keeping. These laws apply in every parish, including St. Helena.

The 50-year confidentiality rule comes from R.S. 40:41. After 50 years from the year of death, the record is public. Before that point, only eligible parties may get a certified copy. Both LDH and the clerk's office apply this rule to every request they handle.

Certified copies are governed by R.S. 40:46. This law explains what a certified copy must include and the legal weight it carries. A copy from LDH carries the same force as the original for all official uses. Courts, banks, and agencies accept it as proof of death.

Louisiana's broader public records law at R.S. 44:1 gives the public a general right to access government records. Death records past the 50-year mark fall under this right. Records within the confidentiality window are exempt under the specific vital records statutes. The state registrar's role is defined under R.S. 40:40, which governs how the statewide vital records system operates at every level.

Nearby Parishes

St. Helena Parish sits in southeast Louisiana in the Florida Parishes region. Deaths near a parish border may be recorded in a neighboring parish. Verify the location of death before submitting a request.