Terrebonne Parish Death Index Records

The Terrebonne Parish death index is the starting point for anyone who needs to locate a death record filed in this south Louisiana parish. The Clerk of Court in Houma is the primary local office for certified copies. The Louisiana Department of Health and the Louisiana State Archives provide additional access routes for both current and historical records. This guide covers how to request records, who qualifies for restricted files, what fees to expect, and how state law shapes the process.

Terrebonne Parish Death Index - Clerk of Court

The Terrebonne Parish Clerk of Court handles all local death record requests. Clerk Bobby J. Boudreaux runs the office at 7856 Main Street in Houma. The mailing address is P.O. Box 1569, Houma, LA 70361. Phone is (985) 873-6535 and fax is (985) 857-3701. Staff can be reached by email at terrebonneclerk@terrebonnecoc.com. This office holds death index records for all deaths registered in Terrebonne Parish and issues certified copies to those who qualify under state law.

The clerk's website is at terrebonnecoc.com. Check there for current office hours, procedures, and any service updates before visiting in person. Standard Louisiana clerk hours run Monday through Friday, typically around 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, though you should confirm directly with the office. Houma is the parish seat and the Terrebonne courthouse is centrally located on Main Street.

If you are unsure whether the Terrebonne Parish Clerk is the right office for your request, the Louisiana Department of Health maintains a statewide directory at ldh.la.gov/directory/category/320. This confirms which local office handles vital records for each parish and provides updated contact details. For recent deaths, both the clerk and LDH hold records, and either can issue a certified copy.

The image below is from the LDH Vital Records page, which explains how to request a certified death certificate from the state, covering all Louisiana parishes including Terrebonne.

LDH issues certified death records for Terrebonne Parish at $7.00 per copy, and their Vital Records page has the forms and instructions you need.

How to Get Terrebonne Death Records

You can get a Terrebonne Parish death record in four ways. In person at the Houma courthouse is fastest. Mail requests to the clerk work if you cannot visit. LDH in New Orleans handles statewide orders. VitalChek handles online requests as a third-party option.

In person at the clerk's office at 7856 Main Street in Houma. Bring a valid photo ID and, for records less than 50 years old, proof of your relationship to the deceased. The clerk's staff can process certified copies while you wait in many cases. Call (985) 873-6535 first to confirm what to bring and whether same-day processing is available for your request.

Mail requests go to P.O. Box 1569, Houma, LA 70361. Include a written request, a photocopy of your ID, any required relationship documents, and a check or money order for the fee. Confirm the current fee and the correct form to use by calling the clerk before you mail anything. Mail requests generally take a week or more.

The Louisiana Department of Health at ldh.la.gov/vitalrecords is the state-level option. Their office is at 1450 Poydras St Suite 400, New Orleans, open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM. Phone is (504) 593-5100. The mail order form is at ldh.la.gov/page/643. LDH charges $7.00 per certified copy, which is lower than the parish clerk fee.

VitalChek at vitalchek.com or (877) 605-8562 offers online ordering with an added service fee. This is a good option for out-of-state requests or when you need to order outside of regular business hours.

Note: All certified copies carry the state seal and are legally valid. Plain photocopies are not accepted by courts, banks, or insurance companies.

Eligibility for Terrebonne Parish Death Records

Death records less than 50 years old are restricted under R.S. 40:41. Only certain people may get a certified copy during this window. Once the record is more than 50 years old, it becomes fully public and any person may request it without showing a relationship to the deceased.

For restricted Terrebonne Parish death records, eligible requesters include the surviving spouse of the deceased, a parent, an adult child, a sibling, a grandparent, and an adult grandchild. An insurance beneficiary may qualify if they can show an original letter from the insurer stating their beneficiary status. An attorney working on behalf of any eligible person may also submit a request. A succession representative or legatee in the estate has access rights as well.

Proof of eligibility is required. A government-issued photo ID must come with every request. Depending on your relationship to the deceased, you may also need to show a birth certificate, marriage certificate, or court order. Call (985) 873-6535 or email terrebonneclerk@terrebonnecoc.com to ask what documents are needed before you go. This keeps things moving and avoids a rejected or delayed request.

The state registrar's role in the vital records system is defined in R.S. 40:40. The Terrebonne Parish Clerk operates within this framework, following state rules on every request that comes through the Houma office.

Historical Death Records in Terrebonne Parish

Death records more than 50 years old are public. No relationship is needed to access them. Genealogists and family historians often use these older files to trace family lines through Terrebonne Parish, which has records going back into the 19th century.

The Louisiana State Archives in Baton Rouge holds the main collection of historical vital records. The archives are at 3851 Essen Lane and are open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, and Saturday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Phone is (225) 922-1000. Their research page is at sos.la.gov/historicalresources/researchhistoricalrecords. Terrebonne Parish records in the archives span well into the 1800s, which covers most serious genealogy needs.

The image below shows the Louisiana State Archives historical records portal where researchers can search the death index for Terrebonne Parish and other Louisiana parishes at no cost before ordering a copy.

The online index at the State Archives is a free search tool that lets you find a name in the death records before you commit to ordering a certified copy.

The online public vital records index is at the online vital records index page. Search by name at no cost. Once you confirm the record, request a copy from the archives. Photocopies cost $5.00 per page. Certified copies from the archives cost $10.00, which is less than the parish clerk rate for older records.

Terrebonne Parish Death Record Fees

Fees depend on which office you use. The Terrebonne Parish Clerk of Court charges approximately $26.00 per certified death certificate. The Louisiana Department of Health charges $7.00 per certified copy. The Louisiana State Archives charges $5.00 for photocopies and $10.00 for certified copies of historical records.

If you need multiple copies, you pay the fee for each. Courts, banks, insurance companies, and government offices typically each want their own certified copy. Order what you need at one time to avoid repeat requests. Call the clerk at (985) 873-6535 to confirm the current fee and accepted payment forms before sending a mail request. In-person payments at the Houma office may allow cash, check, or card.

Terrebonne Death Records and Louisiana Law

Louisiana's vital records laws apply across the state. The same rules that govern records in every other parish also apply in Terrebonne.

The confidentiality period is set by R.S. 40:41. Death records within 50 years of the date of death are restricted. The Terrebonne Parish Clerk applies this rule at the Houma office for every request. Once 50 years have passed from the year of death, the record is public. Anyone may request it without showing a relationship to the deceased.

Certified copies are defined in R.S. 40:46. This statute confirms what a certified copy must include and gives it legal force equal to the original record. A copy from the Terrebonne Parish Clerk or from LDH is valid for use in courts, estates, and financial institutions.

Louisiana's general public records law at R.S. 44:1 applies to older death records. Records past the 50-year mark are fully public under this law. Records within the confidentiality window are exempt from the general access right under the vital records statutes. The state registrar's authority is in R.S. 40:40, which provides the framework the Terrebonne Parish Clerk follows when processing records in Houma.

Nearby Parishes

These parishes are near Terrebonne Parish in south Louisiana. Each clerk of court handles death records for deaths registered within its own parish boundaries.