Search West Feliciana Parish Death Index

The West Feliciana Parish death index covers deaths filed in this small east-central Louisiana parish. The Clerk of Court in St. Francisville is the main local source for certified death certificates. The Louisiana Vital Records Registry also handles statewide requests, and older records going back more than 50 years are available through the Louisiana State Archives. This page covers the search process, eligibility rules, fees, and legal background for West Feliciana Parish death records.

West Feliciana Clerk of Court - Death Index Records

The West Feliciana Parish Clerk of Court in St. Francisville is the primary local office for death records. Clerk Loriee L. Byrd manages the office, which is at 4785 Prosperity Street, St. Francisville, LA 70775. Mail requests go to P.O. Box 1843, St. Francisville, LA 70775. All deaths registered in West Feliciana Parish are on file here, and staff can handle both in-person and mail requests for certified death certificates.

The office phone number is (225) 635-3794. Fax is (225) 635-6297. Email contact is westfelclerk@westfelicianaclerk.com. Hours are Monday through Friday during normal business hours. Always call ahead to confirm current hours and find out what you need to bring. This is especially useful if you are driving from a distance to St. Francisville.

The West Feliciana Parish Clerk website is at westfelicianaclerk.com. Check there for updated information on how to submit requests and what fees apply.

The Louisiana Department of Health keeps a statewide directory of parish vital records contacts at ldh.la.gov/directory/category/320. West Feliciana Parish is listed there with current contact details.

The image below shows the Louisiana vital records registry page, which covers statewide requests and accepts orders for West Feliciana Parish death certificates.

The Louisiana Vital Records Registry accepts death certificate requests for all parishes including West Feliciana at a state fee of $7.00 per copy.

How to Get West Feliciana Parish Death Records

You can get a West Feliciana Parish death record by visiting the clerk's office in person in St. Francisville, mailing a request to the clerk, ordering through the Louisiana Department of Health, or using VitalChek online. Each method has different processing times and steps.

In person at the West Feliciana Parish Clerk of Court at 4785 Prosperity Street in St. Francisville is the most direct route. Bring a valid government photo ID and the appropriate request form. Calling (225) 635-3794 first to confirm what you need is a good idea. If the record is on file and you arrive early, you may be able to get a certified copy the same day. The office is smaller than those in larger parishes, so calling first is especially helpful.

Mail requests go to P.O. Box 1843, St. Francisville, LA 70775. Include a copy of your photo ID, a completed form, and a check or money order. Plan for a longer wait when using mail. The clerk can tell you what form to use if you call ahead.

The Louisiana Department of Health at ldh.la.gov/vitalrecords processes death certificate requests statewide. Their office is at 1450 Poydras St Suite 400, New Orleans, open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM. Phone: (504) 593-5100. Download the order form at ldh.la.gov/page/643. LDH charges $7.00 per certified copy.

VitalChek at vitalchek.com or (877) 605-8562 handles online orders with an added service fee. Deaths occurring more than 50 years ago and birth records more than 100 years old are also available through the Louisiana State Archives, as noted on the vital records registry page.

Note: Louisiana required statewide death registration beginning in 1911. Records before that year may exist only in older parish or church files.

West Feliciana Death Records - Who Qualifies

Louisiana restricts access to death records less than 50 years old. Under R.S. 40:41, confidential records can only be released to people with a legal right. After 50 years from the year of death, the record is public and open to anyone.

For West Feliciana Parish death records under 50 years old, the following parties are eligible: the surviving spouse, a parent of the deceased, an adult child, a sibling, a grandparent, and an adult grandchild. An insurance beneficiary with an original beneficiary letter may also qualify. An attorney acting for any of the above persons can request a record on their behalf. A succession representative or legatee in estate proceedings is also eligible.

You must provide proof of your relationship when you request a restricted record. A government-issued photo ID is required. You may also need a supporting document such as a birth certificate, marriage certificate, or court order that shows your connection to the deceased. Contact the clerk at (225) 635-3794 before visiting to confirm what documents are needed for your specific request.

Historical West Feliciana Parish Death Index Records

Records more than 50 years old are public in Louisiana. Anyone can access these older records without proving a family connection. For West Feliciana Parish, death records go back to 1911 in the statewide system. The parish itself has older civil records, and some church records from the 1800s may be available through the archives.

The Louisiana State Archives at 3851 Essen Lane, Baton Rouge, LA 70809 holds historical vital records from all parishes. Managed by the Secretary of State, 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. Their research portal is at sos.la.gov/historicalresources/researchhistoricalrecords. Deaths more than 50 years old and births more than 100 years old are available there for public access.

The image below shows the Louisiana State Archives historical records research page, which includes older West Feliciana Parish death index entries going back over a century.

The state archives hold West Feliciana Parish death records going back to 1911 and earlier in some cases, all open to public researchers for records past the 50-year mark.

The free online search tool at the online public vital records index lets you search by name before ordering. Photocopies at the archives cost $5.00 per page, and certified copies are $10.00 each.

West Feliciana Parish Death Record Fees

The West Feliciana Parish Clerk of Court charges approximately $26.00 for a certified death certificate. LDH charges $7.00 per certified copy. The state archives charge $5.00 for photocopies and $10.00 for certified copies of older records. These are the three main places to request records, each with its own fee structure.

If you need more than one copy, each one costs the full fee. Plan for every agency or institution that will need a copy. Most banks, courts, and insurance companies will not accept a photocopy of a certified certificate. Order enough copies up front to avoid a second request later, which adds time and cost.

Call the West Feliciana Clerk at (225) 635-3794 before sending a mail request to verify accepted payment methods. Mail requests generally require a check or money order. In-person requests at the clerk's office may accept additional payment types.

Louisiana Law and West Feliciana Death Records

State statutes control how death records are kept and accessed in Louisiana. Every parish clerk, including West Feliciana, follows these rules.

The 50-year confidentiality rule is in R.S. 40:41. This statute makes death records private for 50 years from the year of death. After that, the record is public. The West Feliciana Clerk applies this standard to every request it receives.

Certified copies are addressed in R.S. 40:46. This law defines what a certified copy must contain and confirms its legal standing. A certified copy from the West Feliciana Parish Clerk or from LDH has the same legal force as the original death record.

The broader public records law at R.S. 44:1 establishes the general right of access to government records. Death records past the 50-year mark are open under this law. Records within the confidentiality period remain exempt. The state registrar's authority under R.S. 40:40 governs the statewide vital records system, and the West Feliciana Clerk operates within that framework.

Nearby Parishes

These parishes are near West Feliciana Parish. Each maintains death records through its own clerk of court.