How Shreveport/Bossier Residents can Get a Louisiana Birth Certificate

Needing a birth certificate usually hits when you are already busy: Real ID, a passport, school enrollment, a new job. You may have heard talk about “downloading” one online. Louisiana does allow online ordering, but the official result is a certified copy you receive by mail or pick up, not a PDF you print at home. 

Get it in Shreveport: Caddo Parish Clerk of Court 

If you are local, the Caddo Parish Clerk of Court can issue certified copies of Louisiana birth certificates through the State Registrar system. The current fee listed by the Clerk is $34, with an optional birth certificate plus wallet-sized birth card for $48. Bring proper identification and payment. Going earlier in the day can help if the state computer system is running slow. 

Ordering online: use VitalChek 

Louisiana Department of Health points online orders to VitalChek, its authorized provider. You submit the request, verify identity, pay by credit card, then choose shipping speed. Online ordering is the request process, not an instant download. 

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Mail it to Louisiana Vital Records 

Mail works when time is not tight. Send the completed application, a copy of your photo ID, and the correct fees to the Louisiana Vital Records Registry in New Orleans. LDH advises allowing about 8 to 10 weeks for delivery. 

New Orleans option: walk-in or “Will Call” 

If you are already heading to New Orleans, LDH’s Vital Records Central Office offers walk-in service on weekdays. “Will Call” is also available through the VitalChek ordering process, with pickup after you receive an email that the order is ready. 

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Louisiana birth certificates are not public records, so only eligible relatives or legal representatives can request them. Double-check spelling and birth date before you submit.