Louisiana Background Checks

In Louisiana, vital records are considered confidential and are mostly used for a variety of legal purposes more especially in court proceedings. Therefore, mainly the person named on the document, or his or her close relative, is able to access the records such as for self-enacted Louisiana background checks. Birth records remain confidential until 100 years after the date of birth, while death certificates stay mostly inaccessible until 50 years after the date of death. Death certificate copies are $7.50 from the Louisiana Office of Public Health, Vital Records, or Vital Records Parish Health Units.

Both long form and short form copies of birth certificates are available. The short and long form Louisiana birth certificates both include the birth name, birth date, parish of birth, file date and issue date. The short version also has the father’s initials as well as the mother’s first initial and last name. The long form, which is better suited to Louisiana background checks, has the added data of the hospital name, mother’s and father’s full names and ages and the mother’s residence at the time of the birth. The fees for copies of these birth certificates are $15.50 for the long form and $9.50 for the short form.

Marriage and divorce records are not available from Louisiana Vital Records or Vital Records Parish Health Units. The Orleans Parish has copies of marriage certificates at $5.50. For other Parishes, certified copies of marriage certificates, such as those that may be used for Louisiana background checks, can be obtained by contacting the Clerk of Court in the county where the marriage license was issued. Divorce record copes can also be accessed by authorized individuals by contacting the Clerk in the county where the divorce was granted.

Mail for more information:
Louisiana Office of Public Health
Vital Records
Center for Disease Control and Prevention
PO Box 60630
New Orleans, LA 70160

Call or visit for more information:
Vital Records Central Office
1450 Poydras St., Suite 400
New Orleans, LA 70112
Phone: (504) 593-5100

Call any of the following Parish Health Unit locations for further contact and records information:

*East Baton Rouge, Baton Rouge, (225) 242-4860
*Caddo, Shreveport, (318) 676-5222
*Ouachita, Monroe, (318) 361-7283
*Rapides, Alexandria, (318) 487-5282, ext. 4
*Calcasieu, Lake Charles, (337) 478-6367
*Lafayette, Lafayette, (337) 262-5616, ext. 139
*Lafourche, Thibodaux, (985) 447-0800
*Tangipahoa, Hammond, (985) 543-4165

LA Background Check

The “closed records” state of Louisiana doesn’t permit the access of criminal records for personal use, immigration or a work visa. The Louisiana State Police conducts employment criminal history checks for applicants in health care, social programs, the gaming industry and other fields. The criminal information covers only what is in the Louisiana State Police’s statewide database of conviction data at the time of the check. When doing these Louisiana background checks, you must submit a General Disclosure form. Also include the subject’s name, date of birth, race, sex and his or her Social Security Number.

Mail order replies average 5 – 7 business days after the criminal background check request is received. Fingerprint based checks may take 15 – 21 business days after the order is received. A “No Record” result to State Police Louisiana background checks often take a 24 hour response time. For fingerprinting services at the Louisiana State Police, arrival to the fingerprint room before 3:45 is required. The fingerprint fee is $10. Louisiana State Police criminal background checks are $26. A state FBI background check for authorized agencies is $45.25. An authorized agency is one that has legal authorization to receive FBI information.
Mailing address:
Louisiana State Police
Bureau of Criminal Identification and Information
PO Box 66614, Mail Slip A-6
Baton Rouge, LA 70896

In person address:
7919 Independence Blvd.
Baton Rouge, LA 70806

Phone: (225) 925-6095
Hours: Monday – Friday 8am – 4pm
(Arrive before 3:45pm for fingerprint room services)