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How to Obtain a Birth Certificate in New Orleans

The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals maintains birth records for New Orleans, as well as the entire state of Louisiana. When ordering a copy of a birth certificate, you have the option of requesting either a short-form or long-form birth certificate. The short-form includes the child's name, date of birth, parish of birth, father's initials and mother's last name and first initial. The long-form adds the full names of the parents, their place of birth and their ages.

Application fee
Proper identification

Instructions

By Mail
- 1
  Download the Application for Certified Copy of Birth/Death Record from the DHH website.
- 2
  Complete the application by providing the child's name, city and parish of birth, date of birth and parents' names.
- 3
  Photocopy an approved form of identification. The DHH website lists seven forms of primary identification and 10 forms of secondary identification that are acceptable. You must provide a copy of one form of primary identification or two forms of secondary identification.
- 4
  Mail the completed application, copy of the appropriate application and a check or money order for $9 for the short-form birth certificate and $15 for the long-form birth certificate to:
  
  Vital Records Registry
  
  PO Box 60630
  
  New Orleans, LA 70160
  
  Allow two to four weeks for delivery of the birth certificate.
In Person
- 5
  Obtain an Application for Certified Copy of Birth/Death Record by downloading one from the DHH website.
- 6
  Fill out the application by providing the child's name, city and parish of birth, date of birth and parents' names.
- 7
  Gather one form of primary identification or two forms of secondary identification from the list of approved IDs listed on the DHH website.
- 8
  Bring the completed application, proper forms of identification and payment of $9 for the short-form birth certificate and $15 for the long-form birth certificate to one of 10 Vital Records Service Centers located in Louisiana. You will likely have your request fulfilled that day.