City guide · Lake Charles, Louisiana · Details last checked Oct 31, 2026

Lake Charles, Louisiana document errands: printing, fax, notary, passports and certified copies (2026)

Where to print, fax, notarize, apply for a passport and get certified copies in Lake Charles, Louisiana, using only official and provider pages. Each fact links to its source. Some facts are statewide or national rather than local. We label those.

Printing, copying, scanning and fax

Calcasieu Parish Public Library (CPPL)

• Printing and copying: black and white is $0.20 a page and color is $0.50 a page ^[1]. The FAQ lists the same prices ^[6].
• Mobile printing: send a job through the ePRINTit website, the ePRINTit SaaS app or email (bw-cppl@eprintitsaas.com for grayscale, color-cppl@eprintitsaas.com for color), then pick it up at any branch ^[1].
• Fax: available at all branches, outgoing only; incoming faxes can't be received ^[1].
• Scanning: at the Central, Sulphur Regional, Moss Bluff and SWLA Genealogical & Historical libraries, on coin-operated machines that scan both sides of a page ^[1].
• Cost of fax and scanning: the same page says fax, scanning, charging stations, device checkout and PCs "are available at no additional cost", but also calls the scanners coin-operated. We didn't find a fax or scan price. Confirm with the library ^[1].
• Public PCs: sessions last up to two hours, with two sessions a day. USB flash drives work on the PCs, and the Central Library sells flash drives for $5. Wi-Fi is available daily from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. at all locations ^[1].
• Branches: the Central Branch is at 301 W. Claude Street, (337) 721-7116, and the Census Geocoder places it inside Lake Charles city. The Moss Bluff Branch, 261 Parish Road, (337) 721-7128, has a Lake Charles mailing address, but the geocoder didn't match it, so we couldn't confirm whether it's inside the city ^[6][7]. We didn't find branch hours on the pages we checked.

• The UPS Store: it lists 2 locations with Lake Charles addresses: 630 W Prien Lake Rd, Ste. B, (337) 478-0691; and 5400 Nelson Road, Suite 400, (337) 990-5591. Its city page says they offer packing, shipping, printing, shredding, notarizing, faxing and mailbox services ^[8]. We didn't find prices on the store pages; The UPS Store's site says products, services, prices and hours may vary by location ^[9].
• Inside the city: the Census Geocoder places 630 W Prien Lake Rd inside Lake Charles city, and places 5400 Nelson Road outside any incorporated place ^[8][7].

See printing prices and fax prices.

Notary in Lake Charles

• Library: we didn't find notary service on the CPPL pages we checked ^[1][6].
• The UPS Store: its Lake Charles page lists notarizing ^[8].
• Fees (statewide): the Louisiana Secretary of State says Louisiana "does not have a statutory fee schedule which would determine or limit what a notary can charge for his services." Ask for the price before the notary starts ^[10].
• How Louisiana notaries differ (statewide): the Secretary of State says a Louisiana notary's signature is his seal, notaries are commissioned for life, and each is commissioned in the parish where they live; reciprocal parish groups set by law let a notary work in neighboring parishes. Attorney-notaries have statewide notarial powers. Its Notary Database lists contact information for all notaries ^[10].

Passports in Lake Charles

The U.S. Department of State's Passport Acceptance Facility Locator data lists 2 facilities with Lake Charles addresses. The Census Geocoder places both inside Lake Charles city ^[11][7]:

• Clerk of Court appointments: by appointment only; walk-ins aren't processed. Call 337-437-3558 (ext. 147). The clerk sets appointments between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday–Friday, and each takes 30–60 minutes ^[2]. The State Department's passport locator lists different hours and 337-437-3550, which the clerk's home page gives as its main phone; the clerk's passport page lists 337-437-3558 (ext. 147). Confirm with the office ^[11][12][2].
• Where: 1st floor of the courthouse, in the Criminal Records Department. Passports are not processed at the Sulphur office ^[2].
• What the clerk says to bring: everyone applying must be present, including minor children. Bring a certified copy of the birth certificate; electronic U.S. birth certificates can't be used ^[2]. The clerk charges $1 to copy a birth certificate and $1 to copy a driver's license ^[13].
• Clerk's fee: the clerk's $35 processing fee is paid by cash or check ^[2]. Renewals and amendments aren't witnessed, assembled or mailed by the clerk's office ^[2].
• Post office: the Lake Charles Main Post Office books passport appointments at usps.com/scheduler ^[11].
• Library: we didn't find a library in the locator data for Lake Charles ^[11].
• Post office fees (national): a $35.00 acceptance fee and a $15.00 photo fee "if needed" ^[14].
• Faster return delivery (national): two official pages list different prices. USPS lists "$22.05—1- to 3- day delivery service for faster return shipping to you from the State Department" ^[14]. The State Department's fee page lists 1–3 business day return delivery at $26.87, for passport books only ^[15]. We couldn't re-read the State Department page on Oct 31, 2026, because it blocked our check. Confirm the fee with the acceptance facility before you pay.

See the passport checklist and passport photo prices.

Birth, death, marriage, court and recorded-document copies

Birth and death records: Louisiana Department of Health (statewide)

• Fees (statewide): from the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) Vital Records, a long-form birth certificate is $15.00, a birth certificate plus short-form birth card is $24.00 a pair, and a death certificate is $7.00 a copy. Bought at a participating Clerk of Court instead, a long-form birth certificate is $34.00, a death certificate $26.00 and the birth card plus long-form pair $48.00. Mail-in and VitalChek orders add a $0.50 state charge, and VitalChek internet, phone and kiosk orders add a security fee. If no record is found, state law has LDH keep the fee for the search ^[16]. LDH's FAQ lists the short-form birth card alone at $9.00 and says some agencies may not accept it ^[17].
• Closed records (statewide): Louisiana birth and death certificates aren't public records. Requests need proper ID, the fee and an application, and only the person named, close family or their attorney can order a birth certificate ^[18].
• Walk-in (statewide office): the Vital Records Central Office, 1450 Poydras St., Suite 400, New Orleans, LA 70112, is open for walk-in service 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., excluding state holidays. Bring photo ID; walk-in payment is cash (exact amount), check or money order ^[18]. Customer service: 504-593-5100 ^[19].
• Clerks of Court: participating Clerks of Court sell certified birth copies (long and short form), and death certificates for deaths on or after July 7, 2012, for an added fee ^[18][20].
• Mail and online: mail the application, a copy of photo ID and the fee to Vital Records Registry, PO Box 60630, New Orleans, LA 70160, and allow about 8–10 weeks. Internet, phone and fax orders go through VitalChek (1-877-605-8562), which charges extra ^[18].
• Marriage and divorce records (statewide): LDH keeps only Orleans Parish marriage records; for a divorce decree, contact the Clerk of Court in the parish where the divorce was granted ^[21].

• Not in Lake Charles: the Calcasieu Parish Clerk of Court issues birth and death certificates only at its West Calcasieu Annex in Sulphur, not at the Lake Charles courthouse ^[3]. The Census Geocoder places the annex in the city of Sulphur ^[7].
• Annex address: the clerk lists a new location at 1300 E. Napoleon St., Sulphur (shared with the DMV office), 337-990-8279 ^[3][22]. LDH's list of Clerk of Court issuance locations still shows 500A N. Huntington Street, Sulphur, (337) 313-1140. Confirm with the office ^[23].
• Hours and fees there: Monday–Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., including lunch, and no certificate applications after 3:30 p.m. Birth certificate $34, birth certificate plus card $48 and death certificate $26. Cash and credit cards are accepted (minimum card processing fee $2.95, no bills over $20); checks and money orders aren't ^[3].
• Wait: about 30 minutes on average; births before 1983 can take up to an hour. Death certificates usually reach the clerk 30 days after the date of death ^[3].
• Death certificate dates: the clerk says it can provide Louisiana death certificates registered from July 9, 2012 forward; LDH says Clerks of Court sell them for deaths on or after July 7, 2012. Confirm with the office ^[3][20].
• ID: a current photo ID, such as a state driver's license or ID card, U.S. passport or military ID, with clear issue and expiration dates ^[3].

Marriage licenses: Calcasieu Parish Clerk of Court

• Appointments only: all couples must book an appointment between 9 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.; no walk-ins. Call 337-437-3558 ext. 492 and ask for Recording Dept / Marriage License appointments ^[4].
• Apply online first: you get a confirmation number to bring. If you have extenuating circumstances, you can arrive 30 minutes before the appointment and fill out the application on a tablet ^[24]. Allow 30–40 minutes for processing ^[4].
• Fees: license $27.50, cash or credit card only, no bills larger than $20. A certified copy is $10, a souvenir copy $5 and waivers $4 a page; the card processing fee is $2 ^[4][13]. Correcting a mistake after you get the license costs $10 ^[4].
• Who signs: both parties before a deputy clerk, or one before a notary and one before a deputy clerk, among other options the clerk lists ^[4].
• Birth certificate: if born in Louisiana, a certified copy (short form acceptable). If born in another U.S. state or territory, a certified copy (short form not allowed). If born outside the U.S., one of the IDs the clerk lists ^[4].
• ID: a valid, unexpired driver's license, government ID, passport or visa with I-94. LA Wallet is accepted only with a physical copy of the license for the clerk to keep ^[4].
• Previous marriages: know the date the last one ended; no papers are needed unless the divorce was within 30 days, which requires a certified copy of the judgment ^[4].
• Timing and age: buy it at least 24 hours before the ceremony; it expires 30 days after issuance, with no refunds. 24-hour waivers are only issued in extenuating circumstances, at the judges' discretion. No one 15 or under can marry; 16- and 17-year-olds need judicial authorization and both parents present, and can't marry an adult three or more years older ^[4].
• Old licenses: licenses from 1987 on are in the Recording Department; 1910 to 1986 are in the archives, Criminal Records Department ^[25].

Recorded documents and court copies: Clerk of Court

• Recording fees (as of July 1, 2025): per recording book, $105 for 1–5 pages, $205 for 6–25, $305 for 26–50, and $305 plus $5 a page over 50. That includes up to 10 indexed names, a certified copy and the LCRAA Portal Fee; each name after the 10th is $5. Paper larger than 8½ x 14 is $20 a page, and a single cancellation or partial release is $55 ^[13].
• Civil records copies: $1.00 a page; true copies $5; certification of mortgages and conveyances $10.00; a 10-year civil name search $15.00 per name ^[13].
• Court copies: civil filings list copies at $1.00 a page and certified copies at $5.00 per seal (plus $1.00 a page if the clerk makes the copy). Criminal records lists copies at $1 a page (excluding court minutes), certifications $5, extracts of court minutes $10 and criminal background checks $20 ^[13].
• Emailed or faxed copies: $5 for the 1st page plus $1 for each added page; card processing fee $2 ^[13].
• Courthouse: 1000 Ryan Street, Lake Charles; main phone 337-437-3550. Open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday–Friday; passports and birth and death certificates aren't processed after 3:30 p.m. ^[12]. Scheduled closures follow the Louisiana Clerks' Association holiday list ^[26]. The Recording Department's direct line is 337-437-3558 ^[25].
• Divorce decrees: LDH says to contact the Clerk of Court in the parish where the divorce was granted ^[21].

Apostilles (statewide)

• Fee: the Louisiana Secretary of State charges $20 per document, or $10 per document if it's related to an adoption ^[27]. Its request form adds a $5.00 state fee for credit card users and says to allow two to three business days for processing ^[28].
• Where: Commissions Division, 8585 Archives Ave., Baton Rouge, LA 70809. Walk-in service is Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., except state holidays and closures; questions 225.922.0330. By USPS mail: P.O. Box 94125, Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9125. Include a written request naming the country, a daytime phone number and a prepaid return envelope or label ^[27].
• Which copy: send the original document. Documents issued by Clerks of Court and Louisiana Vital Records don't need notarizing, and photocopies of them aren't accepted. Other documents must be notarized by a Louisiana notary, with the notary's printed name and ID number beneath the signature ^[27].

More on certified copies: how to get a certified copy.

Money orders

USPS money order fees are national: $2.65 for $0.01 to $500.00, and $3.75 for $500.01 to $1,000.00. Pay with cash or a debit card, not a credit card. The limit is $1,000 per domestic money order ^[29]. Other sellers: money order guide.

Shredding

• Free shred events: we didn't find an upcoming city or parish shred event on official pages. The City of Lake Charles website doesn't list one, and Calcasieu Parish's website didn't load when we checked on Oct 31, 2026.
• The UPS Store: its Lake Charles page lists shredding ^[8]. We didn't find prices.

For paid per-pound shredding, see where to shred documents.

Questions

Sources

Sources last checked Oct 29 or Oct 31, 2026, as marked on each, except the locator data file.

1. Calcasieu Parish Public Library, "Devices, Fax, Print, and Scan": calcasieulibrary.org/devicesfaxprintscan-6040 (last checked Oct 31, 2026)
2. Calcasieu Parish Clerk of Court, "Passports (updated Mar 2026)": calcasieuclerk.gov/passports (last checked Oct 31, 2026)
3. Calcasieu Parish Clerk of Court, "Birth/Death Certificates (Sulphur Annex)": calcasieuclerk.gov/birth-death-certificate-info (last checked Oct 31, 2026)
4. Calcasieu Parish Clerk of Court, "Marriage Licenses": calcasieuclerk.gov/marriage-licenses (last checked Oct 31, 2026)
5. U.S. Census Bureau, "2020 Place by County relationship file, Louisiana (parishes are county equivalents)": www2.census.gov/geo/docs/reference/codes2020/place_by_cou/st22_la_place_by_county2020.txt (last checked Oct 31, 2026)
6. Calcasieu Parish Public Library, "FAQ": calcasieulibrary.org/faq-5347 (last checked Oct 31, 2026)
7. U.S. Census Bureau, "Census Geocoder (address to geography lookup)": geocoding.geo.census.gov/geocoder (last checked Oct 31, 2026)
8. The UPS Store, "The UPS Store Locations in Lake Charles, Louisiana": locations.theupsstore.com/la/lake-charles (last checked Oct 31, 2026)
9. The UPS Store, "Notary Services Nationwide": theupsstore.com/store-services/notary-services (last checked Oct 31, 2026)
10. Louisiana Secretary of State, "Notary Frequently Asked Questions": sos.la.gov/notary/frequently-asked-questions (last checked Oct 31, 2026)
11. U.S. Department of State, Passport Acceptance Facility Locator (locator data file, downloaded Oct 28, 2026, filtered to Louisiana): passportfacilitylocator.travel.state.gov (last checked Oct 28, 2026)
12. Calcasieu Parish Clerk of Court, "Home": calcasieuclerk.gov (last checked Oct 31, 2026)
13. Calcasieu Parish Clerk of Court, "Fees & Costs (as of July 1, 2025)": calcasieuclerk.gov/fees-and-costs (last checked Oct 31, 2026)
14. USPS, "Passports": usps.com/international/passports.htm (last checked Oct 31, 2026)
15. U.S. Department of State, passport fees page (Last Updated March 19, 2026): travel.state.gov/en/passports/apply/help/fees.html (last checked Oct 29, 2026)
16. Louisiana Department of Health, "Vital Records Service Fees": ldh.la.gov/vital-records/service-fees (last checked Oct 31, 2026)
17. Louisiana Department of Health, "Birth Records (FAQ)": ldh.la.gov/faq/category/61 (last checked Oct 31, 2026)
18. Louisiana Department of Health, "How To Order Birth Records": ldh.la.gov/page/635 (last checked Oct 31, 2026)
19. Louisiana Department of Health, "Center for Vital Records and Statistics": ldh.la.gov/vital-records (last checked Oct 31, 2026)
20. Louisiana Department of Health, "How To Order Death Records": ldh.la.gov/page/how-to-order-death-records (last checked Oct 31, 2026)
21. Louisiana Department of Health, "Marriage Certificates & Licenses": ldh.la.gov/page/marriage (last checked Oct 31, 2026)
22. Calcasieu Parish Clerk of Court, "Sulphur Annex (West Calcasieu Annex)": calcasieuclerk.gov/sulphur-annex (last checked Oct 31, 2026)
23. Louisiana Department of Health, "OPH - Clerk Birth Certificate Issuance Locations (directory)": ldh.la.gov/directory/category/279?pn=1 (last checked Oct 31, 2026)
24. Calcasieu Parish Clerk of Court, "Marriage License Applications": calcasieuclerk.gov/applicationsmarriagelicense (last checked Oct 31, 2026)
25. Calcasieu Parish Clerk of Court, "Recording Department": calcasieuclerk.gov/recording-dept (last checked Oct 31, 2026)
26. Calcasieu Parish Clerk of Court, "Closure Notices": calcasieuclerk.gov/closure-notices (last checked Oct 31, 2026)
27. Louisiana Secretary of State, "Apostilles & Authentications": sos.la.gov/certifications/apostilles-authentications (last checked Oct 31, 2026)
28. Louisiana Secretary of State, "Authentication Request Form (PDF)": sos.la.gov/media/vdag5if3/authentication-request-form.pdf (last checked Oct 31, 2026)
29. USPS, "Money Orders": usps.com/shop/money-orders.htm (last checked Oct 31, 2026)

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