In a motor-vehicle door latch device, a latch engages with a striker of a vehicle body when a door is closed. The latch comprises a half-latch engaging portion for incompletely engaging the latch with the striker and a full-latch engaging portion for fully engaging the latch with the striker. A half-latch avoiding member has a half-latch avoiding guide path which engages with a connecting member, thereby preventing the engagement member from engaging the half-latch portion of the latch.