How do I access court records?

Clerk of District Court (parish level - each of Louisiana's 64 parishes) / Louisiana Supreme Court (state level)

Step by Step

How to do it

Identify what type of record you need: District Court (civil, criminal, family, probate, juvenile) or Circuit Court of Appeal or Supreme Court
Search online:
LOUISIANA CLERKS' REMOTE ACCESS AUTHORITY (LCRAA): louisianaclerk.org - provides online access to case indices and records from many Louisiana parish Clerks of Court; free basic search; some records require subscription or per-page fee; covers civil, marriage, and property records statewide for participating parishes
INDIVIDUAL PARISH CLERK WEBSITES: Each parish's Clerk of District Court also maintains their own systems; some have robust online access (Jefferson, East Baton Rouge, Orleans/Orleans Civil), others limited
LOUISIANA COURT CONNECT: Some parish courts use the Louisiana Court Connect system for online case filings
For full case documents or certified copies: contact the Clerk of District Court in the parish where the case was filed; in-person or written request
In-person access: visit the courthouse; bring photo ID and case details

Details

What you need to know

Required Docs

Valid photo ID (for in-person requests)
Case number or full legal name of parties

Fee

Online LCRAA access: varies (basic search free; document access typically fee-based); certified copies: $1.00 per page plus certification fee - contact specific parish Clerk for current schedule

Processing Time

Immediate online searches for indexed records; same day or by mail for certified copies

Online Option

Yes - LCRAA at louisianaclerk.org (statewide multi-parish access); individual parish clerk websites

Where to Go

Clerk of District Court in the parish where the case was filed

Louisiana Notes

Important state-specific details

Louisiana's CIVIL LAW SYSTEM (Napoleonic Code tradition): Louisiana uses a civil law legal framework inherited from French and Spanish colonial rule - legal concepts, terminology, and procedures can differ from the common law states; community property rules apply to marriages.
Louisiana Supreme Court and Circuit Courts of Appeal opinions: louisianacourts.gov.
Criminal history background checks: Louisiana Bureau of Criminal Identification and Information (BCII) - lcle.la.gov; available to public for a fee.
Louisiana Sex Offender Registry: lsp.org/socpr - searchable online.
Juvenile records: generally sealed; special access rules.
Louisiana Public Records Law (La. R.S. 44:1 et seq.): agencies must respond to records requests promptly; court records subject to applicable rules.

Official Source

State office contact

State Office

Louisiana Supreme Court / Louisiana Courts - louisianacourts.gov | (504) 310-2300; LCRAA - louisianaclerk.org; Louisiana BCII (criminal history) - lcle.la.gov | (225) 925-6095