Bossier City Court Records

Bossier City court records are maintained by Bossier City Court, a court of record for local civil, criminal, and traffic matters, and by the Bossier Parish Clerk of Court, which serves the 26th Judicial District and holds all district court records for the parish. Bossier City is located across the Red River from Shreveport and is one of the faster-growing cities in northwest Louisiana. Court records for Bossier City residents are public under Louisiana law and accessible through in-person visits, written requests, and online tools. This guide covers where Bossier City court records are held, how to search them, and what fees apply.

Bossier City Court

Bossier City Court is a court of record located at 620 Benton Road in Bossier City. As a court of record, its proceedings and decisions are formally documented and subject to appeal through the regular court system. The court handles misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic violations, civil cases up to $50,000, and small claims up to $5,000.

The court's civil jurisdiction up to $50,000 is on the higher end for Louisiana city courts. This means that many civil disputes that would otherwise need to go to district court can be handled locally in Bossier City. Small claims up to $5,000 use a simplified process that makes it easier for people without lawyers to resolve minor disputes.

Traffic citations and misdemeanor criminal cases processed through Bossier City Court are part of the public record once the case is resolved. Records from this court are maintained by the court clerk and are open to the public under Louisiana law.

Under La. R.S. 44:1, all documents made or received in the course of official business are public records. Case files, judgments, and orders from Bossier City Court fall under this definition and must be made available to anyone who requests them.

Bossier Parish Clerk of Court

The Bossier Parish Clerk of Court holds all district court records for the 26th Judicial District. The clerk's office is in Benton, the parish seat, at 204 Burt Boulevard, Second Floor. This office keeps records for felony criminal cases, major civil suits, family law matters, and successions involving Bossier Parish residents, including those from Bossier City.

The Bossier Parish Clerk's website at bossierclerk.com provides information on how to access records and what services the office provides. The clerk also handles property and mortgage records for Bossier Parish. If a Bossier City court case involved a property judgment or lien, both the court file and the property record may be at the clerk's office.

For all details on Bossier Parish court records, visit the Bossier Parish court records page.

Types of Court Records in Bossier City

Bossier City court records fall into two main groups based on which court handled the case. Bossier City Court holds records for traffic violations, misdemeanor criminal cases, civil disputes up to $50,000, and small claims. These are the records most often requested by Bossier City residents for background check purposes or personal legal needs.

The Bossier Parish Clerk holds district court records for the 26th JD. This covers felony criminal cases, major civil suits, family law orders, and succession filings for all of Bossier Parish. If a case in Bossier City exceeded City Court's dollar limit or involved a felony charge, it went to the 26th JD and is on file with the Bossier Parish Clerk.

Under La. R.S. 44:31, every person in Louisiana has the right to examine and copy public records. This includes court records. You do not need to be a party to the case to request records. The custodian must let you inspect records in person during business hours and provide copies at a reasonable fee.

Note: Juvenile court records in Bossier Parish are sealed and are not part of the public record regardless of the nature of the case.

How to Access Bossier City Court Records

For Bossier City Court records, contact the court directly at (318) 741-8086 or visit 620 Benton Road during business hours. For Bossier Parish district court records, contact the Bossier Parish Clerk at (318) 965-2336 or visit 204 Burt Boulevard in Benton. Both offices are open Monday through Friday.

Online access to Bossier Parish records is available through the clerk's website at bossierclerk.com. The Louisiana Supreme Court's statewide portals, including ClerkConnect and eClerks LA, also cover Bossier Parish and are useful for searching across multiple parishes at once. If you are not sure which court filed the case, start with a statewide search and then narrow down from there.

The screenshot below shows the Louisiana ClerkConnect multiparish portal, which covers Bossier Parish civil case records along with other parishes across the state.

The ClerkConnect portal is one of the statewide tools that covers Bossier Parish civil case records, allowing you to search for Bossier City cases without visiting the courthouse first.

When you visit in person, bring photo ID. Know the name of a party or the case number. Staff can pull records and make copies during regular business hours. Certified copies require an extra fee and may take additional time to process. Call ahead to confirm current fees and what to bring.

Court Record Fees in Bossier City

Fees for Bossier City court records are set by each court based on state law and local rules. For City Court copies, call (318) 741-8086 to ask about current rates. For Bossier Parish Clerk copies, call (318) 965-2336. Fees for plain copies are less than for certified copies.

Under La. R.S. 44:32, the custodian may charge reasonable fees for copying public records. You can inspect a record in person at no charge. Fees only apply when you take copies with you or request them by mail. Certified copies, which carry an official seal and clerk signature, cost more because of the extra processing involved.

Mail requests to either court require a check or money order made out to the correct office and in the estimated amount for the copy fee. Call first to confirm the amount and the correct payee name for your check.

Public Records Access in Bossier City

Bossier City follows Louisiana's Public Records Law without exception. Under La. R.S. 44:1, court records are public unless a specific exemption applies. The law covers all documents made or received in the conduct of official business, and court case files clearly fall within that definition. Anyone can request Bossier City court records without stating a reason.

Sealed records, expunged criminal records, and juvenile files are not public. A judge may seal records for specific legal reasons, and those reasons must be stated. If a Bossier City criminal record was expunged, it is removed from public access. The clerk cannot confirm or deny that an expunged record existed.

If you need a Bossier City court record from a case that is many years old, some older files may be in storage rather than in the active filing system. Call the court first to confirm that the record can be retrieved before making the trip to the office. Retrieval from storage may take extra time and possibly an additional fee.

Nearby Cities

These nearby cities also have court records in Louisiana. Each city's records are held by the parish or city court serving that area.