Search Lafayette Parish Court Records

Lafayette Parish court records are maintained by the Clerk of Court at 800 South Buchanan Street in Lafayette. The office holds over 16 million records going back to 1823 and provides access through two separate online portals -- ClerkConnect for civil and criminal cases, and eClerksLA for land records -- as well as in-person service at the courthouse.

Lafayette Parish Clerk of Court

Louis J. Perret serves as Clerk of Court for Lafayette Parish. The office is at 800 South Buchanan Street in Lafayette. Lafayette Parish is one of the larger and busier clerks' offices in Louisiana, reflecting the size of the city and the high volume of civil, criminal, and land record activity in the 15th Judicial District.

The record set here is one of the deepest in the state. The clerk holds over 16 million records dating back to 1823. That depth makes this office a major resource for researchers, title attorneys, genealogists, and anyone looking into court activity or property ownership in south Louisiana. The clerk has developed strong systems for both in-person and remote access to handle the volume of requests this record depth generates.

The official clerk website at lpclerk.com provides information on ClerkConnect subscriptions, eClerksLA land record access, and how to contact the office.

The clerk site lists both portals and explains what each covers for civil, criminal, and land records from the 15th Judicial District.

Note: Lafayette Parish serves the 15th Judicial District Court, which covers Lafayette Parish exclusively. The 3rd Circuit Court of Appeal reviews decisions from this district.

Searching Lafayette Parish Court Records Online

Lafayette Parish offers two main online portals. ClerkConnect handles civil and criminal records. The civil suit index covers searches from January 1, 1986 to the present, with document images available beginning May 24, 2006. Criminal, traffic, and family nonsupport records are also searchable through the same platform. ClerkConnect is a statewide system, but the coverage dates and subscription fees vary by parish. For Lafayette Parish court records, ClerkConnect is the right starting point for case-based searches.

For land records, eClerksLA is the tool to use. Mortgage records go back to January 1, 1935. Conveyance and UCC records are also available through the same portal. A free index search for land, civil, marriage, and probate records is available through eClerksLA without any subscription cost. This is a fast way to confirm whether a record exists before committing to a paid account. The eClerks Alert service is also free and sends notifications when new land recordings are made in your name across any participating Louisiana parish.

The ClerkConnect information page at lpclerk.com shows how the subscription works and what Lafayette Parish court records are covered through the portal.

The ClerkConnect info page notes that billing is now handled by credit card directly through the ClerkConnect site rather than through the clerk's office in Lafayette.

For in-person searches, visit 800 South Buchanan Street during regular hours. Staff can assist with name and case number searches. Bring valid ID. Certified copies can be requested and paid for on the same visit.

Lafayette Parish Court Records Types

Lafayette Parish court records span a wide range of case types. Civil records include lawsuits, judgments, domestic filings, and contract disputes from the 15th Judicial District Court. Criminal records cover felony and misdemeanor cases, plus traffic matters that reach the district court level. Family nonsupport cases -- dealing with child support enforcement at the court level -- are a separate indexed category in ClerkConnect.

Land records include mortgage filings, conveyance records, and UCC documents. Mortgage records go back to 1935, which is among the deeper land record sets in the region. Conveyance records document every property ownership transfer in the parish and are used in every real estate transaction. The clerk is the official recorder of these documents and the keeper of the land title record for Lafayette Parish.

Marriage and probate records are also available through the free index search on eClerksLA. Probate records cover successions, wills, and estate matters. With records going back to 1823, Lafayette Parish probate files give genealogists and estate attorneys access to some of the oldest court records in the state. These documents are part of what makes this office one of the most significant court record repositories in Louisiana.

The online records page at lpclerk.com gives a current overview of what is available through each portal for civil, criminal, and land records in Lafayette Parish.

The online records section of lpclerk.com covers ClerkConnect and eClerksLA options for civil, criminal, land, marriage, and probate court records in Lafayette Parish.

Online Portals and Subscription Details

Lafayette Parish is one of the few Louisiana parishes that uses two distinct online portals for court record access. ClerkConnect handles civil and criminal records; eClerksLA handles land records and the free index search. Depending on the type of record you need, you may need accounts on both platforms. Both are accessible through direct links on the lpclerk.com website.

The ClerkConnect billing model has changed. The clerk no longer bills for subscriptions directly. Payment is now made by credit card through the ClerkConnect site itself. If you have a saved bookmark to an old ClerkConnect URL, that link may be outdated. Go to clerkconnect.com to reach the current login page. The clerk's site notes this change, and using the wrong URL will cause login failures rather than access to Lafayette Parish court records.

For land records, eClerksLA provides free index-level access. Full document image access requires a paid subscription. The eClerks Alert service sends free notifications when new recordings are filed in your name in any participating Louisiana parish. For property owners in Lafayette Parish who want to monitor for unauthorized filings or liens, this is a practical tool that costs nothing to set up.

Note: Contact the clerk's office at (337) 291-6400 if you are unsure which portal covers the Lafayette Parish court record type you need. Staff can guide you to the right system.

Copy Fees for Lafayette Parish Court Records

ClerkConnect access for Lafayette Parish civil and criminal court records carries a one-time setup fee of $100 and a monthly subscription of $65 per User ID. Document images are included in the subscription. The eClerksLA portal charges separately for full document access beyond the free index. In-person copy fees are charged per page and vary by whether the copy is certified or plain.

Certified copies carry an additional cost. They include the clerk's official seal and are legally valid for use in court proceedings, title transfers, and government applications. For a single short order, the cost is modest. For a full case file with many exhibits, the per-page fee adds up. Call (337) 291-6400 before ordering a large set of copies to get a fee estimate.

Filing fees for new cases in the 15th Judicial District Court are set by Louisiana law and local rules. These fees cover docketing, citation issuance, and entering the case into the court record system. The amount depends on the type of action being filed. The clerk's office can confirm the applicable filing fee for your case type.

Public Records Law in Lafayette Parish

Lafayette Parish court records are governed by Louisiana's public records statutes. Under La. R.S. 44:1, a public record is any document made or received by a public body in carrying out its official duties. The Lafayette Parish Clerk of Court is a public body. The civil, criminal, land, marriage, and probate records it holds are public records under Louisiana law. Access to these records is the legal default.

The right to inspect and copy public records is spelled out in La. R.S. 44:31. Any person has this right. You do not need to explain your purpose or prove any legal interest in the record. The burden falls on the records custodian to identify a specific exemption if one applies. For the vast majority of Lafayette Parish court records, no exemption exists and the records are open to the public.

Under La. R.S. 44:32, the clerk must respond promptly to public records requests. Records that are on hand and not exempt must be made available quickly. If locating the record requires more time, the office must notify the requester within three business days. Given the volume of records held by the Lafayette Parish Clerk, having a case number or specific date range ready before you request can help staff locate the file faster and reduce wait time.

Exceptions apply in limited situations. Juvenile records are sealed. Records ordered sealed by a judge are not available to the public. Certain sensitive matters in child welfare or mental health proceedings may also be restricted. La. R.S. 13:507 confirms that court records are public in Louisiana. Outside the narrow exceptions, the 16 million records held by the Lafayette Parish Clerk of Court are presumed open and accessible.

Cities in Lafayette Parish

Lafayette is the parish seat and the center of court filing activity for the 15th Judicial District. All district court cases for the parish are filed through the Lafayette courthouse.

Nearby Parishes

These parishes are near Lafayette Parish. Always request records from the parish where the case was filed.