Red River Parish Court Records

Red River Parish court records are maintained by the Clerk of Court in Coushatta and cover civil, criminal, and property filings handled through the 39th Judicial District Court. This page explains how to search, request, and obtain court records from Red River Parish, including online access options and in-person procedures at the courthouse.

Red River Parish Clerk of Court

The Clerk of Court in Red River Parish serves as the official keeper of all court records filed in the 39th Judicial District. The office handles civil cases, criminal proceedings, property instruments, and marriage licenses. Staff can help you find case files, pull copies of judgments, or direct you to the right search tool. The office does not give legal advice, but clerks can tell you what records exist and how to get them.

The clerk's office is in the Red River Parish Courthouse in Coushatta. Walk-in visits are welcome during regular business hours. If you plan to pull a large number of records, call ahead so staff can prepare.

Online Access to Red River Parish Court Records

Red River Parish uses the ClerkNet system for online access to court records, e-filing, and e-recording. ClerkNet lets attorneys, title searchers, and the general public search case indices and retrieve documents without visiting the courthouse. E-filing is available for civil cases. E-recording lets you record instruments directly through ClerkNet at a cost of $3.00 per instrument, which can save time compared to mailing or hand-delivering documents.

To use ClerkNet, visit the Red River Parish Clerk of Court website and follow the link to the online portal. Some records require a subscription or a per-document fee. Court records covered by La. R.S. 44:1 are classified as public, which means anyone can request them. You do not need to state a reason or show identification to view most case files.

The portal is available around the clock for index searches. Document images may require payment depending on the record type.

Note: ClerkNet access requires creating an account on the system before you can view or download case documents.

Red River Parish Civil Court Records

Civil court records in Red River Parish include lawsuits, small claims, successions, interdictions, and other non-criminal proceedings heard in the 39th Judicial District. These records contain filed pleadings, court orders, judgments, and related documents. Copies of civil case files are available from the clerk's office or through the ClerkNet portal.

When you search civil records, you can look by party name, case number, or filing date. If you know the year a case was filed, that will help narrow the search. The clerk's index goes back many decades for older paper files, though digital access may be limited for records filed before the office moved to electronic systems.

Under La. R.S. 44:31, every person has the right to inspect, copy, or reproduce a public record. Fees apply for copies. Most civil records are open to the public unless a judge has placed them under seal.

Red River Parish Criminal Court Records

Criminal cases in Red River Parish are filed and tracked through the 39th Judicial District Court. Records include bills of information, indictments, docket sheets, minute entries, and final dispositions. These documents are part of the public court record and can be requested from the clerk's office.

To search criminal records, you can visit the courthouse in person or use the ClerkNet portal if the record is available digitally. Provide the defendant's full name and, if known, the approximate filing year or case number. The clerk will search the index and confirm whether a case exists. Certified copies of criminal judgments and dispositions can be ordered at the window for a fee.

Some records may be expunged under Louisiana law. Expunged records are not available to the public. If a case does not appear in the index, it may have been expunged or filed under a different name spelling.

Note: Criminal court records do not include arrest records, which are held by the Red River Parish Sheriff's Office, not the clerk.

Property and Land Records in Red River Parish

The Red River Parish Clerk of Court is also the parish recorder. This means the clerk's office holds all recorded property instruments, including deeds, mortgages, liens, and servitudes. These records are important for title searches, real estate transactions, and verifying ownership history.

Recording fees in Red River Parish depend on the length of the document. A filing of 1 to 5 pages costs $105.00. A filing of 6 to 25 pages costs $205.00. Documents from 26 to 50 pages cost $305.00. Anything over 50 pages costs $305.00 plus $5.00 for each page beyond 50. These fees are set by state law and may change, so confirm current amounts with the clerk's office before submitting.

E-recording is available through ClerkNet at $3.00 per instrument. This is a faster option for title companies and law firms that record documents regularly. The clerk indexes all recorded documents so searchers can find them by grantor, grantee, or document type.

Under La. R.S. 44:32, the clerk must respond to a public records request within three business days. Property records are almost always available immediately at the counter or through the online portal.

Marriage Licenses and Vital Records in Red River Parish

Red River Parish issues marriage licenses through the clerk's office. The fee for a marriage license is $32.50 and must be paid in cash or by credit card. Personal checks are not accepted. The license is valid only within the state of Louisiana and must be used within 30 days of issuance.

Both parties must appear in person to apply. Bring a valid photo ID. If either party was previously married, you may need to provide a certified copy of the divorce decree or death certificate from the prior marriage. The clerk can tell you exactly what documents are required when you call ahead.

Birth and death certificates are issued by the Louisiana Department of Health, Office of Public Health, not the parish clerk. Contact the state vital records office for those documents.

How to Request Red River Parish Court Records

You have three main ways to get court records from Red River Parish. First, you can visit the clerk's office in person at 615 East Carroll Street in Coushatta. Second, you can search and download records through the ClerkNet online portal at any time. Third, you can mail a written request to P.O. Box 485, Coushatta, LA 71019, along with payment for copy fees.

For mailed requests, include the full name of the party involved, the approximate filing year, the type of case, and your return mailing address. The clerk will process requests in the order received. Turnaround time for mailed requests varies but is generally within a week for straightforward searches.

Louisiana's public records law, found at La. R.S. 44:33.1, allows the clerk to charge reasonable fees for the actual cost of search, duplication, and supervision. Ask for a fee estimate before submitting a large request so you can send the correct payment.

Note: Certified copies cost more than plain copies and are required for most legal purposes, including court filings and government applications.

State Court Records Portal

For records that span multiple parishes or for cases in the Louisiana Supreme Court or Courts of Appeal, the statewide eClerks LA portal provides a centralized search tool. Red River Parish falls under the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeal, which covers northwest Louisiana.

The eClerks LA statewide portal lets you search public court records across participating parishes in one place. This is useful when you are not sure which parish handled a particular case or when a party may have had filings in more than one jurisdiction.

The eClerks LA portal is maintained by the Louisiana Clerks of Court Association and covers civil, criminal, and property records from parishes that participate in the shared system.

Nearby Parishes

Request records from the parish where the case was originally filed.