St. Bernard Parish Court Records

St. Bernard Parish court records are filed and maintained by the Clerk of Court in Chalmette, the parish seat of the 34th Judicial District. The clerk keeps civil case files, criminal proceedings, property instruments, and other official records for the parish. This page explains how to search and obtain St. Bernard Parish court records online through the eClerks LA portal or in person at the Chalmette courthouse.

St. Bernard Parish Clerk of Court Office

The St. Bernard Parish Clerk of Court is located at 1100 West St. Bernard Highway in Chalmette. The office handles all filings for the 34th Judicial District Court and also serves as the parish recorder. Civil lawsuits, criminal cases, property deeds, mortgages, and marriage licenses are all managed here. Walk-in visitors are welcome during regular office hours. The mailing address for written requests is P.O. Box 1746, Chalmette, LA 70044.

St. Bernard Parish lies just east of Orleans Parish on the south shore of Lake Borgne. The 34th Judicial District is one of the smaller single-parish judicial districts in Louisiana, which can mean shorter wait times and more direct service at the clerk's counter.

Note: The St. Bernard Parish courthouse is accessible by public transit from the New Orleans area. Confirm current bus routes with the Regional Transit Authority before traveling.

Online Search for St. Bernard Parish Court Records

St. Bernard Parish uses the eClerks LA statewide system for online access to court records. eClerks LA is a platform maintained by the Louisiana Clerks of Court Association that lets users search public court indices and purchase document downloads across multiple parishes from a single login.

To search St. Bernard Parish court records online, visit the eClerks LA portal and select St. Bernard Parish from the parish menu. You can search by party name, case number, or document type. Some records are available for free viewing while others require a small per-page fee to download. Subscriptions are available for users who need to run frequent searches.

Under La. R.S. 44:1, public records in Louisiana include any document created or received by a government body in the course of official business. Most St. Bernard Parish court filings fall under this definition. You can request them without stating a reason and without showing identification.

The eClerks LA portal is the fastest way to search St. Bernard Parish court records without visiting the Chalmette courthouse in person.

St. Bernard Parish Civil Court Records

Civil court records in St. Bernard Parish include all non-criminal proceedings filed in the 34th Judicial District: lawsuits between private parties, contract disputes, personal injury claims, successions, interdictions, adoptions, and domestic relations cases. The Clerk of Court maintains the complete file for each civil case, including petitions, motions, court orders, and final judgments.

To search civil records, you can use the eClerks LA portal or visit the clerk's office in person. Searching by the parties' names is the most common method when you do not have a case number. The clerk's index shows the case title, filing date, and status. From there, you can order copies of specific documents.

Under La. R.S. 44:31, every person has the right to inspect and copy a public record. The clerk cannot require you to explain why you want a record or who will use it. The right applies to both residents and non-residents of Louisiana.

Divorce records in St. Bernard Parish are civil case files kept by the clerk, not by the state vital records office. If you need a certified copy of a divorce decree, contact the 34th Judicial District Clerk of Court directly.

St. Bernard Parish Criminal Court Records

Criminal court records from the 34th Judicial District are held by the St. Bernard Parish Clerk of Court. These records include charges, docket sheets, minute entries, plea agreements, sentencing orders, and final dispositions. They are part of the public court record and available to anyone who requests them.

Search criminal records through the eClerks LA portal or in person at the Chalmette courthouse. Provide the defendant's full name and the approximate filing year. The clerk's staff can search the index and confirm whether a case exists. Certified copies of criminal dispositions are available for a fee and are often required for background check purposes or legal proceedings.

Arrest records are held by the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff's Office. The clerk's office does not keep arrest reports or booking records. If you need that type of document, contact the sheriff's department separately.

Note: Records that were expunged under Louisiana law will not appear in the public index. If a search returns no results, the record may have been expunged or filed under a different name spelling.

Property and Land Records in St. Bernard Parish

As the parish recorder, the St. Bernard Parish Clerk of Court holds all recorded property instruments. Deeds, mortgages, liens, servitudes, and other conveyances are filed here. Anyone conducting a title search or doing real estate due diligence in St. Bernard Parish will need to search these records.

Property records can be searched through the eClerks LA portal or at the courthouse. The index is searchable by grantor and grantee name. Recorded instruments are indexed promptly after filing. Older records may exist only in paper or microfilm form, and the clerk's staff can assist with those searches.

To record a new instrument, bring the original signed document to the clerk's office during business hours, along with the recording fee. The clerk stamps the document with the date and time of recording and returns a copy to you. For title companies and attorneys who record documents regularly, ask about e-recording options.

Under La. R.S. 44:32, the clerk must make public records available without unreasonable delay. Property records are generally available immediately upon request at the counter or through the online portal.

How to Request St. Bernard Parish Court Records

You have three ways to get St. Bernard Parish court records. Visit the clerk's office at 1100 West St. Bernard Highway in Chalmette during business hours. Search and download records through the eClerks LA portal at any time. Or mail a written request to P.O. Box 1746, Chalmette, LA 70044.

For a mailed request, include the full name of the parties involved, the type of record, the approximate filing date or case number, and your return address. Include payment for the copy fees. The clerk will search the index and mail copies to you, typically within a week for standard requests.

Fees vary based on record type and whether you need a plain or certified copy. Certified copies carry the clerk's seal and are required for legal filings, immigration applications, and other official uses. Ask for the current fee schedule when you contact the office.

Louisiana's public records law at La. R.S. 44:33.1 allows clerks to charge for the actual costs of searching, duplicating, and supervising records. For simple requests, the charge is usually just the per-page copy rate.

The Clerk Connect portal is another statewide tool that may have St. Bernard Parish records depending on parish participation. Check both eClerks LA and Clerk Connect if you cannot find what you need in one system.

Clerk Connect and eClerks LA are the two main online portals for accessing public court records across Louisiana parishes, including St. Bernard Parish.

Nearby Parishes

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