St. James Parish Court Records

St. James Parish court records are kept by the Clerk of Court in Convent and cover all civil, criminal, and property filings heard by the 23rd Judicial District Court. This page explains how to search and obtain St. James Parish court records, including the online LCRAA portal for conveyance and mortgage records and what to expect during an in-person visit to the Convent courthouse.

St. James Parish Clerk of Court Office

The St. James Parish Clerk of Court is located on the second floor of the courthouse at 5800 LA Highway 44 in Convent. The current clerk is Shane LeBlanc. The office manages all court filings for the 23rd Judicial District and serves as the parish recorder for property instruments such as deeds and mortgages. The clerk's office handles civil case filings, criminal docket management, property recording, and marriage licenses.

The office has two main phone lines depending on what you need. Civil matters are handled at (225) 562-2270 or (225) 562-2360. Criminal matters use (225) 562-2389 or (225) 562-2271. The fax number is (225) 562-2383. Mailed requests should go to P.O. Box 63, Convent, LA 70723.

Online Access to St. James Parish Court Records

The St. James Parish Clerk of Court provides online access to conveyance and mortgage records through the LCRAA clerk's portal. This covers property instruments such as deeds and mortgages. You can search the LCRAA system directly from the clerk's website at stjamesclerk.com/records.

The LCRAA portal is built for title searches and property research. If you need civil or criminal case records online, check the statewide systems. The eClerks LA portal covers many Louisiana parishes for general court record searches. The Clerk Connect portal is another statewide option used by attorneys and the public.

Under La. R.S. 44:1, public records include documents made or received by any government body in the performance of official business. Most St. James Parish court records are public, and any person can request them without providing a reason.

The St. James Parish Clerk's records search page provides direct access to conveyance and mortgage records through the LCRAA portal.

St. James Parish Civil Court Records

Civil court records in St. James Parish include all non-criminal proceedings before the 23rd Judicial District Court. This covers lawsuits, personal injury claims, contract disputes, divorce filings, succession proceedings, interdictions, and other civil matters. Each case is assigned a docket number and a file that contains all submitted pleadings, orders, and judgments.

To search civil records, visit the clerk's office at the Convent courthouse or contact the civil division by phone. Provide the party names or case number and the approximate filing year. Staff will confirm whether a case is in the index and assist you in ordering copies.

Under La. R.S. 44:31, you have the right to inspect and copy any public record. You do not need to explain your purpose. The clerk must respond to your request without unreasonable delay, generally within three business days for most records.

Divorce records in St. James Parish are civil case files kept by the clerk. For a certified copy of a divorce judgment needed for a name change, remarriage, or legal filing in another state, contact the 23rd Judicial District Clerk of Court directly.

Note: Some juvenile and family court records may be restricted. The clerk's staff will let you know if a specific file cannot be released to the public.

St. James Parish Criminal Court Records

Criminal court records from the 23rd Judicial District are maintained by the St. James Parish Clerk of Court. These include charges, bills of information, indictments, docket sheets, minute entries, sentencing orders, and dispositions. All are part of the public court record unless sealed by a court order.

To search criminal records, contact the criminal division at (225) 562-2389 or visit the courthouse in Convent. Provide the defendant's full name and, if known, the approximate year the case was filed. The clerk will search the index and confirm whether a matching record exists.

Certified copies of criminal dispositions are often needed for professional licensing, background check appeals, or legal proceedings in another jurisdiction. The clerk can provide certified copies for a fee. Plain copies cost less but are not accepted for most official purposes.

Arrest records are not part of the court record. The St. James Parish Sheriff's Office holds arrest reports and booking records. Contact the sheriff directly for those documents.

Records that have been expunged will not appear in a public search. Under Louisiana law, certain convictions and arrest records can be removed from the public index through the expungement process.

Conveyance and Mortgage Records in St. James Parish

The St. James Parish Clerk of Court is the parish recorder for all property instruments. Deeds, mortgages, liens, servitudes, and releases are filed here and indexed for public search. Title companies and real estate attorneys regularly use the recorder's index when processing property transactions in St. James Parish, which runs along both banks of the Mississippi River between Baton Rouge and New Orleans.

Online searches for conveyance and mortgage records are available through the LCRAA portal linked from the clerk's website. This is the fastest way to research property ownership and encumbrances in St. James Parish. The index is searchable by grantor and grantee name and by document type.

To record a new instrument, bring the original signed document to the clerk's office with the correct recording fee. The clerk stamps each instrument with the date and time of recording, which establishes priority among competing interests in the property. For attorneys and title companies who record regularly, ask about e-recording options.

Under La. R.S. 44:32, the clerk must provide access to public records without unreasonable delay. Property records are typically indexed the same day they are filed and are available immediately afterward.

The St. James Parish Clerk of Court website is the starting point for online record searches, e-filing information, and contact details for both civil and criminal divisions.

How to Request St. James Parish Court Records

You can get St. James Parish court records in three main ways. Visit the courthouse in Convent at 5800 LA Highway 44, Second Floor, during business hours. Search conveyance and mortgage records through the LCRAA portal online. Or mail a written request to P.O. Box 63, Convent, LA 70723.

For mailed requests, include the party names, the type of record you need, the case number or approximate filing year, and your return mailing address. Enclose payment for the copy fees by check or money order. The clerk will process the request and mail the documents to you. Straightforward requests usually take about a week.

Fees vary by record type. Plain copies cost less than certified copies. Certified copies carry the clerk's seal and signature. They are required when submitting a document to another court, a government agency, or a financial institution. Ask for the current fee schedule before submitting payment.

Under La. R.S. 44:33.1, the clerk may charge for the actual costs of searching, copying, and supervising access to records. For simple requests, the charge is usually just the per-page copy rate.

Nearby Parishes

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