St. John the Baptist Parish Court Records

St. John the Baptist Parish court records are managed by the Clerk of Court, with offices in both Edgard and LaPlace serving residents on both sides of the Mississippi River. The clerk's office handles all civil, criminal, and property records for the 40th Judicial District Court. This page explains how to search and access St. John the Baptist Parish court records online and in person at either courthouse location.

St. John the Baptist Parish Clerk of Court Offices

St. John the Baptist Parish is unique in Louisiana because the Clerk of Court operates two full offices: one on the Westbank in Edgard and one on the Eastbank in LaPlace. Both locations serve the public during regular business hours and can handle most requests. The current clerk is Felicia C. Feist, who was sworn in on June 30, 2024, becoming the first African-American elected to the position in St. John the Baptist Parish.

The Westbank office is the official address for the clerk, located at 2393 Highway 18 in Edgard. The Eastbank office at 1811 West Airline Highway in LaPlace is more convenient for residents of LaPlace, Reserve, and other communities on the east side of the river. Mailed requests should go to P.O. Box 280, Edgard, LA 70049. The email address for general inquiries is info@sjbparishclerk.gov.

Note: The courtroom in St. John the Baptist Parish can be quite cold. If you plan to attend a hearing, dress in layers or bring a jacket.

Online Access to St. John the Baptist Parish Court Records

St. John the Baptist Parish uses two online platforms for public records access. Clerk Connect provides e-filing and online record access for court documents. The LCRAA system through eClerks LA gives access to conveyance and mortgage records. You can use either or both depending on what type of record you need.

For e-filing and case-related records, visit the Clerk Connect portal. Technical support for Clerk Connect is available by calling 1-800-467-4477. This number is useful if you run into problems logging in or submitting documents electronically.

For property records and conveyance searches, use the eClerks LA portal. Both portals are available around the clock and let you search without traveling to either the Edgard or LaPlace office.

Under La. R.S. 44:1, public records in Louisiana include any document created or received by a public body in the course of official business. Most St. John the Baptist Parish court records fall under this definition and can be requested without providing a reason or showing identification.

Clerk Connect is one of two online systems used by St. John the Baptist Parish for e-filing and public access to court records. Technical support is available at 1-800-467-4477.

St. John the Baptist Parish Civil Court Records

Civil court records in St. John the Baptist Parish include all non-criminal matters before the 40th Judicial District Court: personal injury lawsuits, contract disputes, divorce filings, successions, adoption proceedings, interdictions, and other civil cases. The Clerk of Court maintains the complete file for each case, including the original petition, all filings, court orders, and the final judgment.

To search civil records, use the Clerk Connect portal online or visit either the Edgard or LaPlace office in person. You can search by party name or case number. The index shows the case title, filing date, and current status. From there, you can request copies of specific documents. Certified copies of civil judgments are available for a fee.

Divorce records are civil case files maintained by the clerk, not the Louisiana Department of Health. If you need a certified copy of a divorce decree, contact the 40th Judicial District Clerk of Court. You can make the request at either the Edgard or LaPlace office.

Under La. R.S. 44:31, any person has the right to inspect and copy a public record. The right applies to everyone, not just Louisiana residents. You cannot be asked to explain why you want the record for most public case files.

St. John the Baptist Parish Criminal Court Records

Criminal court records from the 40th Judicial District are held by the Clerk of Court. These records include charges, indictments, bills of information, docket sheets, minute entries, plea agreements, sentencing orders, and final dispositions. They are public records unless sealed by a judge.

To search criminal records, contact either clerk's office by phone or visit in person. You can also search through the Clerk Connect portal if the records are available digitally. Provide the defendant's full name and, if possible, the year the case was filed or the case number. The clerk's staff will confirm whether a matching record exists.

Arrest records are not held by the clerk's office. The St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff's Office maintains arrest reports and booking records. Contact the sheriff's department separately if you need that type of document.

Expunged records do not appear in public searches. Louisiana law allows certain convictions and arrest records to be removed from the public index through a court order. If a known case does not appear in the search results, it may have been expunged or filed under a name variation.

Note: Certified copies of criminal dispositions are often required for professional licensing applications, background check appeals, and legal filings in other states. Ask the clerk for a certified copy if plain copies are not sufficient for your purpose.

Property and Conveyance Records in St. John the Baptist Parish

As the parish recorder, the Clerk of Court holds all property instruments recorded in St. John the Baptist Parish. Deeds, mortgages, liens, servitudes, mineral leases, and releases are all filed and indexed here. Anyone doing a title search or researching property ownership in the parish will need to access the recorder's records.

Online access to conveyance and mortgage records is available through the LCRAA system via the eClerks LA portal. This is the primary tool for remote property searches. The index is searchable by grantor name, grantee name, and document type. For older instruments that predate digital indexing, the clerk's staff can search paper or microfilm records at either office.

To record a new instrument, bring the original signed document to either the Edgard or LaPlace office during business hours along with the recording fee. The clerk stamps the document with the date and time of recording. This timestamp establishes priority among competing claims on the same property. Ask the clerk about current recording fees before submitting.

Under La. R.S. 44:32, the clerk must make public records available without unreasonable delay. Property records are typically available for inspection immediately after they are indexed following recording.

Birth Certificates at the Clerk's Office

The St. John the Baptist Parish Clerk of Court issues birth certificates at both the Edgard and LaPlace locations. This is a service provided Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM at both offices. The fee for a birth certificate is $34.00. Payment must be in exact cash only. The office does not accept cards or checks for birth certificates.

Bring valid photo identification when applying. Birth certificates issued by the clerk's office are official state documents issued on behalf of the Louisiana Department of Health. They are accepted for school enrollment, passport applications, Social Security purposes, and most other official uses.

Note: Bring exact cash for the $34.00 birth certificate fee. The clerk's office cannot make change, and no other payment type is accepted for this service.

How to Request St. John the Baptist Parish Court Records

There are several ways to get court records from St. John the Baptist Parish. Visit either the Edgard office at 2393 Highway 18 or the LaPlace office at 1811 West Airline Highway during business hours. Search online through Clerk Connect or the eClerks LA portal. Or mail a written request to P.O. Box 280, Edgard, LA 70049.

For mailed requests, include the full names of the parties, the type of record, the approximate filing year or case number, and your return mailing address. Enclose a check or money order for the copy fees. The clerk will process the request and mail documents to you. Standard requests generally take about a week to complete.

Fees vary by 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 the clerk to charge for the actual costs of search, duplication, and supervision. For a simple single-case request, the cost is usually just the standard per-page copy fee. For large or complex requests, ask the clerk for an estimate before sending payment.

The eClerks LA statewide portal provides online access to conveyance and mortgage records for St. John the Baptist Parish alongside many other Louisiana jurisdictions.

Nearby Parishes

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