Find St. Mary Parish Court Records

St. Mary Parish court records are held by the Clerk of Court in Franklin and cover cases filed in the 16th Judicial District, including civil, criminal, probate, and land records. Clerk Greg Aucoin and his staff work to provide efficient and accessible public record services to all residents of St. Mary Parish, whether they are searching for a case in person or making a written request from out of the area.

St. Mary Parish Clerk of Court Office

The St. Mary Parish Clerk of Court is located on the second floor of the courthouse at 500 Main Street in Franklin. The office is run by Clerk Greg Aucoin and a trained staff dedicated to helping the public find and obtain court records. This is the office where all civil suits, criminal charges, successions, and land transactions for St. Mary Parish are filed and maintained. If a case was heard in the 16th Judicial District in St. Mary Parish, this is where the record lives.

The clerk's office also handles UCC (Uniform Commercial Code) filings, though those go through the Louisiana Secretary of State rather than the parish clerk directly. If you are researching a business lien or security interest, you will need to check with the Secretary of State's office in Baton Rouge. All other document types tied to St. Mary Parish cases and property recordings are handled here in Franklin.

Note: UCC filings for St. Mary Parish are processed through the Louisiana Secretary of State, not the parish clerk. Check with the state office for those specific records.

St. Mary Parish Court Records and What They Cover

Court records in St. Mary Parish span a wide range of case types handled in district court. Civil records include suits over contracts, property, personal injury, and family matters like divorce, custody, and support. Criminal records cover felony and misdemeanor cases where charges were filed in the 16th JD. Probate and succession records are filed when estates are opened or wills submitted. Land records document all real property transactions recorded in the parish, including deeds, mortgages, and servitudes.

Each of these record types is indexed separately in the clerk's office. When you come in or call to make a request, knowing what type of record you need will help staff direct you to the right index and find the document faster. Some records, like criminal case histories, are maintained in a dedicated criminal docket. Others, like land records, are stored in the conveyance or mortgage books and indexed by grantor and grantee names.

St. Mary Parish cases on appeal from the 16th JD are reviewed by the Louisiana First Circuit Court of Appeal in Baton Rouge. If you need records from an appeal, contact the First Circuit clerk separately.

Accessing St. Mary Parish Court Records Online

The St. Mary Parish Clerk of Court website at stmaryparishclerkofcourt.com provides information on services and how to request records. For online case searches, the clerk participates in Louisiana's statewide court record systems. The ClerkConnect portal and the eClerks LA system both provide access to many Louisiana parish records, and St. Mary Parish records may be searchable through one or both systems depending on the record type.

For older records or documents not yet in digital form, an in-person visit to the Franklin courthouse is the best option. Staff can search the physical indexes and pull documents that have not been scanned into the online system.

Note: Not all St. Mary Parish court records are available online. Older filings and certain case types may require a visit or written request to the clerk's office.

Louisiana Public Records Law and St. Mary Parish

The public's right to access court records in St. Mary Parish is grounded in Louisiana's public records law. Under La. R.S. 44:1, public records include all documents made or received by a public body in connection with its official business. Court filings, judgments, and recorded instruments all qualify. Any person has the right to inspect and copy these records under La. R.S. 44:31.

The clerk's office must make records available for inspection during regular business hours and must respond to written requests under La. R.S. 44:33.1. Copy fees are authorized under La. R.S. 44:32 and vary depending on the type of record and the format requested. Certified copies cost more than plain copies but are often required when submitting records to another court, government agency, or financial institution.

How to Get St. Mary Parish Court Records

To get court records from St. Mary Parish, start by checking the clerk's website for online access options. If the record is not available digitally, you can visit the office at 500 Main Street in Franklin, call 337-828-4100 to ask about a specific record, or send a written request by mail. Mail requests should include the full name of the party involved, the approximate case date, the type of record you need, your contact information, and a check or money order for any applicable fees.

In-person visits are generally the most efficient option for complex research or older records. The second-floor office is staffed with professionals who can help you navigate the indexes and locate documents. They can also tell you what format is available, whether a record has been scanned, and what the copy cost will be before you commit to the request.

For large records requests or those involving many documents, it is smart to call ahead so the staff can estimate the time and cost involved. The office handles requests in the order they are received and processes them as quickly as staffing allows.

Nearby Parishes

Court records must be requested from the parish where the case was filed.