Terrebonne Parish Court Records

Terrebonne Parish court records are maintained by the Clerk of Court in Houma and cover all civil, criminal, and land filings for the 32nd Judicial District. The office offers a subscription-based online access system so researchers can search case information and, with a paid subscription, view document images without an in-person visit to the Main Street courthouse.

Terrebonne Parish Clerk of Court Office

The Terrebonne Parish Clerk of Court is located at 7856 Main Street in Houma. This is the central location for all court record filings and requests in the parish. The office handles civil and criminal dockets for the 32nd Judicial District, maintains the land record index, issues marriage licenses, and processes birth certificate requests. It is a busy office that serves one of the larger parishes in south Louisiana.

Marriage licenses and birth certificates require appointments. The main courthouse number handles most general inquiries, but a separate line is used for marriage and birth certificate appointments. If you need a marriage license or a birth certificate, call the appointments number rather than the main line to get scheduled. Walk-in service for these documents is not available, so planning ahead will save you time.

Note: Marriage licenses and birth certificate requests require appointments. Call 985-873-8376 to schedule. Do not show up without an appointment for these services.

Terrebonne Parish Court Records Online Access

The Terrebonne Parish Clerk of Court offers a subscription-based online case access system through its website at terrebonneclerk.org. Basic case information, such as party names, case numbers, and hearing dates, is viewable without charge. To view actual document images, a paid subscription or per-document fee is required. This structure gives casual researchers a way to confirm whether a case exists without paying anything upfront, while giving regular users a subscription path for full document access.

For those who do not want to subscribe, the statewide Louisiana court portals may also have some Terrebonne Parish records. The eClerks LA system covers many parishes across Louisiana and may be worth checking if you already have access through that platform. In-person research remains an option at the Main Street office in Houma for records not available through either online system.

The clerk's website at terrebonneclerk.org is the best starting point for understanding the online access options and subscription tiers available for Terrebonne Parish court records.

Civil Court Records in Terrebonne Parish

Civil court records in Terrebonne Parish include all cases filed in the 32nd Judicial District involving contract disputes, property claims, personal injury suits, and family law matters. Divorce, custody, support, and protective order cases are part of the civil docket and are filed and maintained by the clerk's office. Succession and probate records are also civil in nature and become part of the public record when an estate is opened or a will is admitted to probate in Terrebonne Parish.

To search for a civil case, use the online system at the clerk's website for basic case lookup, or come to the office in person to search the index. The clerk's staff can also take requests by phone at (985) 868-5660 to help you confirm whether a record exists before you make the trip. For certified copies needed for legal proceedings or government submissions, request those specifically, as they cost more than standard copies and require the clerk's official seal.

Civil record access is governed by La. R.S. 44:31, which gives any person the right to inspect and copy public records held by government offices, including the clerk of court. Fees for copies are authorized under La. R.S. 44:32.

Criminal Court Records in Terrebonne Parish

Criminal records for Terrebonne Parish are maintained by the clerk's office for all cases heard in the 32nd Judicial District. These include felony and misdemeanor charges, arraignment records, hearing schedules, plea agreements, sentencing information, and final case dispositions. All criminal records are public under La. R.S. 44:1 unless a court has ordered them sealed or a defendant has obtained an expungement.

Criminal record searches in Terrebonne Parish cost $20.00 for a civil records search and $20.00 for a criminal records search per the clerk's current fee schedule. These searches cover cases filed in the 32nd JD only and will not return records from other parishes or from federal court. For statewide criminal history data, contact the Louisiana State Police Bureau of Criminal Identification and Information, which maintains a more comprehensive database across all jurisdictions.

Note: The clerk's staff cannot give legal advice about criminal records. If you have questions about a case outcome or how to interpret a record, consult a licensed criminal defense attorney.

Land Records in Terrebonne Parish

Land records in Terrebonne Parish are filed and maintained by the clerk's office in the recording department. All real property transactions in the parish must be recorded here to be legally effective against third parties. This includes deeds, cash sales, mortgages, acts of donation, servitudes, and liens. The recording department indexes documents by grantor and grantee names and by property description.

To search for a land record, you can visit the recording department at the Main Street office or check the online system for documents that have been digitized. Title searches and property history research are common uses of this department, particularly for real estate transactions and refinancing. If you are buying or selling property in Terrebonne Parish, your title company will search these records as part of the closing process. Individual researchers can access the same records during office hours.

Louisiana's public records law, particularly La. R.S. 44:33.1, requires the clerk to respond to written records requests in a timely manner. For complex title searches involving many instruments over a long period, call the office first to discuss the scope of the request and any applicable fees.

Nearby Parishes

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