Vermilion Parish Court Records

Vermilion Parish court records are maintained by the Clerk of Court in Abbeville and cover civil, criminal, probate, and land filings for the 15th Judicial District. This office serves as the official custodian of all court documents generated in Vermilion Parish, and most records are open to the public under Louisiana's public records law.

Vermilion Parish Clerk of Court

Diane Meaux Broussard serves as the Clerk of Court for Vermilion Parish. Her office is located in Abbeville at 100 North State Street and handles all court filings, land records, and vital document requests for the parish. The office is the starting point for anyone who needs to get court records in Vermilion Parish, whether in person or by mail.

The Vermilion Parish Clerk of Court office describes its role as "Offering court related information and resources from the Clerk of Court office in Vermilion Parish, Louisiana." Staff can help you locate case files, land records, and other documents. They cannot give legal advice, but they can point you toward the right forms and let you know what fees apply to your request.

Note: Vermilion Parish offers online subscription access to court indices. Contact the office or visit the website for details on how to set up an account.

Searching Vermilion Parish Court Records Online

The Vermilion Parish Clerk of Court maintains its own online system for accessing court record indices. Subscriptions to the online index are available for those who need frequent access. This is useful for attorneys, title searchers, and others who check records on a regular basis. Casual users may find it easier to visit the office in person or call ahead to confirm what is available remotely.

The office website at vermilionclerk.com provides additional guidance on how to access records. You can also find information on marriage licenses, birth certificates, and death certificates through the site. Louisiana's public records law, under La. R.S. 44:1, gives the public broad rights to inspect and copy records held by government agencies. The Clerk of Court office follows these rules, and most court records in Vermilion Parish are open for inspection.

The image below shows the marriage information section of the Vermilion Parish Clerk of Court website, which is one of several record types managed by this office.

The marriage records section of the site explains requirements, fees, and the process for getting a license in Vermilion Parish.

Note: The online index subscription covers civil and land records. Criminal case information may need to be requested directly at the courthouse.

Vermilion Parish Civil and Criminal Court Records

Civil court records in Vermilion Parish cover lawsuits, small claims, family law cases, and other non-criminal matters filed in the 15th Judicial District. Criminal records include charges, judgments, and case histories for defendants in the parish. Both types of records are filed with the Clerk of Court, who is required by law to maintain them and make them available to the public except where sealed by court order or protected by law.

Louisiana law under La. R.S. 44:31 gives any person the right to inspect or copy a public record. This includes most court filings. There are exceptions for juvenile records, certain family matters, and records sealed by a judge. If you are not sure whether a record is public, the Clerk of Court staff can tell you before you make the trip to the courthouse.

Criminal background searches in Vermilion Parish generally require you to know the defendant's name and, when possible, a date of birth. The Clerk's office can search its index by name and pull up case information. Copies of court documents cost a set fee per page.

Note: Sealed or expunged records are not available through the Clerk of Court and require a separate court order to access.

Marriage Licenses in Vermilion Parish

The Vermilion Parish Clerk of Court issues marriage licenses. The fee is $27.50 and can be paid by cash, check, or credit and debit card. Both parties must apply in person. The license is valid for 30 days from the date it is issued, and the wedding cannot take place until at least 24 hours after the license is issued. Plan ahead so the timing works with your ceremony date.

Marriage records from past ceremonies are also kept by the Clerk's office. If you need a certified copy of a marriage record, you can request it at the Abbeville office. These are public records in Louisiana, though the Clerk may charge a fee for copies and certification.

Note: You must purchase the marriage license at least 24 hours before the ceremony. Plan your visit to the office accordingly.

Birth and Death Certificates in Vermilion Parish

The Vermilion Parish Clerk of Court also handles requests for Louisiana vital records, including birth and death certificates. These are state records issued by Louisiana Vital Records, but the Clerk of Court can process the request locally.

The image below shows the birth and death certificate section of the Vermilion Parish Clerk of Court website.

Fees and requirements for vital records are listed on the clerk's website and updated when state rates change.

Current fees for vital record requests at the Vermilion Parish Clerk of Court are as follows. A long form birth certificate costs $34.00. A long form birth certificate plus a birth card costs $48.00. A death certificate costs $26.00. These fees apply only to Louisiana records. If you need a birth certificate for someone born in another state, you will need to contact that state's vital records office directly. Birth records from before 1984 may take 15 to 60 minutes to locate, so allow extra time if your request involves older documents.

Note: The Clerk of Court handles vital records for Louisiana only. Out-of-state vital records must be obtained from the issuing state.

Public Records Law and Access Rights in Vermilion Parish

Louisiana has strong public records laws. Under La. R.S. 44:31, any person can ask to see or copy a public record. The agency that holds the record must respond promptly. Under La. R.S. 44:32, the custodian of public records must make them available during regular business hours and may charge reasonable fees for copies. If your request is denied, La. R.S. 44:33.1 outlines the process for challenging that denial.

For court records in Vermilion Parish, the Clerk of Court is the custodian. Most court filings are open to the public. You do not need to explain why you want a record or show any special ID to view most records. The Clerk's staff will direct you to the correct index and pull the file you need. Certified copies cost more than plain copies because the Clerk must sign and stamp them to make them official for legal use.

If you want a record for use in a legal proceeding, ask for a certified copy. Plain copies are fine for personal research but may not be accepted in court. The distinction matters, so confirm with your attorney if you are unsure which type you need.

Land Records and Property Filings in Vermilion Parish

The Vermilion Parish Clerk of Court also acts as the ex-officio recorder of conveyances and mortgages. This means all property sales, transfers, mortgages, and liens in the parish are filed here. Title companies and real estate attorneys use these records frequently to check ownership chains before a property sale closes.

Land records in Vermilion Parish go back many decades and are indexed by name and by legal property description. If you are researching the ownership history of a piece of property, the Clerk's office is the right place to start. The online index subscription may include land records, making it easier to do preliminary research before visiting in person.

Note: Original documents filed for recordation are not returned to the sender in Louisiana. The Clerk keeps the originals on file.

Nearby Parishes

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