Central Family Court Records
Central family court records are filed and stored at the East Baton Rouge Parish Clerk of Court. The city of Central is part of East Baton Rouge Parish and does not have its own family court or separate court system. All divorce, custody, child support, and protective order cases for Central residents go through the 19th Judicial District Court. The clerk's office on North Boulevard in Baton Rouge keeps all case files, and a dedicated family court division on the fourth floor handles domestic matters every weekday.
Central Quick Facts
Where Central Residents File Family Cases
Central residents file all family court cases at the East Baton Rouge Parish Clerk of Court. The main office is at 300 North Boulevard in Baton Rouge. The family court division sits on the fourth floor in Rooms 3201 and 3301. This is where judges hear divorce cases, custody disputes, and child support matters for Central and the rest of the parish.
The East Baton Rouge Clerk of Court office manages filings, record requests, and copies. Doug Welborn has served as Clerk of Court since 1991. The phone number is (225) 389-4914. Hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. You can also reach the office by email at dwelborn@ebrclerkofcourt.org.
| Office | East Baton Rouge Parish Clerk of Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 300 North Boulevard Baton Rouge, LA 70802 |
| Phone | (225) 389-4914 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
Central does not have its own city court that handles family law. The city incorporated in 2005, but family court matters remain with the parish system. All filings go through Baton Rouge, which is about a 20-minute drive from most parts of Central.
Search Central Family Court Records Online
East Baton Rouge Parish has several online tools for searching family court records. The 19th Judicial District Court website shows court calendars, judge assignments, and case information. You can look up family court cases by name or case number. This is a good starting point if you know basic details about the case.
The ClerkConnect portal handles eFiling and case lookups across Louisiana. It covers the 19th Judicial District, so family court cases involving Central residents are in the system. Attorneys and self-represented parties use ClerkConnect to file documents electronically. You can also check case status and view filing dates.
The clerk's website at ebrclerk.com has links to all available search tools and explains how to request copies of family court records. Check it before your trip to the courthouse to save time.
Statewide Record Search Options
The eClerks Louisiana portal lets you search court records from multiple parishes at once. This is helpful if you are not sure whether a case was filed in East Baton Rouge Parish or in a neighboring parish like Livingston or Ascension. The system searches across jurisdictions by party name.
The Louisiana Protective Order Registry is another statewide tool. It tracks all active protective orders across the state. You can check whether someone has an active order without searching parish by parish. This is a separate database from the clerk's records at the courthouse.
Family Court Division in East Baton Rouge
The 19th Judicial District Court has a dedicated family court division that handles all domestic cases for Central and the rest of the parish. This is one of the few parishes in Louisiana with a separate family court section. The division sits on the fourth floor of the main courthouse in Baton Rouge and hears cases every weekday.
A Self-Help Center operates on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Staff at the center help people who do not have a lawyer fill out forms for family court cases. They can walk you through divorce petitions, custody motions, and support modification forms. This service is free. Central residents can use this center just like anyone else in the parish.
The family court division handles divorce, custody, child support, adoption, and protective order cases. Each case creates records that the clerk's office stores. Under Louisiana Civil Code Article 102, a spouse must live separate and apart for 180 days after filing before the court grants a divorce. With minor children, that period is 365 days. Under Article 103, if the couple has already been apart long enough, the court can grant the divorce without a waiting period.
Custody and Support Cases for Central
Custody disputes are a large part of the family court caseload in East Baton Rouge Parish. Louisiana Civil Code Articles 131 through 136 govern how courts decide custody. The judge looks at the best interest of the child. Factors include the stability of each parent's home, the child's ties to the community and school, and any history of abuse or substance problems.
Child support in Louisiana follows a formula set out in Louisiana Revised Statutes Title 9, Section 315. Both parents' gross income goes into the calculation. The court sets a monthly amount based on the combined income and the number of children. Support orders, modifications, and enforcement actions all create records at the East Baton Rouge Parish Clerk of Court.
Louisiana is a community property state under Civil Code Article 2325. In a divorce, property gained during the marriage is split equally unless the parties agree to different terms. The final judgment becomes a public record under the Louisiana Public Records Law (La. R.S. 44:1). Copies cost $1 per page at the clerk's office.
Note: Adoption records in East Baton Rouge Parish are sealed under Louisiana law and not open to public search.
Protective Orders for Central Residents
Victims of domestic abuse in Central can file for a protective order at the East Baton Rouge Parish Clerk of Court. Louisiana Revised Statutes 46:2131 through 46:2143 cover these cases. A temporary restraining order can be issued the same day you file. The court then sets a hearing within 21 days for a full protective order that can last up to 18 months.
East Baton Rouge Parish has a Domestic Violence Program that works with the Iris Domestic Violence Center. Temporary restraining order forms are available at 15 public library branches across the parish, making it easier to file without going downtown to the courthouse. Central residents can use any of these library locations. Staff at each branch can help with the paperwork.
- File a TRO at any EBR library branch or the courthouse
- A judge can grant a temporary order the same day
- Full hearing set within 21 days
- Protective orders last up to 18 months
- Extensions available if the threat continues
Legal Help for Central Residents
Southeast Louisiana Legal Services provides free legal help to people in East Baton Rouge Parish who qualify based on income. They handle family law cases like divorce, custody, and protective orders. Contact them for an intake appointment to see if you are eligible.
Louisiana Law Help at louisianalawhelp.org offers self-help guides and forms for filing family court cases without a lawyer. The Self-Help Center at the courthouse in Baton Rouge is another good resource. Staff there can guide you through the forms and filing process on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The Louisiana State Bar Association also runs a lawyer referral service if you need to hire an attorney.
East Baton Rouge Parish Family Court Records
Central is part of East Baton Rouge Parish. All family court filings go through the East Baton Rouge Parish Clerk of Court and the 19th Judicial District Court on North Boulevard in Baton Rouge. For full parish details, fee information, and additional resources, visit the East Baton Rouge Parish page.
Nearby Cities
Baton Rouge, St. George, and Prairieville are the closest qualifying cities. Baton Rouge and St. George are also in East Baton Rouge Parish. Prairieville is in Ascension Parish and uses a different clerk's office.