Shreveport Family Court Records
Shreveport family court records are filed and stored at the Caddo Parish Clerk of Court. Shreveport is the largest city in Caddo Parish and the parish seat. All divorce, custody, child support, and protective order cases for Shreveport residents go through the Caddo Parish court system. The city court in Shreveport handles traffic and minor civil cases but cannot take family law filings. You can search for family court records in person at the clerk's office or online through several digital portals.
Shreveport Quick Facts
Shreveport City Court and Family Court Records
Shreveport City Court is at 1244 Texas Avenue. The phone number is (318) 673-5800. This court handles misdemeanors, traffic violations, and civil suits up to $35,000. It does not handle divorce. It does not handle custody. It does not handle child support cases or protective orders. All family law matters go to the Caddo Parish court system.
This is a key point for Shreveport residents to understand. Louisiana runs its court system at the parish level for family law. The City of Shreveport government does not manage family court records. The parish does. If you need to file for divorce or change a custody order in Shreveport, you go to the Caddo Parish Clerk of Court, not city court.
The 1st Judicial District Court serves Caddo Parish. This is the general jurisdiction court that handles all family law cases for the parish, including those from Shreveport. The court sits in downtown Shreveport at the Caddo Parish courthouse.
Caddo Parish Clerk for Shreveport Family Court Records
The Caddo Parish Clerk of Court is at 501 Texas Street, Room 103 in Shreveport. Call (318) 226-6780 for the clerk's office. This is where all family court records for Shreveport are filed and stored. The clerk handles new filings, maintains case files, and provides copies of court records.
| Office | Caddo Parish Clerk of Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 501 Texas Street, Room 103 Shreveport, LA 71101 |
| Phone | (318) 226-6780 |
| Website | caddoclerk.com |
The clerk's office is in downtown Shreveport near the Caddo Parish courthouse. Parking is available on nearby streets and in lots. Bring a valid photo ID when you visit. Staff can look up family court records by name or case number and make copies for you. Certified copies cost more than plain ones, so ask about fees before you order.
The Caddo Parish Clerk website gives you access to case search tools and filing information. You can find hours, fees, and contact details for the office on this site.
Search Shreveport Family Court Records Online
You can search for family court records in Shreveport without going to the courthouse. The Caddo Parish Clerk offers online access through multiple platforms. The ClerkConnect portal lets you look up cases by name or case number. You can see filing dates, parties, and docket entries for divorce, custody, and other family law cases.
The Louisiana Second Circuit Court of Appeal covers Caddo Parish. If a family court case from Shreveport gets appealed, the records move to this court. The Second Circuit website has its own case search system. You can look up appeals from Shreveport family court cases there.
Under the Louisiana Public Records Law, La. R.S. 44:1, most family court records in Shreveport are public. You have the right to see divorce filings, custody orders, and child support records. Sealed cases and adoption files are exceptions. The Louisiana Children's Code Articles 411 through 417 keep adoption records confidential. But for the vast majority of family court records, you can search and get copies.
Note: Some online portals may charge a fee for full document access or downloads.
Divorce Records in Shreveport
Divorce is the most common type of family court record in Shreveport. Under Louisiana Civil Code Article 102, you file a petition and wait 180 days before the court can grant the divorce. If you have minor children, the wait extends to 365 days. Article 103 lets you skip the wait if you have already lived apart for the required time.
You must meet the residency rule under Civil Code Article 3941. At least one spouse has to be domiciled in Louisiana. If you live in Shreveport, you file through the Caddo Parish Clerk. The clerk gives you a case number and your filing goes into the court system. You then serve your spouse through the Caddo Parish Sheriff or a private process server.
Louisiana is a community property state. Under Civil Code Article 2325, property gained during the marriage is split equally. All of the documents related to property division, temporary orders, and the final judgment become part of the divorce record at the Caddo Parish Clerk's office. These records are public and available for review.
Custody and Support Records in Shreveport
Child custody cases in Shreveport create family court records at the Caddo Parish level. When custody is part of a divorce, it stays in the same case file. When parents are not married, custody is filed as a separate case. Louisiana uses the best interest of the child standard under Civil Code Articles 131 through 136.
Child support records are also filed here. Louisiana follows La. R.S. 46:2131 for support calculations. The court uses an income shares model. Both parents' earnings go into the formula. The order becomes part of the family court record. If either party asks for a change later, that motion and any new order also go on file at the clerk's office.
Protective orders in Shreveport also go through the Caddo Parish court system. Louisiana keeps a statewide Protective Order Registry that tracks all active orders. Law enforcement can check this registry in real time. If you need a protective order in Shreveport, the filing creates a family court record at the clerk's office and goes into the state system.
Legal Help for Family Court in Shreveport
Northwest Louisiana Legal Services covers the Shreveport area. They provide free legal help to people who qualify based on income. Their staff handles divorce, custody, and child support cases. Contact them to see if you meet the income guidelines.
The Shreveport Bar Association can connect you with a family law attorney. The Louisiana State Bar also runs a statewide lawyer referral service. For self-help resources, Louisiana Law Help has free guides, forms, and step-by-step instructions for family court cases. The site covers divorce, custody, child support, and protective orders.
If you cannot afford filing fees in Shreveport, you can ask the court for a waiver. File an In Forma Pauperis form with the Caddo Parish Clerk. The judge reviews your finances and decides if you qualify. This applies to all family law filings.
Note: Court staff can help you with forms but cannot give you legal advice about your case.
Caddo Parish Family Court Records
All family court records for Shreveport go through Caddo Parish. For more details on the parish court system, fees, online search tools, and related resources, visit the parish page.
Nearby Cities
These cities near Shreveport also have family court records pages with local court details.