Find Family Court Records in Bossier Parish

Family court records in Bossier Parish are stored at the Clerk of Court office in Benton. The 26th Judicial District Court handles all family law cases for the parish, including divorce, custody, child support, and protection orders. You can search for records in person at the courthouse, by mail, or online through the Clerk Connect portal. The clerk's office also processes marriage licenses and keeps other civil records on file. With a population of over 130,000, Bossier Parish is one of the busiest court systems in north Louisiana.

Bossier Parish Clerk of Court

The Bossier Parish Clerk of Court is at 204 Burt Boulevard, Third Floor, in Benton, LA 71006. The mailing address is P.O. Box 430, Benton, LA 71006. You can reach the office by phone at (318) 965-2336 or by fax at (318) 965-2713. Email goes to clerk@bossierclerk.com. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.

The clerk's office handles a wide range of family court records. Divorce filings go through the 26th Judicial District Court. The clerk also keeps child custody determinations, child support orders, paternity cases, guardianship records, and domestic violence protective orders. Adoption records are filed here too, but those are sealed by law. Marriage licenses are another service the office provides. Staff can help you search for any of these record types by name or case number.

The Bossier Parish Clerk of Court website provides contact details and information about available services.

Under La. R.S. 44:1, most court records in Louisiana are open to the public. You do not need to be a party to the case to get copies. Just go to the clerk's office and ask.

26th Judicial District Court Family Cases

The 26th Judicial District Court serves Bossier Parish and handles all family law matters filed here. Judges in this district hear divorce cases, custody disputes, child support matters, paternity filings, guardianship petitions, and protection order requests. The court's website has forms and order templates that you may need for your case.

The 26th Judicial District Court website has forms and orders for family law cases filed in Bossier Parish.

Divorce in Bossier Parish follows Louisiana Civil Code Article 102. One spouse files a petition. Then the couple must live apart for 180 days. If there are minor children, the waiting period is 365 days. Under Article 103, couples who have already been separated for the full required period can get a judgment right away without the additional wait. Both types of divorce create records at the clerk's office. The petition, proof of service, any motions, and the final judgment all become part of the case file.

Bossier Parish Family Court Record Fees

The Bossier Parish Clerk of Court charges set fees for copies and services. Regular copies cost $1.00 per page. Certified copies are $5.00 per document plus copy fees. Divorce decrees cost $10.00 per copy. These fees can change, so call the office at (318) 965-2336 to confirm current rates before you send payment.

Certified copies have the clerk's seal and stamp. This makes them official documents accepted by courts, government offices, and banks. Plain copies work for personal reference. If you need the record for another court case, a name change, or a government application, get the certified version. For people with low income, Louisiana allows you to file an In Forma Pauperis motion asking the court to waive some or all fees.

Bossier Parish Family Court Records Online

The main online tool for Bossier Parish family court records is Clerk Connect. This portal requires a subscription. The setup fee is $85 and the monthly cost is $35. This gives you access to search court records by name or case number. Law offices and title companies often use this service. For occasional searches, the cost may not be worth it, but for frequent users it saves time.

The Clerk Connect portal provides subscription-based access to Bossier Parish court records for online searching.

The eClerks Louisiana portal is another statewide resource that may have Bossier Parish records. This system covers many parishes and can be a good starting point if you just want to check whether a case exists.

The eClerks Louisiana system provides additional online access to Bossier Parish court filings. Between Clerk Connect and eClerks, you have two different ways to search from home. For certified copies, you still need to go through the clerk's office in Benton directly.

Note: The Clerk Connect subscription fee is separate from any copy or search fees charged by the clerk's office.

How to Request Bossier Parish Records

You can request family court records from the Bossier Parish Clerk of Court three ways. Visit the office at 204 Burt Boulevard in Benton during business hours. Send a mail request to P.O. Box 430, Benton, LA 71006. Or search online through Clerk Connect.

For in-person visits, bring your ID and any case details you have. A case number makes the search faster. If you only have names, staff can search that way too. They will pull the file and make copies while you wait. The office gets busy, so expect some wait time during peak hours. For mail requests, include the full names of the parties, the case type, and a date range. Add a check or money order payable to the Bossier Parish Clerk of Court. Allow a few weeks for processing and mail delivery.

Community property is a factor in many Bossier Parish divorce cases. Louisiana Civil Code Article 2325 says assets gained during the marriage belong to both spouses. The property settlement becomes part of the court file. You can request copies of that settlement along with any other part of the case record. Child support orders follow La. R.S. 9:315 and are also part of the public record. Protection orders filed under La. R.S. 46:2131 appear both in the clerk's files and on the statewide Louisiana Protective Order Registry.

Legal Help in Bossier Parish

Northwest Louisiana Legal Services covers Bossier Parish and may offer free legal help with family court cases. They assist with divorce, custody, support, and protection orders for people who qualify based on income. Call 211 to check eligibility.

The Louisiana State Bar Association runs a lawyer referral service that can connect you with a family law attorney in the Bossier City and Benton area. Louisiana Law Help has free online guides and forms for self-represented parties. The clerk's office can give you blank forms but cannot advise you on how to fill them out or how to argue your case. Many people in Bossier Parish handle uncontested divorces on their own. When both parties agree on all terms, the process is more straightforward and costs less. Louisiana Civil Code Article 3941 sets the venue rules for where to file your case.

Cities in Bossier Parish

Bossier Parish includes several cities and towns. All family court cases are filed at the Bossier Parish Clerk of Court in Benton. The largest city is Bossier City, which sits across the Red River from Shreveport. Other communities include Benton, Haughton, and Plain Dealing. All residents file family court cases through the same clerk's office regardless of which city they live in.

Nearby Parishes

These parishes border Bossier Parish. Make sure you file in the correct parish for your family court case. Louisiana law requires filing in the parish where you or your spouse lives.