East Baton Rouge Family Court Records
East Baton Rouge Parish family court records cover divorce, custody, child support, adoption, and protective order cases filed in the 19th Judicial District Court. The Clerk of Court in Baton Rouge keeps these case files at the main courthouse on North Boulevard. Residents and legal professionals can search for family court records online through the clerk's digital tools or visit the office in person. The parish has one of the largest family court caseloads in Louisiana, with a dedicated family court division on the fourth floor of the courthouse that handles domestic matters each day of the work week.
East Baton Rouge Parish Quick Facts
East Baton Rouge Family Court Clerk
Doug Welborn has served as Clerk of Court since 1991. His office manages all family court records for the parish. The main courthouse is at 300 North Boulevard in Baton Rouge, and the family court division sits on the fourth floor in Rooms 3201 and 3301. Staff handle filings for divorce, custody, support modifications, adoptions, and protective orders each weekday. The mailing address is P.O. Box 1991, Baton Rouge, LA 70821.
You can reach the clerk's office by phone at 225-389-4914 or by email at dwelborn@ebrclerkofcourt.org. Hours run Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. The East Baton Rouge Clerk of Court website has details on filing and record requests, plus links to online search tools for looking up family court cases.
The clerk also runs a branch office at 9050 Airline Highway, Suite 100. This Airline Highway branch handles some record requests, though most family court filings go through the main courthouse downtown. There is also a Downtown Archives location for older records. Copies cost $1 per page.
| Main Office |
300 North Boulevard, Room 3201 Baton Rouge, LA 70802 Phone: (225) 389-4914 |
|---|---|
| Branch Office |
9050 Airline Highway, Suite 100 Baton Rouge, LA |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
| dwelborn@ebrclerkofcourt.org |
Search East Baton Rouge Family Court Records Online
East Baton Rouge Parish offers several ways to search family court records from home. The 19th Judicial District Court website has court calendars, case information, and judge assignments. This is a good place to start if you know the case number or the names of the parties involved in a family court case.
The East Baton Rouge Clerk of Court website provides access to the ClerkConnect system for eFiling and case lookups. ClerkConnect lets attorneys and self-represented parties file documents electronically, which is now the preferred method for new family court filings in the parish. You can view the status of filed cases and check hearing dates through this portal.
The clerk's website shows the steps to request copies of family court records from the main courthouse in East Baton Rouge Parish.
The eClerks Louisiana portal also gives access to East Baton Rouge Parish court records. This statewide system lets you look up cases across multiple parishes. You can find divorce filings, custody orders, and other family court documents through keyword or name searches.
Family Court Records in East Baton Rouge
The 19th Judicial District Court has a dedicated family court division on the fourth floor of the main courthouse. This is where judges hear divorce cases, custody disputes, child support matters, and adoption proceedings. East Baton Rouge Parish is one of the few parishes in Louisiana with a separate family court section due to its large population and heavy caseload.
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 guide you through the filing process for divorce petitions, custody motions, and support modifications. This is free to use.
Family court records in East Baton Rouge Parish typically include the petition that started the case, any answers or motions filed by either side, court orders from hearings, and the final judgment. Under Louisiana Civil Code Article 102, a spouse who files for divorce must live separate and apart for 180 days before getting a final judgment. If minor children are involved, the waiting period extends to 365 days under the same statute. These timelines shape the records you will find in any divorce case file.
Note: Adoption records in East Baton Rouge Parish are sealed under Louisiana law and not available for public search.
Protective Orders and Domestic Cases
East Baton Rouge Parish has a Domestic Violence Program that works with the Iris Domestic Violence Center. Victims of domestic abuse can get temporary restraining orders (TROs) at 15 public library branches across the parish. This makes it easier to file for protection without going to the courthouse. The TRO forms are available at each library, and staff can help with the process.
Protective order cases create family court records in East Baton Rouge Parish. These files contain the petition for protection, any evidence submitted, the hearing date, and the judge's ruling. Under Louisiana Revised Statutes 46:2131 through 46:2143, a victim of domestic abuse can get a protective order that lasts up to 18 months. The court can extend it if needed. These records are kept at the clerk's office.
If someone violates a protective order, the violation becomes a separate criminal matter, but the original family court record stays in the civil file at the clerk's office. You can search for protective order cases the same way you search for other family court records in East Baton Rouge Parish.
East Baton Rouge Court Filing Fees
Filing fees for family court cases in East Baton Rouge Parish vary by case type. A divorce petition has its own fee. Custody and support filings have separate costs. The clerk's office can give you the current fee schedule. Copies of court records cost $1 per page. Certified copies cost more.
Louisiana law allows fee waivers for people who cannot afford filing costs. You file an In Forma Pauperis (IFP) affidavit with the court. If approved, the court waives filing fees and some service costs. This applies to all family court case types in East Baton Rouge Parish, from divorce to custody to protective orders. Ask the Self-Help Center for the IFP form on Tuesdays or Thursdays.
Service of process adds to the total cost. The East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff handles service for a fee. Private process servers are also an option. If you serve by publication, that costs more due to newspaper fees.
Other Court Records in East Baton Rouge
The clerk's office also keeps marriage records, probate files, and civil suit records. Marriage records tie to family court cases when you need proof of the marriage before a divorce. Probate records matter when a family member dies and there are custody or support issues that change as a result. All of these are public records under Louisiana law (La. R.S. 44:1).
East Baton Rouge Parish family court records also connect to the state child support system. The Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services handles child support enforcement statewide. If support is ordered through the 19th Judicial District Court, enforcement records may also exist at the state level. You can check with both the clerk and the state agency for a full picture of a case.
Cities in East Baton Rouge Parish
East Baton Rouge Parish includes Baton Rouge, Central, and the newly incorporated city of St. George. All family court cases for these cities go through the 19th Judicial District Court. The clerk's office at 300 North Boulevard handles filings for every community in the parish.
Nearby Parishes
These parishes border East Baton Rouge Parish. If you live near the parish line, check your address to make sure you file family court cases in the right parish. Filing in the wrong parish can delay your case.