Lafayette Parish Family Court Records

Family court records in Lafayette Parish are filed and stored at the Clerk of Court office on South Buchanan Street in Lafayette. The 15th Judicial District Court handles all family law cases here, from divorce and custody to child support and protection orders. You can search for records in person at the courthouse, by mail, or through one of the online portals that cover Lafayette Parish. With a population of over 240,000, this is one of the busiest clerk's offices in the state, and staff can help you find the right case file and get copies of what you need.

Lafayette Parish Clerk of Court

The Lafayette Parish Clerk of Court is at 800 South Buchanan Street, Lafayette, LA 70501. The mailing address is P.O. Box 2009, Lafayette, LA 70502. The main phone number is (337) 291-6400. For civil records, call (337) 291-6303. Family and non-support matters have their own line at (337) 291-6367. Protective order questions go to (337) 291-6386. Juvenile cases can be reached at (337) 291-6327. Marriage records have a separate line too: (337) 291-6335. You can also email the office at CivilRecordsRequest@lpclerk.com. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.

The Lafayette Parish Clerk of Court website has info on services, fees, and how to file or request records.

Under La. R.S. 44:1, most court records in Louisiana are public. Anyone can ask to see them. You do not have to be a party to the case. Adoption records and certain juvenile files are sealed by law, but most family court records are open to anyone who wants to look. Staff at the Lafayette Parish Clerk of Court can help you find the right case file and make copies.

Lafayette Parish Family Court Record Types

The Lafayette Parish Clerk of Court holds a wide range of family court records. Divorce and dissolution cases are the most common. These files include the petition, the answer, motions, and the final judgment. The judgment ends the marriage and lays out the terms. Under Louisiana Civil Code Article 102, one spouse files a petition and then must live apart for 180 days. If minor children are involved, the wait is 365 days. Article 103 allows a quicker divorce if the couple has already been apart for that period.

Custody cases are filed here too, including ex-parte custody orders when there is an urgent situation. Child support, called non-support in some Lafayette Parish filings, is another big category. Louisiana uses the formula in La. R.S. 9:315 to figure out the support amount based on both parents' income. Protective orders filed under La. R.S. 46:2131 are kept by the clerk as well. These cases come up when a family or household member has been abused.

Other family court records in Lafayette Parish include adoptions, name changes, emancipations, tutorship filings, and alimony cases. Marriage records are also on file at the clerk's office. Louisiana is a community property state. Civil Code Article 2325 says property gained during the marriage belongs to both spouses equally unless they agree to something else. These property matters often show up in divorce cases and are part of the court record.

Search Lafayette Parish Records Online

The Clerk Connect portal is one of the main online tools for searching Lafayette Parish family court records. You can look up cases by party name or case number. Subscriptions are available at different levels: $10 for one day, $25 for a month, or $300 for a year. This gives you access to case index data and document images from your computer.

The Clerk Connect portal provides online access to Lafayette Parish court case information and filings.

The eClerks Louisiana portal is another resource that includes Lafayette Parish records. This statewide system covers recorded documents and some case filings. If a divorce case involves a property transfer, the conveyance might show up here. Between Clerk Connect and eClerks, most Lafayette Parish family court records can be found from a computer.

The eClerks portal gives you statewide access to Louisiana recorded documents, including some Lafayette Parish filings.

Note: Some older records may not be in the online system, so call the clerk if you need case files from years back.

Lafayette Parish Court Record Fees

Fees at the Lafayette Parish Clerk of Court are straightforward. A certified copy costs $10 plus $1 per page. A certified copy of a marriage record costs $5. Online access through Clerk Connect runs $10 per day, $25 per month, or $300 per year. These fees can change, so check with the office before you send payment.

Filing fees for new family court cases vary by case type. A divorce petition has one fee. A custody filing has another. Service of process adds to the total. If you cannot afford the fees, you may file an In Forma Pauperis form and ask the judge to waive them. Call the clerk at (337) 291-6400 or email CivilRecordsRequest@lpclerk.com to get exact current rates.

Legal Help in Lafayette Parish

Acadiana Legal Service Corporation serves Lafayette Parish. They may offer free or low-cost help to people who qualify based on income. They handle divorce, custody, and support cases. Call 211 to find out if you are eligible. The Louisiana State Bar Association runs a lawyer referral service too. You can call or use their website to find a family law attorney in the Lafayette area.

Louisiana Law Help has self-help guides and forms for people who want to handle their own family court case. Many people in Lafayette Parish file their own divorce when both sides agree on the terms. The clerk's office can hand you the forms you need but cannot give legal advice. If you need a protection order fast, the court can issue a temporary restraining order the same day you file. Talk to staff about what forms and steps you need to take.

Cities in Lafayette Parish

Lafayette Parish is home to the city of Lafayette, the parish seat and largest city. Other communities like Broussard, Carencro, Scott, Youngsville, and Duson are also in this parish. All family court cases go through the Lafayette Parish Clerk of Court on South Buchanan Street.

Nearby Parishes

These parishes border Lafayette Parish. The 15th Judicial District also covers Acadia and Vermilion Parishes, so some court procedures overlap. Make sure you file in the parish where you or your spouse lives.