Search Orleans Parish Family Court Records

Orleans Parish family court records are held at the Civil District Court Clerk's office in New Orleans. This parish handles one of the highest volumes of family law cases in Louisiana. You can search Orleans Parish family court records online through the clerk's remote access portal or visit the courthouse in person. The office manages divorce, custody, child support, protection order, and other domestic case filings. Staff at the clerk's office can help you find both current and archived family court records.

Orleans Parish Clerk of Civil District Court

The Orleans Parish Clerk of Civil District Court manages all family court records in the parish. This office handles a wide range of domestic matters. Orleans Parish is unique in Louisiana because it uses a Civil District Court system rather than a numbered judicial district. The clerk's office stores all case files, processes new filings, and issues copies of court documents.

The Civil Division is at 421 Loyola Avenue, Room 402, New Orleans, LA 70112. Land Records are at 1300 Perdido Street, Room 1106. The main phone number is (504) 407-0000. For the record room, call (504) 407-0118. For domestic and family matters on Docket 5, call (504) 407-0046. You can also email the office at cdcclerk@orleanscdc.com. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM.

Orleans Parish offers after-hours filing for urgent matters. This is available from 5 PM to midnight on weekdays and on weekends. Few parishes in Louisiana offer this service. It can be critical when you need an emergency protection order or other time-sensitive court action outside normal business hours.

Search Orleans Parish Family Court Records Online

Orleans Parish has its own online records portal. The Orleans Civil Clerk Remote Access portal lets you search court records from home. This system covers family court filings, divorce cases, and other civil matters handled by the Civil District Court. Subscription pricing runs $20 for 24-hour access, $100 per month, or $700 per year.

You can see the Orleans Parish Clerk of Court website below, which provides links to online records, filing information, and court services for family court cases in New Orleans.

The remote access portal is especially useful for attorneys and people who need to check case status regularly. A single day pass works if you just need to look up one case. The system lets you search by party name or case number.

The remote access system shown below gives online access to Orleans Parish court records including family law filings and divorce judgments.

For copies of documents, you can request them through the portal or in person. Uncertified copies cost $1 per page. Certified copies run $3 per page. These fees apply whether you get copies online or at the clerk's window.

Note: Not every document in the physical case file may be available through the online portal.

Family Court Cases in Orleans Parish

Orleans Parish handles a broad range of family court matters through the Civil District Court. The domestic docket, known as Docket 5, covers these types of cases:

• Divorce cases under Article 102 and Article 103
• Child custody and visitation
• Child support orders
• Legal separations
• Name changes
• Protection orders and TROs (temporary restraining orders)
• Tutorships, interdictions, and emancipations

The Orleans Civil District Court website has information about court schedules, judges, and procedures for each type of case. Family court matters go through Docket 5, which has its own staff and phone line at (504) 407-0046.

The Civil District Court site shown above provides details on court operations, judge assignments, and procedures for family law cases in Orleans Parish.

Orleans Parish Divorce Records

Divorce cases are a large part of the family court docket in Orleans Parish. Louisiana law provides two main paths to divorce. Under Civil Code Article 102, a spouse files a petition and must live apart for 180 days. With minor children, the wait is 365 days. Under Article 103, couples already living apart for the required period can get a judgment sooner.

Every divorce case creates a file at the clerk's office. The petition, answer, motions, and final judgment all go into the record. Louisiana is a community property state under Civil Code Article 2325. Property gained during the marriage belongs to both spouses equally unless they agree on different terms. The settlement agreement showing how they split assets and debts becomes part of the court file.

Orleans Parish also handles successions and probate through the same clerk's office. If a divorce involves property that later comes up in a succession case, the records connect. The clerk keeps all these files at the courthouse on Loyola Avenue.

Self-Help Resources in Orleans Parish

Orleans Parish has a Self-Help Resource Center at the courthouse. It is in Room 401 at 421 Loyola Avenue. Hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to noon and 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM. The phone number is (504) 407-0390. This center helps people who are handling their own family court case without a lawyer.

Staff at the Self-Help Resource Center can help you understand court forms, explain procedures, and point you to the right filing window. They do not give legal advice, but they can make sure your paperwork is in order before you file. This is a free service open to anyone with a case in the Civil District Court.

The Louisiana State Bar Association also runs a lawyer referral service. If you need an attorney for a family court case in Orleans Parish, call them for a referral. Southeast Louisiana Legal Services gives free help to people with low income. They handle divorce, custody, and support cases. Louisiana Law Help at louisianalawhelp.org has self-help guides and downloadable forms.

Copy Fees and Public Access in Orleans Parish

Family court records in Orleans Parish are public under the Louisiana Public Records Law (La. R.S. 44:1). Anyone can ask to see them. You do not need to be part of the case. Some records that involve minors may have parts redacted, and adoption records are sealed under the Children's Code.

Copy fees at the Orleans Parish clerk's office are straightforward. Uncertified copies cost $1 per page. Certified copies cost $3 per page. For online access through the remote portal, pricing is $20 for 24 hours, $100 per month, or $700 per year. These fees apply to all record types, not just family court cases.

You can also request records from the Louisiana Secretary of State for certain archived documents. The state archives may hold older records that are not in the clerk's current system. For vital records like divorce certificates, contact the Louisiana Department of Health.

Cities in Orleans Parish

Orleans Parish is coterminous with the city of New Orleans. They share the same boundaries. All family court cases for residents of New Orleans go through the Orleans Parish Civil District Court.

Nearby Parishes

These parishes border Orleans Parish. Make sure you file in the correct parish. Under Louisiana law, you must file where either spouse is domiciled.