Search St. Martin Parish Family Court Records

St. Martin Parish family court records are managed by the Clerk of Court in St. Martinville. The 16th Judicial District Court handles all family law cases for this parish, including divorce, custody, child support, and protection orders. You can look up family court records through the clerk's office or search online using statewide tools. St. Martin Parish shares the 16th Judicial District with Iberia and St. Mary parishes, and the clerk's office in St. Martinville is where all local family court filings are stored.

St. Martin Parish Clerk of Court

The St. Martin Parish Clerk of Court is the main office for family court records in the parish. This office stores all divorce filings, custody orders, child support cases, and protection order documents. The courthouse sits in St. Martinville, the parish seat. Staff can help you find case files and make copies of court documents you need.

St. Martin Parish is part of the 16th Judicial District, which also covers Iberia Parish and St. Mary Parish. Each parish has its own Clerk of Court, but all three share the same judicial district for court proceedings. Family court cases filed in St. Martin Parish stay in the St. Martinville courthouse. You file where you live, so if you live in St. Martin Parish, your case goes to the clerk's office there.

The clerk keeps records that go back many years. When you visit, bring a valid ID. Staff can search by name or case number.

Online Access to St. Martin Parish Court Records

You can search St. Martin Parish family court records online through several statewide portals. The Clerk Connect portal covers court records across Louisiana, including St. Martin Parish. This tool lets you look up divorce cases, custody filings, and other family law matters from home. Clerk Connect charges a fee for access. A single day pass runs $20, while monthly access costs $50.

The Louisiana eClerks portal is another option for searching St. Martin Parish court records. This statewide system lets you look for family court filings, divorce judgments, and related documents from multiple parishes at once. It can be useful if you are not sure which parish handled a particular case. The LCRAA portal also provides access to Louisiana court records and may have family court filings from St. Martin Parish.

Both portals let you search by party name or case number. Results show basic case info like the filing date, case type, and names of the parties involved. For the full case file with all documents, you may still need to visit the clerk's office in St. Martinville.

Note: Online portals may not show every document in the physical case file.

St. Martin Parish Divorce Records

Divorce cases make up a large share of family court records in St. Martin Parish. Louisiana law sets out two main paths. Under Louisiana Civil Code Article 102, a spouse files a petition and then must live apart for 180 days before the court grants the divorce. If there are minor children, that period is 365 days. Under Article 103, spouses who have already lived apart for the needed time can get a faster judgment.

The clerk stores all divorce papers from the first filing to the final judgment. Each case gets a number when filed. The file holds the petition, the answer, any motions, temporary orders, and the final judgment. You can get copies of any document in the file. Certified copies cost more than plain ones but are needed for most legal purposes like name changes, remarriage, or property transfers.

Louisiana is a community property state. Under Civil Code Article 2325, property gained during the marriage belongs to both spouses equally unless they agree to different terms. Divorce records in St. Martin Parish often include detailed community property settlements.

Custody and Support Filings in St. Martin Parish

Child custody and support cases are a key part of family court records in St. Martin Parish. The 16th Judicial District Court handles these cases whether the parents are married or not. Paternity cases also go through this court. Louisiana courts use the "best interest of the child" standard when making custody decisions, looking at factors laid out in Louisiana Civil Code Article 134.

Child support orders follow state guidelines under La. R.S. 9:315. The court looks at both parents' gross income and applies a formula to set the right amount. Support orders stay in the court file. They can be enforced through wage assignments, tax intercepts, or other tools if payments fall behind. Either parent can ask the court to change the support amount if there is a big shift in income or the child's needs change.

Protection orders also form part of the family court record. Under the Protection from Abuse Act (La. R.S. 46:2131), a person can ask the court for an order against an abusive family or household member. These orders are entered into the Louisiana Protective Order Registry for law enforcement to check.

The registry is statewide. Any officer in Louisiana can check if a protection order is active, no matter which parish issued it.

Public Access to St. Martin Parish Family Court Records

Family court records in St. Martin 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 a party to the case. Some records involving minors may be partially redacted. Adoption records are sealed under the Children's Code (Articles 411-417) and require a court order to unseal.

To get copies in person, go to the clerk's office in St. Martinville. You can also send a written request by mail. Include the case number or the names of the parties so the staff can find the file. Plain copies and certified copies have different fees. Call the clerk to check current rates.

Legal Help for Family Court in St. Martin Parish

Acadiana Legal Service Corporation provides free legal aid to people with low income in the St. Martin Parish area. They handle family law cases including divorce, custody, and support. Call 211 to see if you qualify for help.

The Louisiana State Bar Association has a lawyer referral service that can connect you with a family law attorney near St. Martinville. Louisiana Law Help at louisianalawhelp.org has self-help guides and forms for people who want to handle their own case. The courthouse may also have self-help materials at the clerk's window. Ask staff when you go in.

Nearby Parishes

These parishes border St. Martin Parish. Check where you live to make sure you file in the right place. Under Louisiana Civil Code Article 3941, you must file in the parish where either spouse is domiciled.