Start with the Clerk of Court in the specific parish — Louisiana uses parishes instead of counties, and there are 64 of them. Each parish Clerk of Court maintains court records, property records, AND vital records all in one office. This is different from most states. For criminal background checks, use the Louisiana State Police background check. There is no unified statewide court search — you must search parish by parish.
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Louisiana Parishes — Most Searched
Statewide Databases
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How to Search Louisiana Criminal Records
Forget everything you know about county-based searches — Louisiana uses parishes, and there's no centralized system connecting them. Each of the 64 parishes runs its own Clerk of Court with its own records. Orleans Parish (New Orleans), East Baton Rouge, and Jefferson Parish have online case search. Most others require a phone call or visit. The State Police Bureau of Criminal Identification handles statewide background checks — fingerprints required, $26 fee. The DOC offender search covers state inmates. The Sex Offender and Child Predator Registry is maintained by State Police. Louisiana's Napoleonic Code legal system also means some criminal procedures work differently here than in any other state.
How to Search Louisiana Court Records
Go to the District Court in the specific parish for felonies and major civil cases. Go to the City Court for misdemeanors in cities that have one. Go to the Justice of the Peace for small claims in rural areas. Louisiana's court system is based on civil law (Napoleonic Code), not common law — terminology and procedures differ from other states. The Clerk of Court in each parish maintains all court records.
How to Search Louisiana Property Records
Go to the parish Clerk of Court for deeds, mortgages, liens, and recorded documents — in Louisiana, the Clerk of Court IS the recorder (there's no separate Recorder's office). For property valuations and tax assessments, go to the parish Tax Assessor. For tax bills, go to the parish Sheriff (who collects property taxes in Louisiana). Orleans Parish and East Baton Rouge Parish have the best online access.
How to Get Louisiana Vital Records
Go to the parish Clerk of Court for marriage licenses AND marriage records — the Clerk handles both in Louisiana. For birth and death certificates, order from the Louisiana Department of Health, Vital Records Registry, or from the parish where the event occurred. For divorce records, go to the Clerk of Court where the divorce was granted.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fastest way to find Louisiana records? ▼
Start with the court clerk for court and criminal case records — this is the main source for felony filings, civil cases, and dispositions. If nothing comes up, try the Clerk of Court — some record types are maintained by a different office.
Where do I search for Louisiana public records? ▼
Louisiana records are spread across separate government offices. Use the court clerk for criminal and civil cases. Use the Clerk of Court for property ownership and tax records. Use the Louisiana Vital Records Registry or the local registrar for birth certificates, death records, and marriage licenses.
Why does my Louisiana search return no results? ▼
Most searches fail because the wrong office is used. Each record type is maintained by a different department. If one system returns nothing, switch to the office that actually handles that record type.
Is there a single database for all Louisiana records? ▼
No. Each government office in Louisiana runs its own database independently. You need to search the specific office that handles the record type you need.
What is the difference between a parish and a county? ▼
Functionally, parishes and counties are the same — they're the primary local government division. Louisiana uses "parish" instead of "county" due to its French and Spanish colonial history. There are 64 parishes in Louisiana. The Clerk of Court in each parish is equivalent to a County Clerk in other states.
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