Ouachita Parish, Louisiana State Court Records
Ouachita Parish court records are official government files regarding court cases and judicial actions within the parish. Such records ensure transparency in the judicial system and may serve as evidence of court proceedings. Record seekers, such as genealogists, may use court records to trace ancestry and to research property documents. In contrast, attorneys may rely on court documents as evidence or reference materials when preparing a case.
The Ouachita Parish trial courts and the Clerk of Court’s Office create and maintain court records in accordance with the Louisiana Public Records Law. The law governs how court records are created, stored, and made available to the public.
In Ouachita Parish, court records are compilations of court proceedings and filed documents, such as vital records, bank statements, and arrest reports. For example, criminal court records may contain arrest reports, warrants, and exhibits.
Are Ouachita Parish Court Records Public?
Under Louisiana Revised Statutes 44:1 et seq., court records are generally public documents. This means the public can view and obtain copies of the records from the agencies that hold them. In addition, government agencies are required to provide means for the public to obtain such records.
Public court documents may include court dockets, case numbers, judgments, and filing dates. However, specific court records are not publicly accessible under the Louisiana Public Records Laws. The law generally restricts public access to records whose disclosure may endanger the safety of specific persons or entities. Examples of non-public court records include the following:
- Records about minors in case proceedings.
- Information about ongoing criminal investigations.
- Records related to grand jury investigations.
- Documents and proceedings of the judiciary commission.
- Mental and medical records filed in case proceedings.
- Sealed court records.
What Information is Available in Ouachita Parish Court Records?
In Ouachita Parish, court records generally include the following information:
- The names of parties involved, including plaintiffs, defendants, attorneys, prosecutors, and the presiding judge.
- Personal information about the case parties.
- Case identifiers, such as case number, status, docket number, and filing date.
- Case history, including summaries and transcripts.
- Motions, orders, and judgments.
The content of case records varies based on case type, status, and other circumstances. Based on case type, civil court records might include summonses, complaints, contracts, and agreements.
Ouachita Parish Court Records Search
Record seekers may search Ouachita Parish court records by using any of these options:
- Online Access: Record seekers may view online court records via the Clerk Connect Portal. To view records on the platform, record seekers must first create an account and enter relevant search details. The search platform maintains civil court records from October 1984 and criminal court records from January 1, 1990, until the present.
- In-Person Access: Record seekers may obtain court records by submitting a request in-person to the Ouachita Parish Clerk of Courts at this address:
301 South Grand Street
#104
Monroe, LA 71201
Phone: (318) 327-1444
Email: danab@opcoc.la.gov
Record seekers may also view court records by using terminals installed in the clerk’s office. To obtain court documents, record seekers must provide relevant information and pay the applicable copy fees.
- Mail-in access: You may request court records via mail by following these steps:
- Complete the record request form.
- Attach a valid ID if the requested document includes confidential information, then submit the request via mail to this address:
Ouachita Parish Clerk of Court
Attn: Custodian of Public Records, Clerk of Court,
P.O. Box 1862
Monroe, Louisiana 71201.
Upon receiving the request, the clerk’s office will forward the estimated costs to the record seeker’s mailing address.
Fees for Court Records in Ouachita Parish
The Ouachita Parish Clerk of Courts has specific fees for copies and certified documents. For criminal court documents, record seekers can expect to pay $1 for each copy, plus an extra $5 if they need a certification. Vital records have separate fee schedules: a certified marriage license and birth certificate cost $35, while a death certificate costs $26.
Record seekers may qualify for a fee waiver through the In Forma Pauperis process. This process allows low-income parties to waive specific costs.
Ouachita Parish Courthouse Locations
Ouachita Parish’s trial court system consists of District, City, Justice of the Peace, and Mayor’s Courts. The District Court has exclusive jurisdiction over criminal and civil cases that are beyond the authority of other courts. It also oversees probate and domestic relations cases. In contrast, the Mayor’s Court and Justice of the Peace Courts oversee criminal and civil cases that carry less significant penalties.
Ouachita 4th Judicial District Court
Ouachita Parish Courthouse
301 South Grand Street
Suite 104
PO Box 1862
Monroe, LA 71210
Phone: (318) 327-1444
Fax: (318) 327-1462
City Courts in Ouachita Parish
Monroe City Court
600 Calypso Street
PO Box 777
Monroe, LA 71210
Phone: (318) 329-2580
Fax: (318) 329-2622
West Monroe City Court
2303 North 7th Street,
West Monroe, LA 71291,
Phone: (318) 396-2767,
Fax: (318) 396-2738
Justice of the Peace Courts in Ouachita Parish
Justice of the Peace Ward 1
100 Camelot Place
Monroe, LA 71203
Phone: (318) 503-1550
Justice of the Peace Ward 2
26 Quail Ridge Drive
Monroe, LA 71203
Phone: (318) 547-2810
Justice of the Peace Ward 6
643 Highway 837
Calhoun, LA 71225
Phone: (318) 644-2688
Justice of the Peace Ward 7
3939 New Natchitoches Road
West Monroe, LA 71292
Phone: (318) 381-3593
Justice of the Peace Ward 8
375 Caples Road
West Monroe, LA 71292
Phone: (318) 381-7606
Justice of the Peace Ward 9
222 Owens Road
West Monroe, LA 71292
Phone: (318) 388-4506
Mayor’s Courts in Ouachita Parish
Richwood Mayor’s Court
2710 Martin Luther King Drive
Richwood, LA 71202
Phone: (318) 325-4328
Fax: (318) 322-0584
Sterlington Mayor’s Court
503 Highway 2
Sterlington, LA 71280
Phone: (318) 665-2157
Fax: (318) 665-2841
Criminal Records Access in Ouachita Parish
The Louisiana State Police handles all requests for criminal history records. As the official record custodian, the agency allows name- and fingerprint-based searches for criminal history records. For name-based searches, record seekers must conduct searches on the LSP’s Internet Background Check platform. They must first create an account before filling in relevant information on the platform.
Under the Louisiana Right to Review Law, only the record subject can use the fingerprint-based option to obtain a copy of the record. Record seekers using the fingerprint-based option must schedule an appointment with a licensed third-party fingerprinting provider. On the appointment date, applicants must visit the nearest approved site and have their fingerprint taken.
In contrast, local case records are under the purview of the Ouachita Parish Clerk of Court’s Office. The court clerk maintains an online search portal for criminal cases heard in the parish’s courts. Record seekers must register an account and enter relevant search details to view records on the platform. For in-person or mail-in requests, record seekers may submit an in-person or mail-in request to the clerk’s office at this address:
301 South Grand Street,
#104
Monroe, LA 71201
Phone: (318) 327-1444
Email: danab@opcoc.la.gov
Ouachita Parish Probate Records
The Ouachita Parish Clerk of Court’s Office keeps records of probate cases heard in the parish’s courts. Probate case records may include information on the appointment of conservators, name changes, and the administration of wills, estates, and trusts.
In Ouachita Parish, probate court records mostly contain confidential information that is exempt from unauthorized access. Confidential probate information may include information on minors, financial statements, and social security numbers.
Record seekers may obtain probate court records by submitting a request in person or via mail to the clerk of court’s office at this address:
Physical address
301 South Grand Street
#104
Monroe, LA 71201
Phone: (318) 327-1444
Email: danab@opcoc.la.gov
Mail address
Ouachita Parish Clerk of Court
Attn: Custodian of Public Records, Clerk of Court,
P.O. Box 1862
Monroe, Louisiana 71201.
Mail-in requests must include a completed request form.
Ouachita Parish Family Court Records
Ouachita Parish Family court records reveal information on juvenile and domestic relations cases heard in the parish courts. Such cases may include divorce, child custody, domestic abuse, juvenile delinquency, and termination of parental rights.
Record seekers may obtain copies of Ouachita family court records from the clerk of court’s office. To get the records, record seekers may submit a completed request form via mail or in-person to the clerk’s address. Note that the clerk may request copy fees before retrieving requested documents. In addition, the clerk may require a valid ID if the requested document is confidential.
Federal Court Records in Ouachita Parish
Ouachita Parish falls under the jurisdiction of the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana. The federal court oversees cases such as bankruptcy, civil rights violations, and drug trafficking.
Record seekers may view federal case records by using the PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records), an online search portal. To view records on the portal, record seekers must first create an account before entering relevant search data. Alternatively, you may obtain copies of the records by submitting a request in person to the district court at this address:
Alexandria
515 Murray Street
Suite 105
Alexandria, Louisiana 71301
Phone: (318) 473-7415
Lafayette
800 Lafayette Street
Suite 2100
Lafayette Louisiana 70501
Phone: (337) 593-5000
Lake Charles
611 Broad Street
Lake Charles, LA 70601
Phone: (337) 437-3870
Monroe
201 Jackson Street
Suite 215
Monroe, Louisiana 71201
Phone: (318) 322-6740
Shreveport
300 Fannin Street,
Suite 1167,
Shreveport, Louisiana 71101,
Phone: (318) 676-4273