Search Lafourche Parish Civil Court Records

Lafourche Parish civil court records are filed and kept at the Clerk of Court office in Thibodaux, Louisiana. The Clerk serves as the official keeper of all civil filings, judgments, and court documents for the parish. You can search Lafourche civil court records online through the clerk's own records portal, visit the Thibodaux courthouse in person, or send a written request by mail to get copies of case files and related documents.

Lafourche Parish Clerk of Court

The Lafourche Parish Clerk of Court is Annette Fontana. Her office at 303 West Third Street in Thibodaux handles all civil case filings for the 17th Judicial District. The clerk's staff files petitions, answers, motions, orders, and judgments. They also record land records, process marriage licenses, and keep other official parish documents. As the office notes, "The Lafourche Parish Clerk of Court is pleased to offer an easy public record search portal" for those who want to look up cases without visiting in person.

The office runs on statutory fees. It does not draw from tax dollars to cover its costs. That means all services are funded by the filing fees, copy charges, and subscription fees the office collects. Staff cannot give legal advice, but they can tell you how to access a file or get a copy of a document.

The Lafourche Parish Clerk of Court website at lafourcheclerk.com has contact details, service information, and direct links to the online record search portal.

How to Search Lafourche Parish Civil Court Records

You have a few ways to look up civil court records in Lafourche Parish. The clerk's online portal is the easiest starting point. You can also visit the courthouse in Thibodaux or send a written request. Each option has its own trade-offs depending on how much detail you need and how fast you need it.

The clerk's main search portal is at lafourcheclerk.com/records-search/. The system is available around the clock, seven days a week, except during maintenance windows. According to the office, "The online system is available twenty-four hours per day, seven days per week, except for periodic maintenance." Index records run from July 1982 to the present. Scanned document images are available from March 2018 forward. If you need older documents, you will need to visit the courthouse or write in.

The Lafourche Parish online records search portal lets you look up civil cases, land records, and other documents by name or document type. Access requires a paid subscription account.

Online access is by subscription. Day passes run $20. A 30-day subscription costs $50. Annual access is $550. Name searches run $20 per name. These fees cover civil, conveyance, and mortgage records. The office notes that "subscriptions are non-refundable," so choose your access level carefully before you pay.

There is also a separate portal for conveyance and mortgage records. If you need property-related documents, that portal may be the better tool. For civil suits and case filings, use the main records search link on the clerk's website.

Civil e-filing is also available through the clerk's office for attorneys and parties who want to submit documents electronically rather than in person.

Online Civil Record Access for Lafourche Parish

The clerk's portal covers a wide range of record types. You can search civil suits, land records, and other documents from a single login. The index goes back to 1982 for most record types. Images are available for documents filed since March 2018. For older records, staff can pull the paper files at the courthouse.

The Lafourche Parish records portal covers civil cases, conveyances, and mortgages. Index data runs from July 1982, and images are available from March 2018 to present.

The office is clear that "only the Official Public Records of Lafourche Parish provided in the Clerk's office shall be referenced as the Official Public Records." That means records accessed through the portal are for reference. If you need a certified copy for legal or official use, you must request it directly from the clerk's office. Certified copies cost $5.00 per document. Standard copies run $1.00 per page.

Under the Louisiana Public Records Act, La. R.S. § 44:1-41, inspection of civil court records is free. You only pay when you ask for copies. Mail requests should include payment and a self-addressed stamped envelope.

Civil Court Records in Lafourche Parish

The Lafourche Parish Clerk of Court keeps all civil filings from the 17th Judicial District Court. Civil cases in Lafourche Parish include personal injury claims, contract disputes, debt collection actions, property matters, successions, and family law cases. Each case has a file that grows as new documents are added. All filings and court orders are public unless a judge seals them.

Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure Article 251 puts the duty of keeping and sharing court records on the Clerk of Court. The clerk must hold all filed documents and let the public view them. You do not need to be a party in a case to search for records. You do not need to explain why you want to see a file. Inspection is free. Copies cost the standard per-page rate.

Some records are not open to the public. Adoptions, juvenile matters, mental health filings, and records sealed by court order are not available through the public search. These are excluded by law or by court directive. If you are not sure whether a specific record is sealed, staff at the clerk's office can tell you.

Note: Bring a valid photo ID when visiting the Lafourche Parish Clerk of Court to request copies of civil records.

Lafourche Parish Civil Court Record Fees

Fees for Lafourche Parish civil court records follow Louisiana copy rates set by state law. The clerk charges $1.00 per page for plain uncertified copies. Certified copies of documents cost $5.00 each. Name searches run $20.00 per name. Online access fees include a $20 day pass, $50 for 30 days, and $550 per year. Call the office before visiting to confirm current rates.

In-person inspection of records is always free under the Louisiana Public Records Act. You only pay when you ask the staff to make copies. The same applies to mail requests. Send your written request with payment and a self-addressed stamped envelope, and staff will process it in order received.

Nearby Parishes

These parishes border or are close to Lafourche Parish. If you are not sure which parish handled a civil case, check where the parties lived at the time of filing. Cases are filed in the parish where at least one party lives or where the matter is located.