Access St. John the Baptist Parish Civil Court Records
St. John the Baptist Parish civil court records are filed and maintained at the Clerk of Court offices in Edgard and LaPlace, Louisiana, with the clerk serving as the official keeper of all civil case filings, land records, and related parish documents. You can search St. John the Baptist Parish civil records online through the clerk's e-filing and inquiry portals, visit either courthouse location in person, or contact the office by phone, fax, or email during regular business hours.
St. John the Baptist Parish Quick Facts
St. John the Baptist Parish Clerk of Court
Felicia C. Feist serves as the St. John the Baptist Parish Clerk of Court. She was sworn in on June 30, 2024, making her the first African-American elected to the position in the parish's history. As the clerk's website notes, "Felicia C. Feist was sworn in as the new Clerk of Court on June 30, 2024 becoming the first African-American elected to the position. Feist promises transparency and new technological advancements during her tenure." Those commitments to transparency and technology reflect priorities that matter for public access to civil court records.
The office sets a welcoming tone from the start. The clerk's website states: "Welcome to the official website of the St. John the Baptist Parish Clerk of Court, the government agency that is the keeper of official records. We are happy to provide access to those records and documents." The office operates two locations. The westbank location is at 2393 Highway 18 in Edgard, which is the parish seat. The eastbank location is at 1811 W. Airline Highway in LaPlace. The main mailing address is P.O. Box 280, Edgard, LA 70049. You can reach the Edgard office at (985) 497-3331 and the LaPlace office at (985) 652-8041. The fax number is (985) 497-3972.
One practical note from the clerk's office: "The courtroom can be quite cold, so please dress in layers or bring a jacket." If you plan to attend a hearing or spend time reviewing records in the courthouse, that is worth keeping in mind. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM at both locations.
Like all Louisiana clerks, this office is self-funded. The clerk's site notes: "The Clerk of Court collects fees for the service that is provided. The Clerk's Office does not receive any funding or ad valorem taxes." The office runs entirely on the fees it collects for filings, copies, and recordings.
| Clerk of Court | Felicia C. Feist |
|---|---|
| Westbank Address | 2393 Highway 18 Edgard, LA 70049 |
| Eastbank Address | 1811 W. Airline Highway LaPlace, LA 70068 |
| Mailing Address | P.O. Box 280, Edgard, LA 70049 |
| Phone (Edgard) | (985) 497-3331 |
| Phone (LaPlace) | (985) 652-8041 |
| Fax | (985) 497-3972 |
| info@sjbparishclerk.gov | |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Website | sjbparishclerk.gov |
How to Search St. John the Baptist Parish Civil Court Records
The St. John the Baptist Parish Clerk of Court website at sjbparishclerk.gov offers Civil and Criminal Inquiry tools for online record searches. The office also participates in Clerk Connect, the statewide subscription portal for civil case e-filing and online record access. Clerk Connect lets attorneys and researchers search civil case indexes and, depending on the subscription tier, view document images without visiting a courthouse.
The statewide eClerks LA portal is another option. It is free to use for index searches and covers all 64 Louisiana parishes. You can check whether a civil case exists in St. John the Baptist Parish before committing to a subscription or visiting in person. The free index search shows party names, filing dates, and case types but does not give you document images.
For in-person access, you can visit either the Edgard or LaPlace location. Both are open Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Bring the full legal name of at least one party or the case number if you have it. Staff can pull case files by name or number. If you know the approximate year the case was filed, that will help narrow the search quickly.
For mail requests, write to P.O. Box 280, Edgard, LA 70049. Include all the information you have about the case, along with payment for any copy fees. Birth certificates from this office cost $34.00 and must be paid in exact cash only. For civil court record copies, call the office to confirm current fees before sending a payment by mail.
The eClerks LA statewide portal provides free index searches for St. John the Baptist Parish civil records. This is a good starting point for case lookups before contacting the clerk's office for full documents or in-person access.
Civil Court Records in St. John the Baptist Parish
The St. John the Baptist Parish Clerk of Court maintains all civil filings for the 40th Judicial District Court. Civil case types in this parish include personal injury suits, property disputes, contract claims, debt collection actions, succession proceedings, and family law matters. Every document filed in a civil case becomes part of the permanent case file. Files are public unless sealed by the presiding judge.
Under the Louisiana Public Records Act, La. R.S. 44:1-41, any person can inspect civil court records at no charge. You do not need to be a party to the case to request access. You do not need to give a reason. Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure Article 251 places the duty to maintain filed records and make them available on the Clerk of Court. Copies cost money, but inspection is always free.
St. John the Baptist Parish has two courthouse locations because the Mississippi River divides the parish. The westbank, where the parish seat of Edgard is located, and the eastbank community of LaPlace both have clerk of court offices. Most civil filings are handled at the main courthouse, but both locations can assist with record inquiries. If you are not sure which location holds the record you need, call the office before making the drive.
The clerk's commitment to "new technological advancements" under Clerk Feist means the office is actively working to improve online access to records. Civil e-filing through Clerk Connect is one of those improvements. Attorneys can submit civil case filings electronically, which reduces trips to the courthouse and speeds up the process for all parties.
Records that are not public include adoption files, juvenile court proceedings, sealed case documents, and any records restricted by court order. These are not available through online portals or in-person requests at the public counter. If a record you believe is public is being withheld, La. R.S. 44:35 gives you the right to seek a court order requiring disclosure.
For those searching for older civil case records or historical land documents in St. John the Baptist Parish, the clerk's staff can help you find what is available in the archives. Contact the office by phone or email to ask about the depth of historical records and the best way to access older files.
Nearby Parishes
These parishes are near St. John the Baptist Parish along the Mississippi River corridor. Civil cases are filed in the parish where at least one party lives or where the dispute took place. If you are searching for a case along the River Road area, these neighboring parishes are worth checking as well.