Where To Find Family Court Records In Louisiana?

In the State of Louisiana, the Family Court of East Baton Rouge Parish, which is the only family court in the state, presides over cases of divorce, child custody, spousal support, child visitation, domestic violence, and property division. The Louisiana Family Court is grouped into four different divisions; Division A, Division B. Division C, and Division D. These divisions have authority over a variety of family court cases and all types of adoption trials. As a party to a suit, it is important to be represented by an attorney. However, Louisiana Family Court has a Self Help Resource Center for litigants who are unable to hire an attorney. Records generated from family cases in Louisiana can be accessed at the Family Court of East Baton Rouge Parish.

The records contained in documents related to family court include both marriage and divorce records. Both types of records contain information that is considered very personal to the parties involved, and it is recommended that those parties maintain these records with care in order to make changes in the future. The personal nature of these records results in both being considerably more difficult to find and obtain when compared to other types of public records. In many cases, these records are not available through either government sources or third party public record websites.

What Is Family Law In Louisiana?

Louisiana family law provides guidance to legal processes from child support to divorce cases, and children custody dispute. Since family issues are the most sentimental kinds of cases in the court, it is important to comprehend the laws and statutes that apply to each case before going to court. Other lawsuits covered by the Louisiana family law include;

• Marital property
• Adoption
• Marriage age requirements
• Legal requirements for divorce
• Abortion

What Are Family Court Cases And Records In Louisiana?

Legal proceedings involving domestic affairs such as child custody, divorce, domestic violence, name changes, child neglect, and juveniles are referred to family court cases. Reports generated from these cases are family court records and are documented by the Clerk of Court.

• Child Custody and Paternity Cases: A case can be filed by either the mother or father of a child requesting the family court to acknowledge the paternity of a child. Parents who are not married can also request the family court to order physical custody, child support, visitation schedules, and legal custody of children that resulted from the relationship.
• Juvenile Cases: Louisiana family court manages all issues involving charges of child neglect, child abuse, and illicit conduct by minors. Juvenile cases, are to a great extent, taken care of by the district attorney of the juvenile division. The family court can as well provide work licenses for minors younger than 14.
• Annulment & Divorce Cases: Couples interested in dissolving a marital union can file a case at the family court to obtain a court order for marriage dissolution. The family court also gives court orders with respect to properties, child support, and divorce settlement after the marriage has been dissolved.
• Name Change Cases: Louisiana family court permits a child or adult to make a change of name legally.

Are Family Court Cases Public Records In Louisiana?

According to the Louisiana Public Records Act introduced in 1940, documents generated by governmental bodies are public records, hence, indigenes of Louisiana have the fundamental right to access case files. However, the family courts in Louisiana reserves the right to restrict access to vital files such as juvenile records, marriage records, divorce documents, and child custody, due to the confidential information contained in the records.

Records that are considered public may be accessible from some third-party websites. These websites often make searching simpler, as they are not limited by geographic location, and search engines on these sites may help when starting a search for a specific or multiple records. To begin using such a search engine on a third-party or government website, interested parties usually must provide:

• The name of the person involved in the record, unless said person is a juvenile
• The location or assumed location of the record or person involved. This includes information such as the city, county, or state that person resides in or was accused in.

Third-party sites are independent from government sources, and are not sponsored by these government agencies. Because of this, record availability on third-party sites may vary.

How Do I Find Family Court Records In Louisiana?

Court records generated by the family court in Louisiana can be obtained from the family and probate department of the East Baton Rouge Clerk of Court’s Office, which maintains all case files. In addition, motions, judgments, petitions, pleas, exceptions, and answers filed in individual cases are microfilmed and made available to the public for inspection in the Clerk’s Office. For older records dating back to 1782, the East Baton Rouge Parish Clerk of Court Archives Department permits a review of the original documents and provides research services for genealogy and family court information.

To obtain copies of the family court records, a written request can be made to the Clerk of Court’s Office with detailed information on the specific record in question. The Copy Department charges $1.00 per copy, and certified copies of the documents cost $10.00. The fees are payable in cash, check, or money order. The Clerk’s Office mailing address is;

East Baton Rouge Clerk of Court
P. O. Box 1991
Baton Rouge, LA 70821–1991

Paper copies of transcribed court proceedings can be retrieved from the court administrator’s office in person by mail or fax, by completing a request form. The application can be addressed to;

Court Administrator
300 North Boulevard, Suite 4122
Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70801
Phone: (225) 389–4681
Fax: (225) 389–4952
rbullion@familycourt.org

How Do I Find Family Court Records Online?

The East Baton Rouge Clerk of Court’s Office, through the Online Access Service, grants electronic access to documents from cases filed at the family court. To access this service, an online service agreement will be signed, after which the individual is expected to subscribe. It costs $50 per month for the initial password to access the online service and an additional $12.50 per month when the password is changed. Copies of the record can be made at the rate of $0.60 per copy and $5.00 for each certified copy requested.

What Is Louisiana Custody Law?

The State of Louisiana uses the Uniform Child Custody Act, which was adopted in 1978, and it recognizes joint custody as a viable option for divorced or separated parents, while also considering grandparents’ visitation rights along with the child’s desires. In cases where custody rights are being contested by the parents, the family court will hold a custody hearing to decide what is in the child’s best interest, including safety and wellbeing. Other things put into consideration include, which parent has a history of drug, alcohol or physical abuse, past criminal charges or convictions, and which parent is likely to provide a stable, consistent and loving relationship with the child.

Child custody orders can also be modified when both parents agree, and the court also believes the new arrangement will favor the child. In a case where both parents are not in one accord, a formal request can be filed at the court, and the party requesting the modification must prove to the judge that keeping the present custody order is harmful to the child.

How To Find Family Court Lawyers In Louisiana?

TheLouisiana State Bar Association, through itslawyer referral and information service, provides access to lawyers registered by the bar association. For a $50 referral fee, the association refers a licensed lawyer to meet with the individual in need of legal aid, after which, the party may decide to work with the lawyer or not. The lawyer referral and information service is a telephone and online service only. Furthermore, there are other law firms in Louisiana with seasoned family lawyers to provide legal assistance for family-related cases.