Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana Court Records
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Natchitoches Parish operates one of Louisiana's oldest court systems — a fitting reflection of its history as the oldest permanent European settlement in the Louisiana Purchase territory. The parish's courts generate records spanning civil litigation, criminal prosecutions, family matters, and probate proceedings, all maintained by the Natchitoches Parish Clerk of Court and related offices. These documents serve as the permanent official record of judicial activity in the parish and are used for legal proceedings, research, background inquiries, and historical purposes.
If you need court records in Natchitoches Parish, you can search in person at the clerk's office, submit requests by mail, or use online tools the Clerk of Court maintains. LouisianaCourts.us can help you find publicly available case information across Louisiana parishes. The sections below walk you through exactly how to access each record type in Natchitoches Parish.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Natchitoches Parish?
The Natchitoches Parish Clerk of Court is the central repository for court records from the 10th Judicial District Court. The office, led by Clerk of Court David Stamey, maintains civil, criminal, and probate records and provides both in-person and limited online access.
Natchitoches Parish Clerk of Court
| Physical Address | 200 Church Street, Room 104, Natchitoches, LA 71458 |
|---|---|
| Mailing Address | P.O. Box 476, Natchitoches, LA 71458-0476 |
| Phone | (318) 352-8152 |
| Fax | (318) 352-9321 |
| Hours | Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM–4:30 PM |
| Email (Clerk) | dstamey@cp-tel.net |
| Email (Chief Deputy) | charris@cp-tel.net |
The Clerk's office website at npclerkofcourt.org provides forms, departmental information, and links to available search tools. The ClerkConnect portal is a multi-parish online access system used by Louisiana clerks that may provide subscription-based search and retrieval of civil, criminal, and property records for Natchitoches Parish.
Cases appealed from the 10th Judicial District Court are reviewed by the Third Circuit Court of Appeal, whose clerk's office is at P.O. Box 16577, Lake Charles, LA 70616-6577 — reachable at (337) 433-9403.
When making a records inquiry, have the following ready:
- Full name of the party or parties involved
- Approximate case filing date or year
- Case number, if available
- Type of case (civil, criminal, probate, or family)
Are Court Records Public in Natchitoches Parish?
Louisiana's public records law, codified at La. R.S. 44:1, gives members of the public a broad right to review, copy, and obtain records maintained by government bodies, including courts. This presumption of openness means that most documents generated in civil and criminal proceedings at the 10th Judicial District Court are available to anyone who requests them.
That said, state law and court rules carve out several categories that are withheld or restricted:
- Juvenile records — Confidential by statute and not available to the public
- Adoption records — Restricted to individuals named in the records or those with a valid court order
- Personal financial information — Redacted or withheld to protect individual privacy
- Attorney-client communications — Protected from disclosure
- Ongoing law enforcement investigation files — Withheld during active investigations
- Marriage records — Restricted to parties named in the record or individuals with a court order, for records within the past 50 years
- Birth records — Confidential until 100 years after the date of birth
- Death records — Not publicly accessible until 50 years after the date of death
Custodian offices may redact specific identifying or sensitive information before releasing otherwise public records. Louisiana Revised Statutes Title 44 provides the complete framework governing public records access and its exceptions.
Natchitoches Parish Criminal Court Records
Criminal court records in Natchitoches Parish come from two primary sources: the 10th Judicial District Court, which handles felony matters and serious criminal prosecutions, and the Natchitoches City Court, which handles misdemeanors and city ordinance violations. The 10th Judicial District Court has original jurisdiction over all civil and criminal matters in the parish and operates through two elected divisions — Division A and Division B.
Fees for Criminal Records from the Clerk of Court
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Regular copies | $1.00 per page |
| Certified copies | $5.00 per certified document |
| Name search request (written) | $20.00 per name |
Arrest Records and Sheriff's Office
The Natchitoches Parish Sheriff's Office Records Division maintains all felony and misdemeanor reports, active case files, warrants, bonds, background checks, and arrest paperwork. Public records requests to the Sheriff's Office are governed by La. R.S. 44:33.1(A) and must be submitted in writing.
Natchitoches Parish Sheriff's Office – Records Division
| Address | 200 Church Street, Suite 101, Natchitoches, LA 71457 |
|---|---|
| Mailing Address | P.O. Box 266, Natchitoches, LA 71457 |
| Records Phone | (318) 357-7805 |
| Fax | (318) 352-7377 |
| records@npsheriff.net | |
| Hours | Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–4:30 PM |
Sheriff's Office Records Copy Fees:
- Physical or electronic documents: $1.00 per page
- Video, audio, or other electronic media: $5.00 per copy
- Payment must be by cashier's check, money order, or company check — no personal checks
Background Checks
In-person background checks are conducted at the courthouse at 200 Church Street, Suite 101, Monday through Friday between 9:00 AM and 4:30 PM. You'll need to present a state-issued ID. The fee is $15.00 for 2 pages or less, with $3.00 per additional page, payable by cash or money order.
Expungement
Individuals seeking to expunge criminal records must work through an attorney. The Clerk's office provides an Expungement Package Criminal form to help initiate the process.
Natchitoches City Court
| Address | 314 Amulet Street, Natchitoches, LA 71457 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (318) 352-6666 |
| Fax | (318) 352-6767 |
| citycourt@natchitochescc.com | |
| Hours | Mon–Thu: 8:30 AM–4:30 PM; Fri: 8:30 AM–4:00 PM |
| Judge | Honorable Robert C. Owsley |
Online ticket payments for City Court matters can be made through the City Court payment portal.
Natchitoches Parish Civil Court Records
Civil court records in Natchitoches Parish are maintained by the Civil Department of the Natchitoches Parish Clerk of Court. The 10th Judicial District Court hears civil matters including contract disputes, personal injury claims, business litigation, inheritance matters, adoptions, domestic abuse proceedings, and emancipation cases.
Small Claims (Clerk Book Suits)
For smaller civil disputes, the Clerk's office handles what are known in Louisiana as Clerk Book suits — small claims matters filed directly with the Clerk of Court without requiring full District Court proceedings. A Clerk Book Petition/Affidavit form is available on the Clerk's website to initiate this type of filing.
How to File a Civil Suit Step-by-Step
- Complete the petition with a notarized signature before filing.
- Submit the petition to the Clerk's Civil Department.
- The Clerk issues a citation to the defendant, who has 10 days from the date of service to respond.
- If the defendant does not answer within 10 days, the plaintiff may request a default judgment in writing to the Clerk of Court.
- If the defendant files an answer, the plaintiff must request a trial date from the Clerk's office.
- If a judgment is entered in the plaintiff's favor, it is recorded in the Clerk's mortgage records.
- The defendant has 30 days from the mailing of the Notice of Signing Judgment to file an appeal.
For garnishment of wages after a judgment, a garnishment petition must be filed with approximately $250.00 in filing and service costs. The garnishment petition form is available at the Clerk's office.
For civil suit questions, contact the Civil Suit Department directly at (318) 357-2293.
Civil records and case searches are also accessible through the ClerkConnect multi-parish portal, which provides subscription-based online search and retrieval for clerks of court across Louisiana, including Natchitoches Parish.
Natchitoches Parish Family Court Records
Family law matters in Natchitoches Parish go through the 10th Judicial District Court, which has jurisdiction over divorce proceedings, child custody and support determinations, paternity actions, domestic abuse protective orders, adoptions, and emancipation of minors. The Natchitoches Parish Clerk of Court maintains all records from these proceedings.
Divorce Records
Certified copies of divorce records are available from the Clerk of Court's office. You'll need to appear in person, bring a state-issued photo ID, present a legal court order permitting access if applicable, and pay a $5.00 fee per certified copy. If you're representing yourself in a divorce, the Clerk's website provides a Self-Litigation Divorce form with step-by-step instructions for filing an uncontested divorce without an attorney.
Marriage Records
Marriage licenses are issued and maintained by the Natchitoches Parish Clerk of Court. You can apply for a marriage license online through the Clerk's forms page. To get a certified copy of a marriage certificate, visit the Clerk's office in person with valid ID, the names of the spouses or the marriage date, and a $5.00 fee. Under Louisiana law, marriage records from the past 50 years are restricted to parties named in the record or individuals holding a valid court order.
An Affidavit of Marital Status form is also available from the Clerk's office for anyone who needs to document their marital status for legal or administrative purposes.
Birth Records (Family Reference)
Birth records in Natchitoches Parish are confidential for 100 years after the date of birth under Louisiana Statutes. Records more than 100 years old are available through the Louisiana State Archives online vital records index. For records within the restricted period, only individuals named on the birth certificate or those with a court order may obtain copies. Eligible requesters can:
- Complete the Birth Certificate form and submit it in person at the Clerk's office — payment in cash, $5.00 per page
- Visit the Louisiana Department of Public Health office at 625 Bienville Street, Natchitoches, LA 71457, with valid ID and a court order
For vital records questions, the Louisiana Department of Vital Records can be reached at (504) 593-5100.
Death Records (Family Reference)
Death records are restricted for 50 years after the date of death. Records older than 50 years are searchable through the Louisiana State Archives at no cost online; mailed copies cost $5.00 for standard copies and $10.00 for certified copies. For death certificates issued after July 2012, eligible individuals may complete the Death Certificate form and submit it in person at the Clerk's office with valid ID, a court order, and $5.00 per page for certified copies. The local Department of Public Health at 625 Bienville Street, Natchitoches, also handles death certificate requests in person.
Natchitoches Parish Probate Court Records
Probate jurisdiction in Natchitoches Parish rests entirely with the 10th Judicial District Court, which handles all succession proceedings, estate administration, wills, guardianships, and conservatorships within the parish. Probate proceedings fall squarely within the court's civil domain.
Probate records — including succession petitions, wills filed for probate, inventories, judgments of possession, and related orders — are maintained by the Natchitoches Parish Clerk of Court at the courthouse at 200 Church Street.
How to Request Probate Records
- Contact the Clerk of Court's office by phone at (318) 352-8152 or visit in person during office hours (Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM–4:30 PM).
- Provide the name of the deceased (decedent), the approximate date of death or succession filing, and the case number if available.
- Request copies of specific documents and pay applicable copy fees ($1.00 per page for regular copies, $5.00 for certified copies).
- For written name searches, a $20.00 fee per name applies.
Mail requests can go to the Clerk of Court at P.O. Box 476, Natchitoches, LA 71458-0476, with fax submissions to (318) 352-9321.
Historical succession records from the parish date back to 1813. Records from 1813 to 1902 have been microfilmed and are available through genealogical archives for research purposes.
The Clerk's website also provides a Charge Account Application for law firms and frequent users who need ongoing access to records and filings. Applications can be faxed to (318) 352-9321, emailed to charris@cp-tel.net, or mailed with payment to the Clerk's mailing address.