Natchitoches Parish Court Records Search
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Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana, operates one of the state’s oldest court systems, reflecting its deep historical roots 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 referenced for legal proceedings, research, background inquiries, and historical purposes.
Louisiana residents seeking court records have several options available to them. Records can be searched through the clerk’s office in person, via mail requests, and through online tools maintained by the Clerk of Court. LouisianaCourts.us may help individuals locate publicly available case information across Louisiana parishes. The sections below explain specifically 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 generated by the 10th Judicial District Court. The office maintains civil, criminal, and probate records and provides both in-person and limited online access. The Clerk’s Office is led by David Stamey, Clerk of Court.
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 |
For online access, 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 located at P.O. Box 16577, Lake Charles, LA 70616-6577, reachable at (337) 433-9403.
When making a records inquiry, it helps to 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, family)
Are Court Records Public in Natchitoches Parish?
Louisiana’s public records law, codified at La. R.S. 44:1, broadly entitles members of the public to review, copy, and obtain records maintained by government bodies, including court records. 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.
However, state law and court rules carve out several categories of records 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. The 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 originate from two primary sources: the 10th Judicial District Court (for felony matters and serious criminal prosecutions) and the Natchitoches City Court (for 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. Applicants must 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 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. These are 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 and can be used 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 civil 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 are handled by the 10th Judicial District Court. The court’s jurisdiction encompasses divorce proceedings, child custody and support determinations, paternity actions, domestic abuse protective orders, adoptions, and emancipation of minors. Records from these proceedings are maintained by the Natchitoches Parish Clerk of Court.
Divorce Records
Certified copies of divorce records are available from the Clerk of Court’s office. Requesters must appear in person and bring a state-issued photo ID, a legal court order permitting access if applicable, and a $5.00 fee for a certified copy. For individuals representing themselves in a divorce, the Clerk’s website provides a Self-Litigation Divorce form with instructions for filing an uncontested divorce without an attorney.
Marriage Records
Marriage licenses are issued and maintained by the Natchitoches Parish Clerk of Court. Individuals can apply for a marriage license online through the Clerk’s forms page. To obtain a certified copy of a marriage certificate, the requester must visit the Clerk’s office in person with a valid form of identification, 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 individuals who need 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 possessing 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 exclusively with the 10th Judicial District Court, which handles all succession proceedings, estate administration, wills, guardianships, and conservatorships within the parish. The 10th JDC’s original jurisdiction covers all civil and criminal matters in Natchitoches Parish, with probate proceedings falling squarely within the 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 located 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; 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 be sent 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 dating back to 1813 exist and have been preserved; 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.