Rapides Parish Court Records Search

    Please enter a valid first name
    Please enter a valid last name

    LouisianaCourts.us is not a consumer reporting agency as defined by the FCRA and does not provide consumer reports. All searches conducted on LouisianaCourts.us are subject to the Terms of Service and Privacy Notice.

    Rapides Parish, located in central Louisiana with its parish seat in Alexandria, maintains a broad collection of court records spanning criminal matters, civil litigation, family proceedings, and successions. The parish is served by the 9th Judicial District Court, the Alexandria City Court, and several justice of the peace courts spread across its wards. Whether you need to look up a pending lawsuit, obtain a certified copy of a judgment, or research a succession filing, the offices responsible for these records are concentrated in and around the Rapides Parish Courthouse on Murray Street in Alexandria.

    Louisiana court records can be searched through several channels, including clerk of court offices, public-access terminals at the courthouse, and web-based lookup tools. The state judiciary’s resources, along with LouisianaCourts.us, may help users identify where publicly available case information is housed. Individual parish clerks also operate their own electronic portals, and Rapides Parish is no exception—its clerk maintains a subscription-based system that covers civil, criminal, land, and marriage records dating back decades.

    How to Look Up a Court Case in Rapides Parish?

    The primary custodian of court records in Rapides Parish is the Clerk of Court. All filings in the 9th Judicial District Court—civil suits, criminal cases, successions, and real-property recordings—pass through this office.

    Rapides Parish Clerk of Court
    Address: 701 Murray Street, Suite 102, Alexandria, LA 71301
    Phone: (318) 473-8153
    Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. (closed on legal holidays observed under La. R.S. 1:55)

    The courthouse parking garage is accessible from Foisy Street, with additional parking on the adjacent corner lot. The office is on the first floor of the Rapides Parish Courthouse.

    Online searching. The clerk operates the Rapid E-Search portal, which provides 24/7 access to multiple record categories. Available databases and their index-start dates include:

    • Civil and Probate Suit Inquiry — index from October 1984; images from March 1994
    • Criminal Inquiry — index from January 1984; images from May 2003
    • Marriage License Inquiry — index from January 1865 (no images)
    • Conveyance Recordings — index and images from January 1984
    • Mortgage Recordings — index and images from January 1984; notes as of January 1, 2016
    • Charters and Articles of Incorporation — index and images from January 1984
    • Notarial Adoption Records — index from January 1984; images from February 1987
    • Traffic — index from January 1990 (no images)
    • Select Index or Documents Prior to 1984 (Recording) — index and images from January 1865
    • Daily Register, Chattel Mortgage, Plats, Tax Roll, Oaths of Office, and Notary Bonds — various start dates

    Subscription pricing for Rapid E-Search:

    PlanDurationCostPer-Page Print Fee
    Daily24 hours$20.00$1.00
    Monthly31 days$60.00$0.75
    Annual365 days$600.00$0.75

    To subscribe, visit the clerk’s homepage, click the Rapid E-Search link, register an account, confirm the email, and pay the subscription invoice by credit card through the portal’s cart feature.

    In-person searching. Walk-in visitors may review records at the clerk’s office during regular business hours. Copies are available for a per-page fee, and certified copies carry an additional charge. Staff can assist with locating specific filings, though the office does not provide legal advice.

    Mail requests. Written requests for copies of judgments, certified documents, or record searches may be sent to the clerk at the Murray Street address. Include the full case number or party names, the type of document needed, and a check or money order for applicable fees.

    The eClerks Louisiana portal also provides an additional avenue for researching recorded documents across multiple Louisiana parishes, including Rapides.

    Are Court Records Public in Rapides Parish?

    Louisiana’s Public Records Act, La. R.S. 44:1 et seq., establishes a strong presumption of public access. Under La. R.S. 44:31, any person of the age of majority may inspect, copy, or reproduce any public record. A custodian must respond to a written request within three business days (La. R.S. 44:32) or provide written reasons for any denial.

    Records presumed public in Rapides Parish include:

    • Civil petitions, answers, motions, and judgments
    • Criminal bills of information and minutes (once filed in the public record)
    • Succession and probate filings
    • Marriage license applications
    • Conveyance, mortgage, and lien recordings
    • Traffic citations index

    Records that are restricted or confidential:

    • Juvenile proceedings — sealed under the Louisiana Children’s Code (Ch.C. Art. 412)
    • Adoption records — confidential under Ch.C. Art. 1189; the clerk maintains a notarial adoption index, but underlying files require a court order to access
    • Grand jury proceedings
    • Records sealed by court order
    • Certain victim and witness identification information
    • Mental-health commitment proceedings

    When a record is partially confidential, the clerk may redact protected information before releasing copies. If a request is denied, the requester has the right to file a petition in district court to compel production, and the burden falls on the custodian to justify withholding.

    Rapides Parish Criminal Court Records

    Criminal cases in Rapides Parish are prosecuted in the 9th Judicial District Court, which sits at the Rapides Parish Courthouse. The court has seven elected divisions (A through G) and a hearing officer. The court administrator, Caleb Pope, can be reached at (318) 443-6893 for scheduling and procedural questions. The custodian of court records is Clerk of Court Karan A. Corley ((318) 473-8153).

    Searching criminal records. The Rapid E-Search criminal inquiry database covers index entries from January 1984 and scanned images from May 2003. Subscribers can search by defendant name, case number, or date range. For older records not yet digitized, contact the clerk’s office directly.

    Arrest and booking records. Arrest records are maintained by law enforcement agencies, not the clerk’s office. The primary agency is:

    Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office
    Address: 701 Murray Street, Suite 301, Alexandria, LA 71301
    (Criminal Records Division: 2005 Vandevelde Avenue, Alexandria)
    Phone: (318) 473-6700
    Fax: (318) 449-3506
    Website: rpso.org

    The Sheriff’s Office handles booking records, incident reports, and inmate information for unincorporated areas of the parish. The Alexandria Police Department handles arrests within city limits.

    Criminal history background checks. A statewide criminal history check is available through the Louisiana Bureau of Criminal Identification and Information, which operates under Louisiana State Police. Requests require fingerprinting and payment of applicable fees. Employers and licensing entities should consult La. R.S. 15:587 for authorized-access provisions. The clerk’s office can provide a parish-level criminal record search through the Rapid E-Search system or by in-person request, with fees as listed in the subscription schedule above.

    Courtroom conduct. The 9th JDC enforces specific courtroom rules: modest attire is required (no tank tops, shorts, hats, or caps), shirts must be tucked in, and belts or suspenders must be secured. Cell phones must be turned off, and no food, drinks, gum, cameras, or video equipment are permitted. The court’s ADA accommodations can be arranged by calling (318) 443-6893, and an ADA Request Form is available for download. Handicapped parking is accessible at the Murray Street entrance.

    Rapides Parish Civil Court Records

    Civil matters—including contract disputes, property litigation, personal injury claims, and collections—are filed in the 9th Judicial District Court. Smaller claims may also be heard in the Alexandria City Court.

    Alexandria City Court
    Address: Alexandria, LA (convenes on the first Tuesday of September and remains in continuous session)
    Phone: Contact through the Rapides Parish Courthouse complex

    The 9th JDC’s divisions page outlines how cases are allotted among the seven divisions. Self-represented litigants can access forms and guidance through the 9th JDC Self-Help Resource Center, which provides assistance with common civil filings.

    Filing civil suits. Civil cases are initiated by filing a petition with the Rapides Parish Clerk of Court. Under La. Code Civ. Proc. art. 253, fax filings are no longer accepted as of January 1, 2026. Advance filing deposits are required per La. R.S. 13:842–13:843. The clerk’s general information page provides details on accepted payment methods and filing procedures.

    Researching civil records. The Rapid E-Search civil and probate suit inquiry provides indexed records from October 1984 and document images from March 1994. Subscribers can search by party name, suit number, or filing date. For records predating 1984, the pre-1984 recording index (dating to 1865) may contain relevant conveyance or mortgage entries.

    Copy fees and certified documents. Printed pages from the Rapid E-Search system carry per-page charges as noted in the subscription table. In-person copies are available at standard per-page rates. Certified copies require an additional certification fee. Contact the clerk’s office at (318) 473-8153 for current pricing.

    Land and property records. Conveyance records, mortgage filings, liens, charters, and plats are all searchable through Rapid E-Search. The conveyance and mortgage databases include both index entries and images from January 1984, and the pre-1984 recording index extends back to 1865 with images. These records are essential for title searches, lien verification, and real-estate transactions.

    Rapides Parish Family Court Records

    Family law matters in Rapides Parish—including divorce, child custody, child support enforcement, protective orders, and adoptions—are handled by the 9th Judicial District Court. There is no separate family court; family proceedings are heard by the district court judges across the seven divisions.

    Divorce records. Divorce judgments are part of the civil suit record and can be searched through the Rapid E-Search civil inquiry database. Certified copies of divorce decrees are obtainable from the clerk’s office. Louisiana recognizes both no-fault divorce under La. Civ. Code art. 103 (after a waiting period following physical separation) and fault-based divorce under La. Civ. Code art. 103.1.

    Child support. The Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) handles child-support enforcement statewide. Court-ordered support modifications are filed through the 9th JDC. The Louisiana LawHelp site provides resources for self-represented parties navigating support proceedings in the 9th Judicial District.

    Protective orders. Domestic abuse protective orders are filed under La. R.S. 46:2131 et seq. These petitions are processed expeditiously, and temporary restraining orders can be issued ex parte. Records of active protective orders are maintained by the clerk’s office, though specific victim-identification details may be redacted.

    Adoption records. Adoptions finalized in Rapides Parish are recorded by the clerk. The Rapid E-Search notarial adoption index covers entries from January 1984, with images from February 1987. However, the underlying adoption files are confidential under the Louisiana Children’s Code (Ch.C. Art. 1189) and require a court order for access.

    Marriage licenses. The Rapides Parish Clerk of Court issues marriage licenses. The Rapid E-Search marriage license inquiry contains index records dating back to January 1865, making it a valuable genealogical resource, though no scanned images are available for marriage records. The standard Louisiana marriage license fee is $27.50, payable to the clerk. Rapides Parish also has justices of the peace across its wards authorized to perform ceremonies—though several JPs (Wards 3, 4, 5, and 10) have noted that they do not perform marriages.

    Vital records. Birth and death certificates are issued by the Louisiana Vital Records Registry under the Department of Health. Fees per La. R.S. 40:40 include $15 for a certified birth certificate, $7 for a death certificate, and $34 for a long-form birth certificate. Orders can be placed by mail (check or money order payable to “Louisiana Vital Records”), in person (cash, check, or money order), or through VitalChek (with additional service and shipping fees). A $0.50 state charge applies to all mail and VitalChek orders. Fees are non-refundable even if no record is found, as the search covers the requested year plus two years on either side (La. R.S. 40:40(12)).

    Rapides Parish Probate Court Records

    Louisiana does not use the term “probate” in its code; instead, the process of settling a deceased person’s estate is called a “succession”. Succession proceedings in Rapides Parish are filed in the 9th Judicial District Court, and the clerk’s civil division maintains all related records.

    Types of succession filings handled by the clerk include:

    • Petitions for possession (when the decedent left a valid will)
    • Petitions to open administration (intestate estates or contested matters)
    • Small-succession affidavits for estates meeting statutory thresholds under La. Code Civ. Proc. art. 3431
    • Inventories and accountings
    • Judgments of possession
    • Independent administrations under La. Code Civ. Proc. art. 3396

    Searching succession records. The Rapid E-Search civil and probate suit inquiry database covers succession filings from October 1984 (index) and March 1994 (images). To search, subscribers can enter the decedent’s name or the succession case number. For estates predating 1984, the pre-1984 recording database (covering entries from 1865) may contain relevant conveyance transfers tied to succession proceedings.

    Requesting succession documents. Copies of succession judgments, inventories, and related pleadings can be obtained by:

    1. Visiting the clerk’s office at 701 Murray Street, Suite 102, Alexandria, LA 71301
    2. Mailing a written request with the case name or number to the Rapides Parish Clerk of Court, 701 Murray Street, Suite 102, Alexandria, LA 71301, along with a check or money order for copy and certification fees
    3. Subscribing to Rapid E-Search and printing documents online

    Filing fees for succession proceedings follow the schedule established under La. R.S. 13:842–13:843 and the parish recording-fee schedule. The advance deposit requirement applies to all new filings.

    Wills. Original last wills and testaments are deposited with the clerk of court and become part of the succession record once admitted to probate. A statutory will (olographic or notarial) must meet the formal requirements of La. Civ. Code arts. 1575–1580. The clerk indexes wills and succession judgments in the civil suit database.

    Guardianships and interdictions. Louisiana uses the term “interdiction” rather than conservatorship. Proceedings to appoint a curator for an incapacitated adult are governed by La. Code Civ. Proc. arts. 4541–4556. Tutorship proceedings for minors (Louisiana’s equivalent of guardianship) are governed by La. Civ. Code arts. 246–275. Both are filed in the 9th JDC and indexed in the clerk’s civil and probate database. The court follows La. R.S. 42:1101 ethics standards in all proceedings.

    For general information about the clerk’s office, holiday closures, fees, and record-request procedures, visit the Rapides Parish Clerk of Court website. The clerk’s 2026 holiday schedule lists all closures observed under R.S. 1:55, including Mardi Gras, Good Friday, and any days proclaimed by the governor.

      Rapides Parish Court Records Search - LouisianaCourts.us