St. John the Baptist Parish Court Records Search
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St. John the Baptist Parish lies along the Mississippi River west of New Orleans in southeastern Louisiana, with Edgard as the parish seat and LaPlace as its largest community. The parish’s court system generates records spanning criminal prosecutions, civil disputes, family law matters, and estate proceedings — all maintained by the Clerk of Court’s Office in both paper and electronic formats. These records serve a range of practical needs, from verifying legal judgments and conducting background checks to researching property titles and genealogical history.
Court records in the parish are accessible through official clerk offices, the state’s online case search infrastructure, and public access terminals at the courthouse. Louisiana residents looking for publicly available case information can consult LouisianaCourts.us, which can serve as a starting point for navigating the state’s judicial structure and locating relevant court resources. For official record copies, direct engagement with the Clerk of Court or the eClerks LA statewide portal is the most reliable path.
How to Look Up a Court Case in St. John the Baptist Parish?
The 40th Judicial District Court handles all trial-level matters in St. John the Baptist Parish and is organized into three divisions — A, B, and C. The Clerk of Court’s Office maintains the case records for all three divisions and is the primary point of contact for records research.
Online Search:
The eClerks LA portal provides the most direct online access to St. John the Baptist Parish court records. Through eClerks, users can search land records, marriage licenses, civil case information, and criminal case records. Free searches are available for some record categories; subscription plans are required for more detailed document access and printing. Subscriptions for civil and criminal inquiry and civil e-filing are managed through the eClerks platform.
In-Person Search:
The Clerk of Court maintains two physical offices in the parish. The Westbank location in Edgard is the main courthouse, while the Eastbank office in LaPlace provides additional access. Staff can assist with locating specific case files. Callers should prepare a case number, party name, or approximate filing date before contacting the office.
Clerk of Court Office Locations:
| Location | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Westbank (Main) | Edgard Courthouse, 2393 Highway 18, Edgard, LA 70049 | (985) 497-3331 |
| Eastbank | New Government Complex, 1811 W. Airline Hwy., LaPlace, LA 70068 | (985) 652-8041 |
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 280, Edgard, LA 70049
Email: info@sjbparishclerk.gov
Civil Fax: (985) 497-3972 | Criminal Fax: (985) 497-6941
Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (Eastbank office closed daily 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.)
Note: the Clerk’s Office does not receive ad valorem tax funding and collects fees for all services provided.
Are Court Records Public in St. John the Baptist Parish?
Under the Louisiana Public Records Law (La. R.S. 44:1 et seq.), members of the public have a general right to inspect and obtain copies of government records, including court records. This right is reinforced specifically for civil court records by Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure Article 251, which designates the Clerk of Court as the legal custodian of all court records and authorizes the issuance of copies to the public.
However, the Public Records Law contains meaningful exceptions, and access to certain record categories is restricted by separate statutes or standing court orders. The following types of records are not available for general public inspection:
- Juvenile records — identifying information about minors in court proceedings
- Sealed and expunged criminal records — though expunged records remain available to law enforcement and certain government agencies
- Confidential informant information — protected to preserve law enforcement effectiveness
- Attorney-client privileged communications — legally protected from disclosure
- Confidential personal data — including social security numbers, phone numbers, and financial account information that courts routinely redact
- Records sealed by court order — requiring authorization from a judge to access
- Records whose release poses a security threat — or constitutes an unreasonable invasion of privacy
Non-public records may be accessible only to case parties, their attorneys, or individuals authorized by a court of competent jurisdiction.
St. John the Baptist Parish Criminal Court Records
The 40th Judicial District Court holds general jurisdiction over all felony and misdemeanor criminal prosecutions in St. John the Baptist Parish. Criminal case records — including charging documents, motions, plea records, sentencing orders, and transcripts — are maintained by the Clerk of Court and are searchable through the eClerks LA portal with appropriate access credentials.
Arrest records, booking documentation, and inmate status are separately maintained by the St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office, which operates the parish prison at the Lt. Sherman Walker Correctional Facility. The Sheriff’s Office also provides an online jail roster through its Zuercher portal for in-custody inmate lookups.
St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office:
Address: 1801 West Airline Hwy., LaPlace, Louisiana 70068
Phone: (985) 652-9513
Website: stjohnsheriff.org
For public records requests directed to the Sheriff’s Office, including arrest reports and incident documentation, contact the Records Division through the Sheriff’s website. The SJPSO also provides a free mobile app with features including crime mapping, inmate research, and warrant searches.
For a comprehensive statewide criminal history background check, the Louisiana State Police Bureau of Criminal Identification and Information (BCII) is the designated repository. The Louisiana State Police BCII processes both name-based and fingerprint-based criminal history requests for authorized purposes. Fingerprint-based checks provide the most reliable identification and are required for certain employment, licensing, and care facility applications.
Justice of the Peace courts in the parish handle limited criminal jurisdiction — primarily minor violations and misdemeanors within their respective districts. Seven Justice of the Peace districts serve St. John the Baptist Parish, as listed below:
| JP District | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| District 1 | 2231 Highway 18, Edgard, LA 70049 | (985) 497-3033 |
| District 2 | P.O. Box 61, Garyville, LA 70051 | (504) 415-2981 |
| District 3 | 143 East 25th Street, Reserve, LA 70084 | (985) 536-6900 |
| District 4 | 100 Lane A, LaPlace, LA 70068 | (985) 651-6882 |
| District 5 | 153 West 5th Street, LaPlace, LA 70068 | (985) 703-0917 |
| District 6 | 2237 Williamsburg Drive, La Place, LA 70068 | (985) 652-4660 |
| District 7 | 366 Shadow Lane, LaPlace, LA 70068 | (985) 651-7483 |
JP court records are maintained locally at each court and are not typically included in the eClerks portal. Contact the relevant district directly for records from those proceedings.
St. John the Baptist Parish Civil Court Records
Civil matters in St. John the Baptist Parish — including contract disputes, personal injury claims, property litigation, landlord-tenant actions, and monetary judgments — are filed in the 40th Judicial District Court. The Clerk of Court is the legal custodian of all civil case filings under Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure Article 251, and the public may examine, copy, or photograph these records.
For online access, the eClerks LA statewide portal allows users to search civil case information across the parish. Subscription plans through Clerk Connect provide access to case documents, civil inquiry tools, and e-filing capabilities. The portal is operated by eClerks LA on behalf of the Louisiana Clerks of Court Association and covers all 64 Louisiana parishes through its statewide search function.
Small claims suits in Louisiana may be filed for amounts not exceeding $5,000, excluding interest, court costs, and attorney fees, under La. R.S. 13:5200. Cases involving amounts above that threshold must be filed on the regular civil docket, which may require attorney representation. Contact the Clerk’s Office for current filing fees applicable to small claims and other civil actions, as fees are set by statute and may vary by filing type. All costs must be paid when the original petition is filed.
When making in-person copy requests for civil records, note that if you do not supply a copy for the clerk’s staff to certify, an additional $2.00 per page charge applies for the office to produce the copy. For specific fee questions, call the Edgard office at (985) 497-3331 or the LaPlace office at (985) 652-8041 before visiting.
Land records — including conveyances, mortgages, liens, judgments, and subdivision plats — are recorded with and maintained by the Clerk of Court. Online access to land record indexes is available through the eClerks LA platform after creating an account. Recording fees for conveyance and mortgage instruments apply per Act 173 (effective August 1, 2017), with additional charges of $5.00 per page for documents exceeding 50 pages and $20.00 per page for pages larger than 8.5 x 14 inches. A $25.00 surcharge per debtor applies for judgments or liens that do not include legally required information.
St. John the Baptist Parish Family Court Records
The 40th Judicial District Court handles all family law matters in St. John the Baptist Parish, including divorce, legal separation, child custody, child support determinations, adoptions, and domestic violence protective orders. Louisiana does not operate a separate family court at the parish level; these cases are integrated into the District Court’s civil docket and assigned to one of the three divisions.
Divorce records are maintained by the Clerk of Court and may be searched through the eClerks LA portal. Requesters should have the names of the parties and approximate filing date or case number on hand. Divorce judgments involving minor children may include redacted portions to protect confidential custody arrangements or financial information.
Marriage licenses are issued by the Clerk of Court at both the Edgard and LaPlace offices. Key requirements and details:
- Fee: $35.00 (money order or cash only; exact cash preferred)
- Validity: 30 days from the date of issuance
- Age requirement: Both parties must be 18 or older; applicants aged 17 or younger require consent from both parents via affidavit and a judge’s signed waiver
- Required documents for both parties: Valid driver’s license or photo ID, original certified birth certificate, and social security number
- If previously divorced: A certified copy of the divorce judgment is required; a 30-day waiting period applies after the divorce judgment is signed
- If a prior spouse is deceased: A copy of the death certificate must be provided
- Foreign birth certificates must be translated into English before presentation
Marriage record copies — distinct from licenses — can be requested through the Clerk of Court’s Office by providing the names of both parties and the date of marriage.
Birth certificates are available at both Clerk of Court locations, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The fee is $34.00, payable in exact cash only. Birth certificates for newborns become available approximately 90 days after birth, and applicants should expect to wait 30 minutes to one hour after submitting an application for the state system to process the record.
Applicants must present one primary identification document (such as a state-issued driver’s license, U.S. passport, or current military ID) or two qualifying secondary documents. Under Louisiana law (R.S. 40:41), birth certificates are not public records — access is restricted to the subject of the record, immediate family members, and authorized third parties such as estate beneficiaries. Louisiana birth records become public after 100 years; older public birth records may be located through the Louisiana State Archives.
Death records in Louisiana are non-public for 50 years from the date of death. The Louisiana Department of Health maintains statewide death records and releases them only to eligible close relatives, estate representatives, or trust beneficiaries. In-person requests can be made at the Vital Records Central Office at 1450 Poydras Street, Suite 400, New Orleans, LA 70112.
St. John the Baptist Parish Probate Court Records
Probate proceedings in St. John the Baptist Parish are handled within the 40th Judicial District Court, which has general jurisdiction over estate administration, wills, trusts, and dependency matters. There is no separate probate court; these cases flow through the District Court’s civil docket under the oversight of one of its three divisions.
Probate records typically include:
- Petitions to open a succession or administer an estate
- Filed wills and testamentary instruments
- Inventories of estate assets
- Creditor claims and settlement documentation
- Final judgments of possession and asset distribution orders
- Guardianship and conservatorship appointments and accountings
Because many probate filings contain sensitive financial information about decedents and their heirs, portions of probate records may be subject to confidentiality restrictions or judicial orders limiting disclosure. Access to certain filings may require demonstrating a legal interest in the proceeding.
To search for a probate case, use the eClerks LA statewide portal and search by the decedent’s name or case number. For older records or cases not yet digitized, an in-person visit to the Edgard Courthouse is necessary. The Clerk of Court’s Office at 2393 Highway 18, Edgard, LA 70049 — reachable at (985) 497-3331 — can assist in identifying whether a specific probate matter is on file and what documents are available for inspection or copying.
The 40th Judicial District Court’s online court platform also provides information about court orders, case forms, and virtual court procedures for matters pending before the three district court divisions, which can be helpful for parties with active probate or family law proceedings.