St. Landry Parish Court Records Search
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St. Landry Parish sits in the heart of south-central Louisiana, with the city of Opelousas serving as the parish seat. The parish falls within the 27th Judicial District, and its court system processes criminal prosecutions, civil litigation, family law disputes, probate matters, and traffic cases. The St. Landry Parish Clerk of Court’s Office is the central custodian of court records for the 27th Judicial District Court, while separate clerks manage filings for the Opelousas and Eunice City Courts. Whether you need to review a pending lawsuit, locate a divorce decree, or obtain a certified copy of a marriage license, understanding which office holds the record and how to submit a request will help you navigate the process efficiently.
Louisiana residents and researchers looking for court case information can explore resources through LouisianaCourts.us, which offers an overview of the state’s judicial structure. At the parish level, records may be searched by visiting the Clerk of Court’s office in person during business hours, submitting written requests by mail, or accessing online databases. The Clerk’s Office provides two subscription-based platforms for remote searches: eClerksLA for land records and ClerkConnect for criminal, traffic, civil, and probate case records. The statewide eClerks LA portal also offers free basic search tools for locating land records, marriage licenses, and civil information across multiple parishes.
How to Look Up a Court Case in St. Landry Parish?
Three courts handle the bulk of litigation in St. Landry Parish. Identifying the correct court is the first step toward finding the record you need.
27th Judicial District Court
Address: 118 South Court Street, P.O. Box 750, Opelousas, LA 70571
Phone: (337) 942-5606
Fax: (Court Division): (337) 948-1653
Fax: (Administration): (337) 948-9158
The 27th Judicial District Court has four divisions, each presided over by a separate judge:
| Division | Judge | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Division A | Hon. Gregory Doucet | (337) 948-0588 |
| Division B | Hon. Laura Garcille | (337) 948-0586 |
| Division C | Hon. Charles Cravins | (337) 948-0584 |
| Division D | Hon. Jason Meche | (337) 948-0580 |
Opelousas City Court
Address: 127 East Grolee Street, Opelousas, LA 70570
Phone: (337) 948-2570
Fax: (337) 948-2575
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
City Judge: Hon. Shaunn Caillier-Harden
Eunice City Court
Address: 300 South 2nd Street, P.O. Box 591, Eunice, LA 70535
Phone: (337) 457-6535
Fax: (337) 457-6546
City Judge: Hon. M. Terrance Hoychick
The Courts Division of the Clerk’s Office is located in Suite 121 on the first floor of the Courthouse in Opelousas. The main Clerk of Court office is in Suite 207 of the same building. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The main number, (337) 942-5606, connects to an automated directory where callers can reach specific departments by extension:
- Courts Division: ext. 5113
- Land Records: ext. 5121
- Marriage Licenses: ext. 5128
- Birth Certificates: ext. 5161
- Passports: ext. 5107
- Archives & Research: ext. 5151
Steps to look up a case:
- Determine the case type. Felonies, general civil suits, divorces, adoptions, probate and succession matters, juvenile cases, and non-support cases are filed in the 27th Judicial District Court. Misdemeanors and traffic violations within city limits may be handled by the Opelousas or Eunice City Courts.
- Gather identifying details. You will need the case number, names of the parties, or the filing date to conduct a search.
- Visit the Clerk’s Office in Suite 121 to search in person, or contact the office by phone.
- Search online through ClerkConnect, which provides access to civil, criminal, traffic, family, and probate records. A one-day subscription costs $20, with an additional $1.00 per page for printing.
- For land records, mortgages, conveyances, and UCC filings, use the eClerksLA platform, which offers daily ($20), monthly ($50), and yearly ($500) subscription tiers, each with a $1.00 per-page printing fee.
Indexes to all civil and criminal suits filed since the beginning of the parish are available, along with digital images of actual documents in each file from 1997 forward.
Are Court Records Public in St. Landry Parish?
Louisiana’s Public Records Law (La. R.S. 44:1 et seq.) establishes that public records held by government bodies—including courts—are open for inspection and copying by any person of the age of majority. The Clerk of Court in St. Landry Parish is authorized under this statute to provide access to non-confidential and unsealed court records upon request.
To obtain copies, requesters generally must provide sufficient identifying information (case number, party names, filing or judgment dates), present a valid government-issued photo ID, and pay the applicable copy and certification fees.
Copy fees at the Clerk of Court:
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Regular copies | $1.00 per page |
| Conformed copy | $5.00 + copy fee |
| Certified copy | $10.00 + copy fee |
| Postage | Actual amount |
Records that are confidential or restricted from public access include:
- Juvenile court records
- Adoption records
- Records sealed by court order
- Information classified as confidential by federal statute or regulation
- Medical records contained in court filings
- Communications protected by attorney-client privilege
- Certain law enforcement investigative records (La. R.S. 44:3)
With the exception of juvenile and adoption files, copies of all court records maintained by the Courts Division are available to the public for a fee. Requesters do not need to provide a reason for seeking access to public court records.
St. Landry Parish Criminal Court Records
Criminal cases in St. Landry Parish are prosecuted in the 27th Judicial District Court for felonies and serious misdemeanors, while the Opelousas City Court and Eunice City Court handle misdemeanor offenses and traffic violations within their respective jurisdictions. The Criminal Division of the Clerk of Court files and maintains all criminal case records for the District Court, including warrants, accusations, indictments, bills of information, motions, plea agreements, sentencing records, and judgments.
How to access criminal case records:
- In person: Visit the Courts Division in Suite 121 at 118 South Court Street, Opelousas, with a valid photo ID and the case details.
- Online: Subscribe to ClerkConnect to search criminal and traffic case records remotely.
- By mail: Send a written request to the Clerk of Court at P.O. Box 750, Opelousas, LA 70571, including the case number or party information and a copy of your photo ID.
Exact court costs for criminal matters cannot be quoted in advance because the final amount depends on the judgment or dismissal entered by the court. Only an estimated cost can be given prior to the Clerk’s Office receiving the final disposition.
Arrest records may be obtained through the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office, which is located at 1592 East Prudhomme Street, Opelousas, LA 70570, and can be reached at (337) 948-6516.
Statewide criminal history records are maintained by the Louisiana State Police, Bureau of Criminal Identification and Information (BCII). Individuals seeking to review their own criminal history may exercise their “Right to Review” through the Louisiana Applicant Processing System (LAPS). The process requires completing the Right to Review Disclosure Form and Right to Review Authorization Form, scheduling an appointment at an IdentoGO fingerprinting location, providing fingerprints, and paying the processing fee. Effective December 1, 2024, a $5 technology fee is added to all background check requests in accordance with La. R.S. 15:587 D(1).
Employers and agencies seeking employee criminal histories must submit a completed General Disclosure Form and Authorization Form along with the required fee. The state background check processing fee is $31 (including the $5 technology fee). Payments must be made by business check, cashier’s check, or money order. Requests may be mailed to:
Louisiana State Police
Bureau of Criminal Identification
P.O. Box 66614, Mail Slip A-6
Baton Rouge, LA 70896
St. Landry Parish Civil Court Records
Civil lawsuits in St. Landry Parish are filed with the Courts Division of the Clerk of Court at Suite 121 of the Courthouse. The 27th Judicial District Court handles general civil matters including contract disputes, personal injury claims, property disputes, successions, and other civil actions without a monetary jurisdictional limit. The Opelousas and Eunice City Courts hear civil cases within their respective statutory limits.
Suits filed with the Courts Division include civil matters, probates and successions, adoptions, and non-support actions. The office maintains indexes to all civil suits from the earliest days of the parish, with scanned document images available from 1997 to the present.
How to request civil records:
- In person: Visit the Courts Division at 118 South Court Street, Suite 121, Opelousas, LA 70570. Provide the case party’s name or case number. A valid state-issued photo ID is required, and applicable copy fees must be paid.
- Online: Access civil case records through ClerkConnect ($20 for a one-day subscription plus $1.00 per printed page).
- By mail: Send a written request describing the record sought, along with a copy of your photo ID, to the Clerk of Court, P.O. Box 750, Opelousas, LA 70571.
Property and land records are maintained by the Real Estate Division of the Clerk’s Office and can be searched online through the eClerksLA portal. These records include deeds, mortgages, liens, UCC filings, and conveyances. The recording fee schedule is set by Act 173 of the 2017 Regular Legislative Session. Key recording fees include:
| Document Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| 1 to 5 pages (single index type) | $110 |
| 6 to 25 pages | $210 |
| 26 to 50 pages | $310 |
| 51+ pages | $310 + $5 per additional page |
| Index fee after 10th name | $5 per name |
| Cancellation/Partial Release (single) | $60 |
| Mortgage/Lien Certificate (10-year search, 1 name/tract) | $20 |
| Each additional name | $10 |
| Each additional tract | $20 |
Property valuation and tax assessment records are available separately through the St. Landry Parish Assessor’s Office, which maintains an online property search tool. The Assessor’s Office is located at 118 South Court Street, Suite 230, Opelousas, LA 70570.
St. Landry Parish Family Court Records
Family law matters in St. Landry Parish—including divorce, child custody, child support, protective orders, and adoption—are heard by the 27th Judicial District Court. There is no separate family court; all domestic relations cases are filed through the Courts Division of the Clerk of Court.
Divorce records are maintained by the Clerk’s Office and may be obtained in person or by mail. Requesters must submit a written request containing the names of the parties, the date of the divorce or filing, or the case number, along with a copy of a valid state-issued photo ID and payment for applicable fees. Direct inquiries to:
St. Landry Parish Clerk of Court – Courts Division
118 South Court Street, Suite 207
Opelousas, LA 70570
Phone: (337) 942-5606
Fax: (337) 948-9158
Adoption records are confidential under Louisiana law and are not available for public inspection.
Marriage licenses are issued and maintained by the Clerk of Court. The Marriage Licenses division handles applications and record requests. A marriage license may be issued in any parish in Louisiana regardless of where the ceremony is performed or where the parties reside; however, the completed license must be returned to the parish of issuance after the ceremony.
Marriage license fees:
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Marriage License (includes souvenir certificate) | $32.50 ($27.50 license + $5.00 souvenir certificate) |
| Certified Copy of Marriage License | $7.00 |
| Mail-out Copy of Marriage License | $7.00 + postage |
| Regular Copies | $1.00 per page |
| Other Certified Copies | $1.75 |
Contact the Marriage Licenses division at (337) 942-5606, ext. 5128.
Birth certificates for individuals born in Louisiana from 1915 to the present can be obtained through the Clerk’s Office, provided the birth record is on file with the state Vital Records Office. Applicants must present a photo ID and supply the applicant’s name, date of birth, parish or city of birth, parents’ names, and mother’s maiden name. The fee is $34.00 for a birth certificate. A birth card may only be purchased together with a birth certificate for a combined fee of $48.00. Contact the Birth Certificates division at (337) 942-5606, ext. 5129, 5161, or 5136.
Alternatively, the Louisiana Department of Health Vital Records Central Office issues certified copies of birth certificates. The state charges $15.00 for a long-form certificate or $24.00 for a birth certificate and birth card combined, plus a $0.50 state fee for mail requests. Payment must be by check or money order payable to Louisiana Vital Records. Walk-in payments may also be made by cash, debit card, or credit card. Mail requests to:
Vital Records Central Office
P.O. Box 60630
New Orleans, LA 70160
Death certificates from 2011 to the present are available at the Clerk’s Office for $26.00 each. Only immediate surviving family members or named beneficiaries may obtain death certificates. Beneficiaries must present a copy of the insurance policy or last will and testament showing their name. The same identifying information and photo ID requirements apply. The Louisiana Department of Health also provides death certificates; each copy from the state office costs $7.00, with the same $0.50 state fee for mail requests.
St. Landry Parish Probate Court Records
Louisiana does not have separate probate courts. In St. Landry Parish, all probate matters—referred to in Louisiana law as “successions”—are handled by the 27th Judicial District Court. The Clerk of Court’s Courts Division maintains records for successions, estate administration, wills, trusts, and related proceedings.
Probate-related filings in the Courts Division include petitions for possession, independent administrations, judicial openings of succession, inventories, accountings, and petitions for authority to sell estate property. These records are indexed from the earliest parish records, and document images are available digitally from 1997 forward.
How to obtain probate records:
- In person: Visit the Courts Division at 118 South Court Street, Suite 121, Opelousas. Provide the name of the deceased, the case number if known, and a valid photo ID. Pay the applicable copy fees ($1.00 per page for regular copies; $10.00 plus copy fees for certified copies).
- Online: Subscribe to ClerkConnect to search probate and succession case records. The one-day subscription fee is $20, with a $1.00 per page printing charge.
- By mail: Send a letter to the Clerk of Court, P.O. Box 750, Opelousas, LA 70571, describing the succession or estate matter and providing identifying details. Include a copy of your photo ID and payment for anticipated fees. Postage for returned documents will be billed at the actual amount.
Succession proceedings in Louisiana follow the Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure and the Louisiana Civil Code provisions on successions. Heirs may open a succession judicially or, when eligible, by affidavit. The 27th Judicial District Court handles contested successions, will challenges, interdiction proceedings, and the appointment of tutors and curators.
For historical and genealogical research involving older probate files, the Clerk’s Office maintains an Archives division that can be reached at (337) 942-5606, ext. 5151. This division houses historical documents dating back to the founding of the parish and can assist researchers in locating older succession, estate, and family records. The St. Landry Parish Clerk of Court also operates the Charles Jagneaux Election and Archives Center at 306 West Landry Street in Opelousas, which houses an extensive collection of historical documents available to the public.