St. Martin Parish Court Records

St. Martin Parish sits in south-central Louisiana, with its parish seat in St. Martinville. The parish's main trial court is the 16th Judicial District Court — a court of general jurisdiction it shares with Iberia and St. Mary Parishes. Eight elected judges sit on the 16th JDC bench, and several of them maintain courtrooms and chambers in the St. Martin Parish Courthouse at 415 South Main Street in St. Martinville. The parish also has a city court in Breaux Bridge, multiple Justice of the Peace courts across its wards, and Mayor's Courts in Henderson, Parks, and St. Martinville. The St. Martin Parish Clerk of Court is the official keeper of all case records produced by these courts.

If you're looking for Louisiana court records, LouisianaCourts.us can help you find publicly available court case information across the state. For St. Martin Parish specifically, the Clerk of Court runs an eSearch portal, and the 16th JDC publishes family court forms and calendars on its official website.

How to Look Up a Court Case in St. Martin Parish?

The most direct way to search for a St. Martin Parish court case is through the Clerk of Court's eSearch portal, which offers subscription-based access to indexed records across multiple categories. Subscribers can search Mortgage, Conveyance, Civil, and Criminal files and purchase document copies for $1.00 per page. A statewide multi-parish option is also available through Clerk Connect, which covers participating clerk offices across Louisiana.

eSearch Subscription Details

The online records platform requires a paid subscription. Document copies print at $1.00 per page. A service fee of $0.30 plus 3% of the transaction total applies per credit card transaction on printouts. Before searching, check the Certified Dates page to confirm how current the index is for each record type.

In-Person Access

Anyone can visit the Clerk of Court's office during business hours and search case records at no charge on public-access terminals. Paper copies are available at the office.

Clerk of Court Office
Address: 415 St. Martin Street, P.O. Box 308, St. Martinville, LA 70582
Phone: (337) 394-2210
Fax: (337) 394-7772
Email: laura@smclerkofcourt.com
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM

Mail Requests

Send written requests to the Clerk of Court at P.O. Box 308, St. Martinville, LA 70582. Include the case number or party names, the type of record you need, and the appropriate fees. Certified copies cost $10.00 plus the per-page copy fee, conformed copies cost $5.00 plus the per-page fee, and standard copies are $1.00 per page.

Appellate Records

St. Martin Parish falls within the jurisdiction of the Louisiana Third Circuit Court of Appeal, which maintains an online opinion and case search. You can look up cases appealed from the 16th JDC through the Third Circuit's website by case number or year.

Are Court Records Public in St. Martin Parish?

Most court records produced in St. Martin Parish are open to public inspection. The Louisiana Public Records Law (La. R.S. 44:1 et seq.) gives any person of majority age the right to examine and obtain copies of records maintained by public bodies, including courts. Civil filings, criminal dockets, judgments, conveyance records, and mortgage records are generally available through the Clerk of Court's office and its online portal.

Certain categories of records are restricted from public access by specific statutes or court order:

Juvenile proceedings — sealed under the Louisiana Children's Code and accessible only to parties, their attorneys, and authorized agencies.
Adoption records — confidential by statute; access requires a court order or the consent of the involved parties.
Victim identification — records that would reveal the identity of victims of sexual offenses or domestic violence are restricted.
Sensitive personal identifiers — Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and similar data are redacted from publicly accessible filings.
Medical and mental health records — protected under both state and federal privacy laws and not subject to public disclosure.
Pending investigation files — records of law enforcement investigations that have not yet resulted in charges may be withheld.

Louisiana also restricts vital records. Under La. R.S. 40:41, birth certificates remain confidential for 100 years after the year of birth, and death certificates are confidential for 50 years after the year of death. Before those periods expire, only authorized individuals — the registrant, immediate family, legal guardians, or their representatives — may obtain certified copies.

St. Martin Parish Criminal Court Records

Criminal cases in St. Martin Parish are prosecuted in the 16th Judicial District Court, which has original jurisdiction over felonies and misdemeanors occurring within the parish. Eight judges serve the 16th JDC, with Divisions A and B hearing cases in St. Martinville and Division G rotating among the three parishes in the district.

Judges Sitting in St. Martin Parish

Division	Judge	Phone
Division A	Anthony Thibodeaux	(337) 394-6133, ext. 2603
Division B	Suzanne deMahy	(337) 394-2216, ext. 2611
Division G	Curtis Sigur	(337) 394-2253, ext. 2606

Searching Criminal Court Records

Criminal case indices are available through the Clerk of Court's eSearch portal (subscription required). You can also conduct in-person searches at the Clerk's office during business hours. The Criminal Department handles record requests related to criminal dockets, filings, and judgments.

Sheriff's Office and Arrest Records

The St. Martin Parish Sheriff's Office is the parish's primary law enforcement agency. Arrest booking information and inmate rosters are published through the Sheriff's online inmate search. The Sheriff's Office operates from two locations:

Main Offices and Parish Jail
Address: 400 Saint Martin Street, Saint Martinville, LA 70582
Phone: (337) 394-3071
Fax: (337) 394-5911

Public Safety Complex / 911 Center
Address: 4870 N. Main Highway, Saint Martinville, LA 70582

Administrative office hours are Monday through Thursday, 7:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Victim notification services are accessible through Louisiana VINELink.

State Criminal History Checks

Louisiana law restricts the release of criminal history records to authorized persons. The Louisiana State Police Bureau of Criminal Identification and Information (BCII) is the state repository for criminal history data. Eligible requesters can use the Internet Background Check portal operated by the Department of Public Safety, or mail a completed Right to Review Authorization Form along with a Right to Review Disclosure Form and a copy of valid identification to:

Louisiana State Police BCII
Address: P.O. Box 66614, Box A-6, Baton Rouge, LA 70896

St. Martin Parish Civil Court Records

Civil matters in St. Martin Parish are adjudicated in the 16th Judicial District Court and in the lower courts of limited jurisdiction. The District Court handles property disputes, contract disputes, personal injury litigation, employment discrimination claims, professional malpractice cases, and other civil actions. The Breaux Bridge City Court and the Justice of the Peace courts handle smaller civil matters within their respective monetary jurisdictions.

Breaux Bridge City Court
Address: 101 Berard Street, Suite B, Breaux Bridge, LA 70517
Phone: (337) 332-4117
Fax: (337) 332-8511
Email: breauxbridge@bbcourt.com
Hours: 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday

Justice of the Peace Courts

Ward	Address	Phone
Ward 1	1029 Nelson Road, St. Martinville, LA 70582	(337) 394-3390
Ward 2	304 Governor Mouton Street, St. Martinville, LA 70582	(337) 394-1202
Ward 3	1024 Joe Mouton Road, St. Martinville, LA 70582	(337) 342-0306
Ward 5	1006-B Legrand Road, Breaux Bridge, LA 70517	(337) 280-3649
Ward 6	1018 Florence Court, Morgan City, LA 70380	(985) 518-2419

Requesting Civil Court Records

The Clerk of Court maintains all civil filings, including pleadings, motions, exhibits, judgments, and orders. You can access records through the online records portal with a subscription, in person at the Clerk's office, or by mail. Note that the Clerk cannot accept pleadings by email — all filings must be submitted electronically or in person.

Copy and Research Fees

Standard copies: $1.00 per page
Conformed copies: $5.00 plus per-page copy fee
Certified copies: $10.00 plus per-page copy fee
Plat, deed, mortgage, or sale research: $15.00 per hour (one-hour minimum)

Property and Land Records

The Clerk of Court's Mortgage and Conveyance Department maintains deed, mortgage, lien, and other land records, all searchable through the eSearch portal. Recording fees are set by Act 173 of the 2017 Regular Legislative Session and La. R.S. 13:844. All recording fees include a $5.00 per-document fee for the Louisiana Clerk of Court Remote Access Authority and a $5.00 per-document fee for the Parish Government portal. The St. Martin Parish Assessor's Office handles property assessment records and can be reached at 415 St. Martin Street, St. Martinville, LA 70582, Phone: (337) 394-2208

Self-Help Resources

Self-represented litigants who cannot afford filing fees may complete an In Forma Pauperis Affidavit to request a fee waiver. Additional self-help forms and court procedure guidance are available through the Louisiana State Bar Association's self-help portal.

St. Martin Parish Family Court Records

Family law matters in St. Martin Parish — including divorce, child custody, child support, spousal support, domestic violence protective orders, community property partition, and adoption — are heard within the 16th Judicial District Court's Family Court docket. A Hearing Officer presides over family law conferences in St. Martin Parish, with the goal of resolving disputes through settlement before cases go before a district judge.

The Family Court Process

Once a family law case is filed with the Clerk of Court, the Family Court schedules a Hearing Officer Conference. The 16th JDC's Family Court page explains the process:

A Hearing Officer Conference is typically set within 21 days of filing.
The parties receive an Order requiring them to provide financial and other relevant information, including completed affidavits, five days before the conference.
At the conference, the Hearing Officer facilitates settlement discussions between the parties and their attorneys.
If a full agreement is reached, a Consent Judgment is signed during the conference and no judge hearing is needed.
If no agreement is reached, the Hearing Officer prepares a Findings and Recommendation report.
Parties have five days to file specific objections. General objections are not permitted in this jurisdiction.
If no timely objections are filed, the Hearing Officer's recommendations are adopted as an order of the Court.

Family Court Forms

The 16th JDC publishes downloadable family court forms including:

Hearing Officer Affidavit (fillable)
Objection to Hearing Officer Recommendation
Motion to Adopt Hearing Officer Recommendation
Motion to Continue and Reset (Opposed and Unopposed)
Rule for Contempt
Rule to Modify Child Support (fillable)
Objection to Child Support Court Recommendation

The Uniform Rules for Family Court and court-specific rules regarding custody evaluations are also available for reference.

Marriage Records

Marriage licenses are issued by the Clerk of Court. Under La. R.S. 9:222, a license may be issued in any Louisiana parish regardless of where the ceremony will take place or where the parties reside. Key details:

Fee: $35.00 (cash, check, money order, or credit/debit card with a 4% surcharge). The fee includes one certified copy mailed after the ceremony is recorded.
Applications are processed Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 3:45 PM.
At least one party must appear in person before a deputy clerk.
Required documents include a certified birth certificate, valid unexpired photo ID, Social Security number, and proof of termination of any prior marriage.
The license is valid for 30 days. A 24-hour waiting period applies unless a judge or justice of the peace grants a waiver (La. R.S. 9:242).
Both parties must be at least 18. A minor aged 16 or 17 requires both parental consent and judicial authorization.

Copies of previously recorded marriage licenses may be requested by submitting a completed Request for Certified Copies of Marriage License form to the Clerk's Research Department at P.O. Box 308, St. Martinville, LA 70582. Marriage records under 50 years old are restricted to named parties, parents, heirs, spouses, or legal representatives. Records older than 50 years are held at the Louisiana State Archives and are open to the public.

Divorce Records

Divorce judgments from St. Martin Parish are maintained by the Clerk of Court. These are restricted records, accessible only to the named parties, their legal representatives, or by court order. You can submit requests in person, by mail, or through the Clerk's online portal — just include both parties' names and the approximate date of the divorce.

Birth and Death Certificates

The Clerk of Court issues certified copies of birth certificates for persons born anywhere in Louisiana, and death certificates for deaths within Louisiana occurring in the last two years. Applications are accepted in person from 8:30 AM to 3:45 PM. Birth certificates dated before 1983 may require an additional wait of one to three hours. An Application for Certified Copy of Birth/Death Certificate is available on the Clerk's website.

Eligible requesters include the person named on the certificate, a current spouse, parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, sibling, or legal guardian with a custody judgment. A non-family member may request a copy with a signed authorization letter and copies of both parties' identification. All applicants must present a valid photo ID — note that LA Wallet is not accepted.

For birth records older than two years or death certificates beyond the two-year window, contact the Louisiana State Registrar and Vital Records office at 628 North 4th Street, P.O. Box 629, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-0629, Phone: (225) 342-9500

St. Martin Parish Probate Court Records

Louisiana uses the term "succession" rather than "probate" for the legal process of settling a decedent's estate. Succession proceedings in St. Martin Parish are filed in the 16th Judicial District Court and recorded by the Clerk of Court. These records cover petitions for probate of wills, appointments of succession representatives (executors or administrators), inventories, accountings, judgments of possession, and final discharges.

Types of Probate Records Available

Probate filings in St. Martin Parish cover testate and intestate successions, independent and judicial administrations, guardianships (called "tutorships" under Louisiana law), conservatorships (known as "interdictions"), and trust-related proceedings. Records of small successions — typically uncontested estates under a statutory threshold — are also maintained.

Searching and Requesting Probate Records

Probate case records are accessible through the Clerk of Court's eSearch portal under the Civil index, which includes succession filings. In-person searches are available at no charge during office hours at the Clerk's office (415 St. Martin Street, St. Martinville). Written requests may be mailed to the Clerk of Court at P.O. Box 308, St. Martinville, LA 70582.

Standard copy fees apply: $1.00 per page for standard copies, $5.00 plus per-page fees for conformed copies, and $10.00 plus per-page fees for certified copies. If you have questions about filing fees for specific succession matters, call the Clerk's office at (337) 394-2210.

Restricted Probate Records

While most succession filings are public, certain records within probate-related proceedings may be restricted. Adoption records processed through the court are sealed under Louisiana law. Interdiction proceedings involving mental health evaluations or medical records may also be subject to confidentiality protections. Accessing these restricted files typically requires a motion and court order from the 16th JDC.