St. Mary Parish Court Records Search
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St. Mary Parish sits in south-central Louisiana with its parish seat in Franklin. The parish’s trial court of general jurisdiction is the 16th Judicial District Court, which it shares with Iberia and St. Martin Parishes. Eight elected judges preside over civil, criminal, juvenile, and family matters across the three-parish district, with several judges maintaining courtrooms in the St. Mary Parish Courthouse at 500 Main Street in Franklin. Lower-level proceedings are handled by two city courts — one in Morgan City and one in Franklin — along with Justice of the Peace courts across multiple wards and Mayor’s Courts in Baldwin, Berwick, and Patterson. The St. Mary Parish Clerk of Court serves as the custodian of all civil, criminal, probate, and land records generated within these courts.
Louisiana court records can be searched through parish clerk offices, courthouse public-access terminals, and electronic databases. LouisianaCourts.us may assist users in finding publicly available court case information across the state. For St. Mary Parish specifically, the Clerk of Court operates an eSearch online portal covering conveyance, mortgage, civil, criminal, probate, and marriage indices, while the 16th JDC publishes family court forms and calendars on its official website.
How to Look Up a Court Case in St. Mary Parish?
St. Mary Parish court records can be searched online, in person, or by mail. The method you choose will depend on the type of record and how quickly you need it.
Online Records Search — eSearch Portal
The Clerk of Court’s eSearch portal provides subscription-based access to indexed records in the following categories: Conveyances, Mortgages, Civil Suits, Criminal, Probate, Marriages, Bonds, Chattel Mortgages, Incorporations, Miscellaneous, Notarial Adoptions, Oaths, and Partnerships. Scanned document images are available only for Conveyances (from January 1, 1979) and Mortgages (from January 1, 1989). For Civil and Criminal records, the portal provides index and docket history searches but no document images.
Subscription rates for the online portal:
| Subscription Period | Fee |
|---|---|
| 1 Day | $20.00 |
| 30 Days | $125.00 |
| 6 Months | $400.00 |
| 1 Year | $750.00 |
Printing costs $2.00 per page. A credit card surcharge of $0.49 plus 3.49% of the total purchase applies each time a transaction is processed. Adding all items to the cart before checkout avoids multiple surcharges.
The statewide Clerk Connect portal also provides multi-parish search and printing access for participating clerks’ offices.
In-Person Access
Anyone may visit the Clerk of Court’s office on the second floor of the St. Mary Parish Courthouse during business hours to conduct record searches and request copies.
St. Mary Parish Clerk of Court
Address: 500 Main Street, Suite 201, Franklin, LA 70538
Mailing: P.O. Drawer 1231, Franklin, LA 70538
Phone: (337) 828-4100
Toll-Free: (800) 256-6660
Fax: (337) 828-2509
Email: support@smpclerk.com
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM (excluding holidays)
Mail Requests
Written requests for record copies can be sent to P.O. Drawer 1231, Franklin, LA 70538. Include the case number or party names, the type of record sought, and payment for applicable copy fees. The Clerk accepts checks, money orders, and credit cards (a credit card authorization form is available on the Forms & Fees page).
Appellate Case Searches
St. Mary Parish falls within the jurisdiction of the Louisiana Third Circuit Court of Appeal. Cases appealed from the 16th JDC can be looked up by case number or year through the Third Circuit’s online case search.
Are Court Records Public in St. Mary Parish?
Most court records generated in St. Mary Parish are open to public inspection. Louisiana law (La. R.S. 44:31 et seq.) requires custodians of public records to provide records for examination or copying upon request. Civil filings, criminal dockets, judgments, conveyance and mortgage records, and probate proceedings are generally available to anyone through the Clerk of Court’s office and the eSearch portal.
Certain categories of records are restricted from public disclosure by statute or court order:
- Sealed and expunged records — criminal records that have been sealed or expunged by court order are not accessible to the public.
- Juvenile court records — governed by the Louisiana Children’s Code and accessible only to parties, their attorneys, and authorized personnel.
- Adoption records — confidential under Louisiana law; access requires a court order or consent of the involved parties.
- Medical and mental health records — protected from disclosure under state and federal privacy laws.
- Victim identification — records that would reveal the identity of victims of sexual offenses are restricted.
- Sensitive financial information — financial account numbers, Social Security numbers, and similar personal identifiers are redacted from publicly available records.
Louisiana also restricts access to vital records. Under La. R.S. 40:41, birth records remain confidential for 100 years after the registrant’s birth year and death records for 50 years after the year of death. Only authorized persons — the registrant, immediate family, legal guardians, and certain legal representatives — may obtain certified copies before those periods expire.
St. Mary Parish Criminal Court Records
Criminal matters in St. Mary Parish are prosecuted in the 16th Judicial District Court. The court has original jurisdiction over all felonies and misdemeanors. Judge Vincent J. Borne (Division C) presides over juvenile court in the parish, while other divisions handle general criminal dockets. The City Court of Morgan City handles misdemeanor offenses and traffic matters, with criminal and traffic court sessions on Tuesdays (arraignments) and Thursdays (trials) at 2:00 PM.
Searching Criminal Records
Criminal case indices are available through the Clerk of Court’s eSearch portal (subscription required). Only index and docket history data are accessible online — document images are not available for criminal records. In-person searches can be conducted at the Clerk’s office during business hours.
The City Court of Morgan City requires written requests for disposition records or public arrest records. Responses are provided within 72 hours, with a fee of $2.00 per page for reproduced documents.
City Court of Morgan City
Address: 7261 Highway 182 East, Morgan City, LA 70380
Mailing: P.O. Box 1577, Morgan City, LA 70381
Phone: (985) 384-2718
Fax: (985) 384-7519
Email: citycourt@cityofmc.com
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM
Franklin City Court
Address: 508 1/2 Second Street, Franklin, LA 70538
Phone: (337) 828-3858
Fax: (337) 413-1180
Sheriff’s Office and Arrest Records
The St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office is the primary law enforcement agency in the parish and maintains arrest and booking records. The Sheriff’s Office publishes an inmate roster online, showing individuals currently detained at the St. Mary Parish Detention Center. A separate listing shows individuals released within the prior 48 hours.
Sheriff’s Office — Franklin Headquarters
Address: 500 Main Street, 4th Floor, Franklin, LA 70538
Phone: (337) 828-1960
Sheriff’s Office — Morgan City Branch
Address: 1455 Railroad Avenue, Morgan City, LA 70380
Phone: (985) 384-1622
State Criminal History Checks
The Louisiana State Police Bureau of Criminal Identification and Information manages the statewide criminal history repository. Louisiana law restricts the release of criminal history information to authorized persons and entities. Eligible individuals may use the Internet Background Check portal or submit paper requests with a completed Right to Review Authorization Form, 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. Mary Parish Civil Court Records
Civil cases in St. Mary Parish are heard in the 16th Judicial District Court and the parish’s two city courts. The District Court handles property disputes, contract actions, personal injury claims, employment discrimination, professional malpractice, landlord/tenant disputes, and other civil matters exceeding the monetary jurisdiction of the city courts. The City Court of Morgan City has civil jurisdiction for claims up to $15,000 and a small claims division for amounts up to $5,000 (limited to suits on promissory notes, open accounts, and negotiable instruments). Civil and small claims court in Morgan City is held on Wednesday mornings, typically at 9:00 AM.
Requesting Civil Court Records
The Clerk of Court maintains all civil filings, including pleadings, motions, court orders, transcripts, and judgments. Records are accessible through the eSearch portal (index and docket history only — no images for civil records), in person at the Clerk’s office, or by mail to P.O. Drawer 1231, Franklin, LA 70538.
Filing Fees and Copy Costs
The Clerk’s office requires advance deposits for civil filings pursuant to La. R.S. 13:842. An Advance Deposit Fee Schedule is published on the Clerk’s website. Self-represented litigants who cannot afford fees may file a Forma Pauperis affidavit to request a fee waiver.
Standard copy and service fees include:
- Printing from eSearch: $2.00 per page
- Copy fee (in-office): inquire at the Clerk’s office
- Certified copies: certification fee plus per-page charge
- Credit card surcharge: $0.49 plus 3.49% per transaction (online)
Civil E-Filing
The Clerk’s office accepts electronic filing of civil documents through the Tybera e-filing platform. An e-filing link and fee schedule are available on the Clerk’s website. Mortgage cancellations, wills, and maps or plats cannot be submitted electronically.
Property and Land Records
Conveyance and mortgage records — including deeds, mortgages, liens, and real estate transactions — are maintained by the Clerk of Court’s recording department. These are the only record types with scanned images available on the eSearch portal (conveyances from 1979 and mortgages from 1989). A recording fee schedule is posted on the Clerk’s website, with mortgage cancellation request forms (RFC 1 through RFC 5) and mortgage certificate request forms available for download.
The St. Mary Parish Assessor’s Office maintains property assessment records and offers online property search tools. The Assessor’s Office is located at:
St. Mary Parish Assessor’s Office
Address: 500 Main Street, 2nd Floor, P.O. Box 264, Franklin, LA 70538
Phone: (337) 828-4100
Fax: (337) 828-2122
Justice of the Peace Courts
Eight Justice of the Peace courts serve individual wards across the parish, handling small civil matters and preliminary criminal proceedings:
| Ward | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Ward 1 | 293 Eves Street, Jeanerette, LA 70544 | (337) 276-7092 |
| Ward 2 | 4683 Hwy 83, Franklin, LA 70538 | (337) 940-1027 |
| Ward 4 | P.O. Box 175, Centerville, LA 70522 | (337) 923-1217 |
| Ward 5 | 1008 Delmar Road, Morgan City, LA 70380 | (985) 397-3794 |
| Ward 7 | 223 Gibbs Road, Franklin, LA 70538 | (337) 923-0677 |
| Ward 8 | 210 Jones Street, Berwick, LA 70342 | (985) 385-6101 |
| Ward 9 | P.O. Box 1041, Amelia, LA 70340 | (985) 631-1014 |
| Ward 10 | P.O. Box 876, Baldwin, LA 70514 | (337) 578-7626 |
St. Mary Parish Family Court Records
Family law cases in St. Mary Parish — including divorce, child custody, child support, spousal support, community property partition, domestic violence protective orders, and adoption — are adjudicated within the 16th Judicial District Court’s Family Court docket. A Hearing Officer handles family law conferences in the parish, with the objective of resolving disputes through negotiated settlement before cases proceed to a district judge.
The Family Court Process
The 16th JDC’s Family Court page for St. Mary Parish outlines the process:
- After a family law case is filed with the Clerk of Court, the Family Court contacts the parties or their attorneys to schedule a Hearing Officer Conference.
- The conference is typically set within 21 days of the filing date.
- An order is issued requiring each party to complete financial affidavits and provide relevant information at least five days before the conference.
- At the conference, the Hearing Officer facilitates settlement discussions between the parties and their attorneys.
- If the parties reach a full agreement, a Consent Judgment is prepared and signed during the conference — no court hearing before a judge is needed.
- If no agreement or only a partial agreement is reached, the Hearing Officer prepares Findings and a Recommendation report.
- Parties have five days to file specific objections. If no timely objections are filed, the recommendations become an order of the Court.
- If objections are filed, the assigned judge conducts a hearing limited to the objected matters.
Family Court Forms
The 16th JDC provides downloadable family court forms and links, including a Hearing Officer Affidavit, Objection to Hearing Officer Recommendation, Motions to Continue and Reset, Rule for Contempt, and a Rule to Modify Child Support. The Uniform Rules for Family Court and court-specific rules on custody evaluations are also available.
Divorce Records
Divorce judgments are maintained by the Clerk of Court. These records are generally accessible to the public. Requests may be submitted in person, by mail, or through the eSearch portal. Provide both parties’ names and the approximate date of the divorce.
Marriage Records
Marriage licenses are issued by the Clerk of Court. Under Louisiana law (La. R.S. 9:222), a license may be issued in any parish regardless of where the ceremony will take place. Marriage license indices on the eSearch portal date back to their earliest available records. To obtain copies of a marriage certificate, contact the Clerk’s office or submit a request by mail. The Louisiana State Archives also provides an online index for older marriage records.
Birth and Death Certificates
The Clerk of Court issues certified copies of birth and death certificates. Applications are accepted in person during limited hours: Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM and 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM. A printable application form and credit card authorization form are available on the Clerk’s Forms & Fees page.
Fees for Clerk-issued certificates are set by statute:
| Certificate Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Birth Certificate (long form) | $34.00 |
| Birth Certificate plus Birth Card (short form) | $48.00 per pair |
| Death Certificate | $26.00 |
Alternatively, certified copies may be obtained from the Louisiana Department of Health, Vital Records Central Office:
Vital Records Central Office (walk-in)
Address: 1450 Poydras Street, Suite 400, New Orleans, LA 70112
Hours: 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM (excluding state holidays)
Vital Records Registry (mail requests)
Address: P.O. Box 60630, New Orleans, LA 70160
State-level fees differ from Clerk-issued copies: $15.00 per birth certificate, $24.00 per birth certificate and card pair, and $7.00 per death certificate. A $0.50 state charge is added to each mail-in or VitalChek order. An application form is available from the Department of Health website.
Historical vital records — birth records over 100 years old and death records over 50 years old — can be searched through the Louisiana State Archives birth records index and death records index.
St. Mary Parish Probate Court Records
Louisiana uses the term “succession” rather than “probate” for the legal proceedings that settle a decedent’s estate. Succession cases in St. Mary Parish are filed in the 16th Judicial District Court and recorded by the Clerk of Court. These records encompass petitions for probate of wills, appointments of succession representatives, inventories, detailed descriptions of property, accountings, judgments of possession, and final discharges.
Types of Probate Matters
Probate filings in St. Mary Parish cover testate successions (where a will exists), intestate successions (no will), independent and judicial administrations, small successions, tutorships (guardianships of minors under Louisiana law), interdictions (similar to conservatorships in other states), and trust administration.
Searching and Requesting Records
Probate case indices are available through the Clerk of Court’s eSearch portal under the Probate index category. Index and docket history information is searchable, though document images are not available online for probate records. In-person access is available during business hours at the Clerk’s office, 500 Main Street, Suite 201, Franklin. Written requests for copies may be mailed to P.O. Drawer 1231, Franklin, LA 70538.
The Clerk’s office charges an advance deposit for new succession filings in accordance with La. R.S. 13:842. Specific deposit amounts and filing fees are listed on the Advance Deposit Fee Schedule published on the Clerk’s website.
Restricted Probate Records
While most succession filings and probate proceedings are public records, adoption records processed through the court are sealed under Louisiana law and require a court order for access. Interdiction proceedings involving mental health evaluations or medical documentation may also carry confidentiality protections. Access to any sealed probate-related file requires a motion and order from the 16th JDC.