Union Parish Court Records Search
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Union Parish, Louisiana has a compact but fully functional court system that handles everything from felony prosecutions to succession filings and property recordings. The parish seat of Farmerville is home to the Union Parish Clerk of Court, which keeps the official civil, criminal, probate, and family court records for the parish. Whether you're running a background check, tracing a property title chain, or researching a family estate, most requests start with the Clerk's office or the Third Judicial District Court, which has general jurisdiction over the parish.
If you need a high-level overview of Louisiana's judicial system or want to find court resources by parish, LouisianaCourts.us is a useful starting point. For Union Parish specifically, the Clerk of Court maintains its own website with 24/7 online access to indices and document images — covering civil, criminal, probate, and property records — so many routine searches don't require an in-person visit at all.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Union Parish?
You have three ways to access records: online through the Clerk's subscription portal, in person at the courthouse, or by reaching out to the relevant office by phone or mail.
Online Access
The Union Parish Clerk of Court offers round-the-clock electronic access through its online services portal. You'll need to create an account and subscribe before you can view document images and detailed indices. Once registered, available services include eSearch for case records, eFiling for new pleadings, eRecording for real estate documents, and an Online Marriage Application.
In-Person Access
Walk-in searches are available at the Clerk of Court office during regular business hours. Staff can help you locate case files, pull document copies, and direct you to the right department.
| Office | Address | Phone | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Union Parish Clerk of Court | 100 East Bayou Street, Suite 105, Farmerville, LA 71241 | (318) 368-3055 | Mon–Fri, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. |
| Third Judicial District Court (Union Parish) | 100 East Bayou Street, Suite 202, Farmerville, LA 71241 | (318) 368-9734 | Mon–Fri, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. |
| Union Parish Sheriff's Office | 710 Holder Road, Farmerville, LA 71241 | (318) 368-3124 | Varies by division |
Requests by Mail or Fax
You can also submit written requests by mailing them to the Clerk's office at the address above. The civil fax number is (318) 368-3861, and the criminal fax number is (318) 982-8012. Include as much identifying information as you can — case number, full party names, and the approximate filing year — to help staff process your request quickly.
Are Court Records Public in Union Parish?
Louisiana's Public Records Law (R.S. 44:1 et seq.) sets a clear default: government records, including court filings, are open to public inspection. Anyone can inspect or copy a public record without needing to explain why. That said, the law carves out several important categories of protected documents that courts cannot disclose without a court order.
The following types of records are restricted from routine public access in Union Parish:
- Juvenile records — all proceedings involving minors are confidential by statute and are not accessible without a court order
- Adoption records — adoption filings are sealed; certified copies require judicial authorization before release
- Expunged records — under Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure Article 971, an expunged arrest or conviction is removed from public access but not destroyed; it remains available only to law enforcement and certain authorized agencies
- Records containing sensitive personal identifiers — portions of documents may be redacted where Social Security numbers, financial account information, or similar data appear
- Grand jury materials — indictments and related proceedings remain sealed until charges are formally filed
For records that don't fall into a restricted category, the Clerk of Court is required to make them available for inspection during business hours, with copies produced for a fee. If access is disputed, requesters can seek relief from the district court under the Public Records Law's enforcement provisions.
Union Parish Criminal Court Records
Felony and misdemeanor criminal matters in Union Parish are handled by the Third Judicial District Court. The Clerk of Court maintains the criminal case files, which typically include charging documents, arrest warrants, indictments, bills of information, minutes of court proceedings, plea records, and sentencing orders. These records are generally public once charges are formally filed, though certain components — such as presentence investigation reports — remain restricted.
Searching Criminal Records Online
The Union Parish Clerk of Court website provides index and image access to criminal case filings through its subscription-based eSearch service. Once registered, you can search by defendant name or case number to retrieve filed documents. Account registration is required before you can view document images.
Criminal Records at the Sheriff's Office
The Union Parish Sheriff's Office Records Division maintains incident reports, crash reports, and arrest documentation separately from the court file. You can submit records requests to the Sheriff's Office in person, by mail, by phone, or by email to the records custodian.
| Records Division | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Union Parish Sheriff's Office – Records | 710 Holder Rd, Attn: Records, Farmerville, LA 71241 | (318) 608-3017 |
Fee Schedule — Sheriff's Office Records:
- State crash report: $15.00
- Vehicle incident report: $10.00
- Other reports: $10.00
- Reports exceeding five pages: $1.00 per additional page
- Paper photo copies: $1.00 per page
- CD or digital media: $10.00 each
Local background checks are available through the Sheriff's Office front desk at (318) 982-1264. For statewide criminal history searches, the Louisiana State Police Bureau of Criminal Identification and Information processes fingerprint-based background checks for authorized purposes, including employment and licensing.
The Third Judicial District Attorney's Office maintains a Union Parish branch that prosecutes criminal cases assigned by the Clerk. For Union Parish criminal matters, contact: (318) 368-2201.
Union Parish Civil Court Records
Civil cases in Union Parish are filed with the Clerk of Court's Civil Department and heard in the Third Judicial District Court. The Civil Department handles all pleadings for civil suits, including contracts, property disputes, personal injury claims, garnishments, executory process, and mental health commitments. Small claims matters involving amounts under $5,000 are filed on the Clerk's Docket under R.S. 13:502.
Civil Fee Schedule (Effective July 20, 2023)
| Filing Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Original Petition / Supplemental Petition / Motion for Summary Judgment (each additional defendant adds $150.00) | $425 |
| Original Petition with attached Order of Rule | $450 |
| Original Petition with Rule and TRO | $500 |
| Executory Process (each additional defendant adds $100.00) | $500 |
| Garnishment (includes $50.00 to answer interrogatories) | $450 |
| Curator Fees | $450 |
| Service on Secretary of State | $50 |
| Small Claims (Clerk's Docket) – Initial Filing with one defendant | $425 |
| Small Claims – Additional defendants | $125 |
Full civil fee details are published on the Clerk's civil and probate fees page. Advance deposits are required at the time of filing except for pauper cases and answers to original petitions, as specified in R.S. 13:843.
Online Civil Record Search
Civil case indices and document images are searchable through the Clerk's eSearch system at www.upclerk.com. A subscription is required to view document images beyond basic index information. eFiling through eClerks LA is also available for electronically opening new cases and submitting pleadings.
Property-related civil records — including deeds, mortgages, judgments, and liens — are recorded by the Clerk's Recording Department. Recording fees follow the schedule set by Act 173 of the 2017 Regular Legislative Session: $105 for documents of 1–5 pages, $205 for 6–25 pages, and $305 for 26–50 pages, with per-page additions beyond that. Copies of recorded deeds are available from the Clerk's office for $1.00 per page.
Union Parish Family Court Records
Family law matters in Union Parish — including divorce, child custody, child support, spousal support, domestic violence protective orders, and non-support proceedings — are handled within the Third Judicial District Court's civil division. The Clerk of Court's Civil Department files and manages all these cases.
Divorce Records
Divorce filings are public records, though certified copies of final divorce decrees are restricted to the parties to the proceeding, their attorneys, and certain qualified close relatives. The filing fee for a Rule for 102 Divorce falls within the standard original petition fee of $425. When requesting records, provide the parties' names, the case number, and the approximate year of filing. The Clerk's online portal lets you search civil case filings by party name, which can help you identify a divorce case number before submitting a follow-up request.
Marriage Records
Marriage licenses and records are maintained by the Union Parish Clerk of Court and are generally public. You can apply in person at the Clerk's office (100 East Bayou Street, Suite 105, Farmerville, LA 71241), and an online marriage application is also available through the Clerk's online services page. Existing marriage record indices and images can be accessed through the Clerk's eSearch subscription service as well.
Protective Orders and Domestic Violence
Protective order petitions are filed with the Clerk's Civil Department, and active protective orders are entered into the Louisiana Protective Order Registry. Call the Clerk's office directly at (318) 368-3055 for guidance on filing procedures.
Vital Records — Birth and Death Certificates
Birth and death certificates are not court records, but they often come up alongside family court filings. The Union Parish Clerk of Court can help with locally issued vital records:
- Death records from January 2012 to present are available at the Clerk's office
- Birth certificates and older death records are handled by the Louisiana Department of Health Vital Records office
Current State Vital Records Fees (Louisiana Department of Health):
| Document | Fee |
|---|---|
| Birth Certificate (state-issued) | $15.00 per copy |
| Birth Certificate + Birth Card (short form pair) | $24.00 per pair |
| Clerk of Court issued Long-Form Birth Certificate | $34.00 per copy |
| Death Certificate (state-issued) | $7.00 per copy |
| Clerk of Court issued Death Certificate | $26.00 per copy |
Mail-in and VitalChek orders carry an additional $0.50 state charge. The Louisiana Vital Records Central Office is at 1450 Poydras Street, Suite 400, New Orleans, LA 70112. Mail-in orders go to Vital Records Registry, P.O. Box 60630, New Orleans, LA 70160. Historical birth records older than 100 years and death records older than 50 years can be searched through the Louisiana State Archives online vital records index.
Union Parish Probate Court Records
Probate matters in Union Parish — including successions, wills, tutorships, interdictions, and emancipations — are filed with the Clerk's Civil Department and heard in the Third Judicial District Court. Louisiana uses the term "succession" rather than "probate" when administering a deceased person's estate, but the process is initiated and tracked in the same civil division of the court.
Types of Probate Filings Handled:
- Successions (testate and intestate)
- Wills and testament filings
- Interdictions (legal capacity proceedings)
- Tutorships (guardianship for minors)
- Emancipations
- Adoptions (sealed; require court order for access)
- Judicial commitments
Probate Filing Fees:
| Filing Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Initial Filing – Incomplete Succession Suit | $425 |
| Initial Filing – Adoption | $500 |
| Each additional defendant (where applicable) | $150 |
Accessing Probate Records
The Clerk's online portal at www.upclerk.com provides 24/7 access to probate indices and document images through the eSearch subscription service. For in-person research, the Civil Department staff can help you locate succession files by decedent name and approximate date of death. Adoption case files are not public records and will only be released pursuant to a court order as required by Louisiana law.
Justice of the Peace Courts
Union Parish also has three Justice of the Peace courts that handle minor civil and limited criminal matters at the ward level. These courts don't have the same electronic records infrastructure as the District Court, so you'll need to contact the presiding justice directly for records inquiries.
| Court | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Justice of the Peace – Ward 1 | 960 North Spillway Road, Farmerville, LA 71241 | (318) 348-2097 |
| Justice of the Peace – Ward 2 | 814 Denton Road, Farmerville, LA 71241 | (318) 245-9446 |
| Justice of the Peace – Ward 3 | 694 Clellan Bryan Road, Spearsville, LA 71277 | (318) 778-4409 |
Two Mayor's Courts also operate within incorporated municipalities in Union Parish for ordinance violations and minor municipal matters:
| Court | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Bernice Mayor's Court | 403 East 4th Street, P.O. Box 633, Bernice, LA 71222 | (318) 285-9071 |
| Downsville Mayor's Court | P.O. Box 128, Downsville, LA 71234 | (318) 982-5344 |
The Third Judicial District Court website publishes annual court calendars for both Lincoln and Union Parishes, which are useful for identifying scheduled hearings in civil, criminal, and probate matters. The Union Parish Clerk of Court's downloadable forms library also provides standardized pleadings and applications for many of the filing types described in this guide.