Webster Parish, Louisiana Court Records
LouisianaCourts.us is not a consumer reporting agency as defined by the FCRA and does not provide consumer reports. All searches conducted on LouisianaCourts.us are subject to the Terms of Service and Privacy Notice.
Webster Parish sits in northwestern Louisiana, with Minden as its parish seat. Each year, thousands of civil, criminal, family, and probate cases pass through the parish court system — all generating records that attorneys, researchers, litigants, journalists, and private individuals routinely need to verify judicial outcomes, trace litigation histories, or get certified legal documents. Knowing which offices hold these records, what access options exist, and what fees apply will save you a lot of time and frustration.
If you're new to Louisiana court records, LouisianaCourts.us offers a useful overview of the state's court structure. In Webster Parish specifically, you can locate records through the Clerk of Court's office, the 26th Judicial District Court, public access terminals at the courthouse, and the Clerk's own online portals. The sections below walk through each record type and the specific channels you can use to find or request them.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Webster Parish?
Start with the Webster Parish Clerk of Court — the independently elected office that indexes and preserves all civil, criminal, probate, and property records filed in the parish. The office is located at the Webster Parish Courthouse in Minden and operates under La. Rev. Stat. 44:1 et seq., which sets the rules for maintaining and providing public access to official records.
Webster Parish Clerk of Court
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 410 Main Street, Minden, LA 71055 |
| Mailing | P.O. Box 370, Minden, LA 71055 |
| Phone | (318) 371-0366 |
| Fax | (318) 371-0222 |
| Hours | Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. |
| Clerk | Holli Vining |
Online search options:
- The Clerk maintains a dedicated records portal at search.websterclerk.org, where you can create a ClerkNet account and search civil case dockets, minutes, and recorded documents. New e-services subscriptions carry no monthly fee, and civil case e-filings can be submitted through the same platform.
- The statewide eClerks LA portal offers free searches of land records, marriage licenses, and civil case information across multiple Louisiana parishes, with paid subscriptions available for document viewing and printing.
- ClerkConnect is a multi-parish portal with subscription-based search and printing access for records filed in Louisiana Clerk of Court offices statewide.
- For recording property instruments, eRecording and eFiling are available through vendors linked on the Clerk's official website, which speeds up document entry into the public record.
In-person requests can be made at the Clerk's office during business hours. Bring the full names of the parties involved, the approximate date of filing, and a case number if you have one. Mail requests should go to the P.O. Box address above and include a written description of the record you're seeking, a self-addressed stamped envelope, and payment for applicable copy fees.
Are Court Records Public in Webster Parish?
Louisiana's Public Records Law, La. Rev. Stat. 44:1 et seq., sets a clear default: records held by public bodies — including court records maintained by the Clerk of Court — are presumptively open to inspection and copying by any person of the age of majority. Custodians must provide access without asking why you want the records.
That said, certain categories are withheld from public disclosure under specific statutes or court orders. The following types of records are commonly restricted in Webster Parish:
- Juvenile records — proceedings involving minors are confidential under Louisiana's Children's Code
- Adoption records — sealed under Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure Art. 1186; access requires a court order
- Grand jury proceedings — transcripts and related materials are confidential under Louisiana law
- Expunged and sealed criminal records — removed from public view under La. Rev. Stat. 44:9, with total expungement costs capped at $550 under Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure Art. 983
- Gestational surrogacy records — restricted by statute
- Mental health and medical records — protected from judicial disclosure
- Domestic violence victim information — identifying details of victims are redacted or withheld
- Sexual assault and child abuse victim records — confidential by statute
- Financial identifiers — Social Security numbers, account numbers, and similar personal identifiers are redacted under La. Rev. Stat. 44:11
- Unexecuted arrest and search warrants — withheld until executed or the investigative purpose is resolved
- Law enforcement investigatory records — exempt under La. Rev. Stat. 44:3 while an investigation is active
Anything not covered by an exemption is generally accessible to the public. Standard copy fees at the Clerk's office are $1.00 per page for regular copies, with an additional certification fee for certified copies. For recorded property instruments, copies run approximately $1.50 per page, with a conformed copy fee of $5.00 and a certified copy fee of $10.00 per document.
Webster Parish Criminal Court Records
All criminal matters originating in Webster Parish — from misdemeanors to felonies — fall under the original jurisdiction of the 26th Judicial District Court, which sits at the Webster Parish Courthouse in Minden. Six elected judges (Divisions A through F) share general criminal assignments. Appeals from criminal convictions go to the Louisiana Second Circuit Court of Appeal in Shreveport.
26th Judicial District Court — Webster Parish Division
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Physical Address | 410 Main Street, Minden, LA 71055 |
| Mailing Address | P.O. Box 370, Minden, LA 71055 |
| Judges' Office | (318) 371-1311 |
| Office Fax | (318) 377-0389 |
| Clerk of Court | (318) 371-0366 |
| Hours | Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. |
Criminal case dockets and filings are indexed by the Clerk of Court. The Clerk's ClerkNet portal lets anyone search criminal case information online. If you need certified copies of indictments, judgments, or other criminal filings, request them in person or by mail at the Clerk's office.
For arrest records and current inmate information, the Webster Parish Sheriff's Office maintains custody of individuals booked into the Bayou Dorcheat Correctional Center. The jail's current inmate roster is available through the Sheriff's corrections division:
Bayou Dorcheat Correctional Center
1455 Bravo Blvd., Minden, LA 71055
Phone: (318) 371-9199
If you need a statewide criminal history record, submit a request to the Louisiana State Police Bureau of Criminal Identification and Information (BCII). Under La. Rev. Stat. 15:588, individuals have the right to obtain a certified copy of their own criminal history through a Right to Review request. Background checks for employment or licensing purposes are processed separately through the Louisiana State Police Internet Background Check system.
To pursue an expungement, you must file a petition with the Clerk of Court in the parish where the arrest or conviction occurred. Under Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure Art. 983, the total cost of a court-ordered expungement cannot exceed $550, payable by U.S. postal money order.
Minden City Court also handles certain criminal matters within city limits, including traffic violations and municipal ordinance violations — offenses not punishable at hard labor.
Minden City Court
P.O. Box 968, Minden, LA 71058-0968
Phone: (318) 377-4308 or (318) 377-4390
Judge: Sherb Sentell III
Clerk/Administrator: Tammy Frye
Springhill City Court covers similar jurisdiction for the northern portion of the parish:
Springhill City Court
101 Machen Drive, P.O. Box 86, Springhill, LA 71075
Phone: (318) 539-4213
Fax: (318) 539-2605
Clerk: Renee Darst
Email: springhillcitycourt@hotmail.com
Webster Parish Civil Court Records
Civil litigation in Webster Parish — contract disputes, property conflicts, personal injury claims, unlawful detainer actions — is filed with the 26th Judicial District Court. The Clerk of Court maintains all civil dockets, pleadings, and judgments, which are searchable through the ClerkNet online portal or in person at the Clerk's office.
For smaller monetary disputes, both Minden City Court and Springhill City Court offer a more accessible alternative to district court. Minden City Court accepts civil damage suits, eviction proceedings, money claims, and suits on notes or accounts up to $35,000. If your claim exceeds $5,000 in Minden City Court, you'll need a licensed attorney. The court meets in regular session twice weekly, with additional special sessions at the judge's discretion.
Real property records — deeds, mortgages, conveyances, liens, and UCC filings — are recorded with the Webster Parish Clerk of Court's conveyance and mortgage divisions. Search these instruments online through the eClerks LA statewide portal at no cost for basic index results, with fees applying for document image downloads. The Clerk's office also accepts UCC-1 financing statement filings; details on that process are at websterclerk.org/ucc-filing.
Property records copy fees run approximately $1.50 per page for standard copies, $5.00 for conformed copies, and $10.00 per document for certified copies, plus per-page charges.
Keep in mind that all communications about pending civil matters must be submitted as a written motion filed with the Clerk of Court, with appropriate notice to opposing counsel — the court does not accept ex parte oral communications about pending cases.
Webster Parish Family Court Records
Family law proceedings in Webster Parish — divorce, legal separation, child custody, child support, and domestic violence protective orders — go through the 26th Judicial District Court. The Webster Parish Clerk of Court at 410 Main Street, Minden, files and maintains all case records.
Marriage records are issued and preserved by the Clerk of Court. Both applicants must appear in person at the Clerk's office with valid government-issued identification to apply for a marriage license. Full requirements are detailed at websterclerk.org/marriage-license. Certified copies of marriage records are available from the Clerk's office at the standard rate ($1.00 per page, plus a per-document certification fee).
Divorce records — certified copies of divorce decrees granted in Webster Parish — are maintained by the Clerk of Court. When requesting a copy, provide the names of both parties and the approximate date of the decree.
Birth and death records are handled by the Louisiana Department of Health's Center for Vital Records. Under La. Rev. Stat. 40:41 et seq., birth records stay confidential for 100 years and death records for 50 years from the date of the event. After those periods, the records become publicly accessible. During the confidentiality window, only the person named on the record, immediate family members, and authorized legal representatives can request certified copies. The Webster Parish Clerk of Court is listed as an authorized local partner location for vital records requests.
Current fees for certified vital records copies are:
- Birth certificate: approximately $34.00 per copy
- Death certificate: approximately $26.00 per copy
Mail requests should go to:
Louisiana Vital Records Registry
P.O. Box 60630
New Orleans, LA 70160
Adoption records are sealed by operation of law under Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure Art. 1186 and are not open for public inspection. Accessing them requires a written court order. Adoptees born in Louisiana may have additional rights under amendments effective August 1, 2022, allowing eligible individuals to request original birth certificates through the Louisiana Department of Health.
Juvenile proceedings — including delinquency adjudications and child in need of care matters — are confidential under the Louisiana Children's Code. These records are not accessible through the standard public records process and require specific judicial authorization for any disclosure.
Webster Parish Probate Court Records
Succession (probate) matters in Webster Parish are handled through the 26th Judicial District Court and recorded by the Webster Parish Clerk of Court. The Clerk has maintained marriage, divorce, probate, court, and land records dating back to 1871, making the office an invaluable resource for both current probate filings and historical genealogical research.
Probate proceedings handled by the 26th JDC include:
- Intestate succession (estates without a will)
- Testate succession (estates with a will)
- Muniment of title and small succession affidavits
- Interdictions (Louisiana's equivalent of guardianship and conservatorship for incapacitated adults)
- Tutorships for minors
- Trust administration matters requiring court oversight
- Heirship determinations and judgment of possession proceedings
Probate case records are indexed by the Clerk and searchable through the ClerkNet portal by party name or case number. For older successions filed before electronic indexing, in-person research at the Clerk's office is your most reliable option. The statewide eClerks LA portal also offers free index searches for probate records across participating parishes, with paid subscriptions for document access.
To request certified copies of succession judgments, inventories, testaments, or judgments of possession, contact the Clerk of Court directly:
Webster Parish Clerk of Court
410 Main Street (Physical)
P.O. Box 370 (Mailing)
Minden, LA 71055
Phone: (318) 371-0366
Fax: (318) 371-0222
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Copy fees follow the standard schedule: $1.00 per page for regular copies, with a per-document certification fee for certified copies. When you submit your request, include the decedent's full name, the approximate date of death or filing, and a case number if you have one. Note that certain exhibits filed under seal by court order — which may include sensitive financial documents — can be withheld even when the broader case file is otherwise publicly accessible.