Louisiana Public Records
Louisiana public records are open documents kept by state agencies, parish clerks of court, and local offices across all 64 parishes. Any person can request to inspect or copy records held by a public body in this state. The Louisiana Secretary of State serves as the state's chief custodian, while parish clerks hold local court, land, and vital records. You can search these records online through free state portals, by mail, or in person at courthouses and offices throughout Louisiana.
Louisiana Public Records Quick Facts
Louisiana Public Records Law
The right to see public records in Louisiana comes from the state constitution itself. Louisiana Constitution Article XII, Section 3 states: "No person shall be denied the right to observe the deliberations of public bodies and examine public documents, except in cases established by law." That language puts the right at the highest level of state law. No agency can simply refuse your request without pointing to a specific legal exemption.
The primary statute is La. R.S. 44:1 et seq., known as the Louisiana Public Records Law. Under this law, a public record includes "all books, records, writings, accounts, letters and letter books, maps, drawings, photographs, cards, tapes, recordings, memoranda, and papers, regardless of physical form or characteristics, having been used, being in use, or prepared, possessed or retained for use in the conduct of any business performed by or under the authority of the constitution or laws of this state." That definition is wide. It covers court filings, land records, meeting minutes, agency reports, government contracts, and much more.
Any person 18 years or older can make a public records request. You do not have to say why you want the record. The custodian cannot ask. The law says a custodian has three working days to respond. If they deny your request, the burden falls on them to prove the record is legally exempt. Inspection is free. Copies may carry a fee, but only up to the actual cost of making them.
The Secretary of State's public records request page lists the custodian's contact information and explains how to submit a formal request to the state office.
Some records are exempt under La. R.S. 44:4 et seq. Tax returns, certain health records under R.S. 44:7, coroner records under R.S. 44:19, attorney-client privileged communications, and juvenile records are not open to general requests. Military discharge certificates filed after July 1, 2000 are also exempt under R.S. 44:20. When in doubt, file your request. If the record is exempt, the custodian must explain the reason in writing.
Note: The duty to separate public from non-public records rests with the custodian, not the person making the request.
How to Find Louisiana Public Records
There are several ways to access public records in Louisiana. Online searches are the fastest for most people. State-run portals and parish clerk websites let you search from home. In-person visits to a courthouse or agency office work well when you need the full file or want certified copies the same day. Mail requests take more time but are a solid option when traveling to an office is not practical.
The best free starting point for court and land records is the Louisiana Clerks Statewide Portal, run by the Louisiana Clerks Remote Access Authority (LCRAA). This system was launched in 2014 as a joint effort of the Louisiana Clerks of Court Association. It lets you search mortgage and conveyance records, civil court records, criminal court records, and marriage license data across all 64 parishes in a single search. The index search is free and open to the public with a free account. If you need to view actual document images, you will be directed to the individual parish clerk's site, where fees may apply.
For mail requests, write to the specific agency or parish clerk that holds the record. Include the names of the parties involved, relevant dates, a case number if you have one, and the type of record you need. Send payment for any copy fees and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Response times vary by office volume and how specific your request is.
Note: The statewide LCRAA portal shows index data only. To get images or certified copies, contact the clerk in the parish where the record was created.
Louisiana Secretary of State Records
Nancy Landry serves as the Louisiana Secretary of State and leads the office designated as the official state custodian of public records. The office is at Post Office Box 94125, Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9125. You can call (225) 922-2880 or fax (225) 922-2003. This office manages several divisions, each responsible for a different category of records.
The Commercial Division registers corporations, LLCs, partnerships, and other business entities doing business in Louisiana. It also records UCC lien filings. The GeauxBiz portal is the free online tool for searching business entity records. You can look up any registered entity by name, registered agent, or filing number. The search is free. Results show the entity type, status, filing date, and registered agent name and address. These are all public records under La. R.S. 44:1.
The Secretary of State's main website links to all office divisions, including the Notaries Division, Elections Division, and Commissions Division. Those divisions track notary licenses, voter registration data, election filings, and apostille requests. The Publications Division publishes state laws and administrative code, which are themselves public records.
GeauxBiz results are printable. That printout is often accepted as proof of business registration in Louisiana.
Louisiana State Archives and Vital Records
The Louisiana State Archives is the official repository for historical state records. It operates under the Secretary of State's office in Baton Rouge. Researchers visit and use it to find old state agency records, early land grants, legislative documents, and vital record data going back to the early 1800s. The archives is open to the public for research.
The Vital Records Registry of the Louisiana Department of Health manages birth, death, fetal death, and Orleans Parish marriage records. Their online vital records index is searchable by name and date range. Results show the name, event date, parish, and certificate number. Birth records are confidential for 100 years from the date of birth. Death records are restricted for 50 years. Statewide birth registration was required by law starting in 1918. Orleans Parish records prior to 1911 are stored separately at the Archives.
Certified copies of vital records cost money. Birth certificates run $34 at the parish level. Death certificates run $26. The Orleans Parish Health Department is located at 1450 Poydras Street, Suite 400, New Orleans, LA 70112. The Jefferson Parish Health Unit is at 1855 Ames Boulevard, Marrero, LA 70072. You can also call the Vital Records line at (504) 593-5100 for Orleans or 877-605-8562 statewide through VitalChek.
Note: Louisiana is a closed record state for death records. They are not public records until 50 years after the date of the event.
Criminal Records in Louisiana
The Louisiana State Police Bureau of Criminal Identification and Information manages statewide criminal records. Their office is at 7919 Independence Blvd, Baton Rouge, LA 70806. Mailing address: P.O. Box 66614, Mail Slip A-6, Baton Rouge, LA 70896. Phone: (225) 925-6095. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM.
The Louisiana Computerized Criminal History (LACCH) database contains arrest records, disposition data, and incarceration information for individuals with criminal history in the state. As stated in La. Revised Statute 15:588, an individual can obtain a certified copy of their own personal criminal history record. The Internet Background Check (IBC) system allows registered businesses to search criminal records online. The fee is $26 per search plus a $5 technology fee. Individuals who want to review their own record pay $26 for processing and $10 for fingerprinting.
Public access to this database is limited to conviction information only. Authorized agencies such as law enforcement get full access to arrest records, dispositions, and other details. If you are looking up someone else, you will only see conviction data through the standard public channel.
Public Records Portals and Online Search Tools
Louisiana has built several online systems to make public records easier to find. Each one serves a different purpose.
eClerks LA serves all 64 parishes and offers eRecording, eFiling, and a free service called eClerks Alert. That alert monitors land and criminal records across all parishes and sends you an email when a document is filed using your name. It is a useful tool for catching fraud. Basic index searches are free. Premium access to full document images requires a subscription through this portal. Marriage applications can be started online, though in-person appearance at the clerk's office is still required to complete the license. Marriage applications submitted online are valid for 10 days from submission.
Clerk Connect offers paid access to civil suits, criminal cases, property records, e-filing, and court calendars for its member parishes. Participating parishes include Allen, Bossier, Caddo, Claiborne, East Baton Rouge, Jackson, Lafourche, Lincoln, Natchitoches, and Richland. Subscription pricing starts at $20 for a 24-hour pass. A 30-day pass runs $65 to $100. Annual access is $600 to $1,200. Per-page printing costs $0.25 to $2.00. Court calendar searches are free without a subscription. You can view, print, and download documents through the portal.
The Louisiana Supreme Court keeps opinions, docket information, and case filings online. Search by docket number, party name, attorney name, or lower court. The clerk's office handles case filings and can be reached at (504) 310-2300 or through the Supreme Court Clerk's Office page. Case records are public and include status updates, briefs, hearing dates, and final opinions.
Parish Clerk of Court Public Records
Every Louisiana parish has a Clerk of Court who serves as the official custodian of local public records. The Clerk stores court case files for civil and criminal matters, land records including deeds and mortgages, marriage licenses, UCC filings, probate and succession records, and various other legal documents filed in that parish. The Clerk is both a court officer and a recorder of documents, which makes this office the most important local stop for most public records requests.
You can ask for records in person, by mail, or through the clerk's online portal if one exists. Most offices are open Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Plain copy fees are typically $1 per page at most parish clerk offices. Certified copies cost more. The typical range is $5 to $10 per certified document, but fees vary by parish. Some parishes charge a flat search fee on top of copy costs. For example, criminal and civil record searches can run $20 in some parishes. Subscriptions for online access to document images range from $20 per day to $1,200 per year depending on the parish and platform used.
Vital records at the parish level include birth and death certificates. Birth certificate fees are $34 at clerks that handle them directly. Death certificates cost $26. Marriage license fees run $27.50 to $40 depending on the parish. All of these fees are set by state law and local fee schedules.
Browse Louisiana Public Records by Parish
Each of Louisiana's 64 parishes has its own Clerk of Court. Select a parish below to find local office details, search portals, and contact information for public records in that area.
Public Records in Major Louisiana Cities
Residents in Louisiana's largest cities access public records through their parish Clerk of Court. Select a city below to find local resources and contact details for that area.