LaPlace Public Records

LaPlace public records are maintained by the St. John the Baptist Parish Clerk of Court, which keeps all civil, criminal, property, and marriage records for this large unincorporated community and the rest of the parish. LaPlace is the largest community in St. John the Baptist Parish, but it has no city government, so the parish clerk is the primary custodian for all public records. Louisiana's public records law under La. R.S. 44:1 and Louisiana Constitution Article XII, Section 3 gives any person the right to inspect and copy these documents. This page covers how to find LaPlace public records in person and online.

St. John the Baptist Parish Clerk: Where LaPlace Records Are Filed

LaPlace is the biggest community in St. John the Baptist Parish, but it is not the parish seat. The St. John the Baptist Parish Clerk of Court is located in Edgard, at 2393 Highway 18, Edgard, LA 70049. Phone is (985) 497-3331. Edgard sits on the west bank of the Mississippi River, while LaPlace is on the east bank. LaPlace residents who need to visit the clerk's office in person must make the trip to Edgard.

The 40th Judicial District Court covers St. John the Baptist Parish. All district court cases originating in LaPlace, whether civil or criminal, are filed with the clerk in Edgard. Property conveyances, mortgage filings, and marriage licenses are also all held there.

Because many LaPlace residents find the drive to Edgard inconvenient, online access to records is especially practical here. The tools described below let you search most record types without leaving LaPlace.

Note: LaPlace has no city hall or city clerk of its own. All official public records for LaPlace addresses and residents are maintained by St. John the Baptist Parish government offices, with court and property records held specifically by the clerk in Edgard.

Online Access to LaPlace Public Records

The Louisiana Clerks of Court statewide portal at laclerksportal.org provides a free public index of St. John the Baptist Parish filings, including records tied to LaPlace. You can search by name, case number, or document type without creating an account. Index-level results are free, and copies of documents may carry a fee. This is the best no-cost starting point for most LaPlace record searches.

ClerkConnect at clerkconnect.com offers subscription-based access with more detailed document content than the free index. Professionals who frequently search St. John the Baptist Parish records use this service. The eClerks platform at eclerksla.com is another option covering Louisiana clerk records statewide, including this parish.

Court Records and Case Files

Civil court records from LaPlace cover lawsuits, divorce and custody proceedings, succession matters, and property disputes filed in the 40th Judicial District. All of these cases are maintained by the clerk in Edgard. To search them, use the LCRAA portal, call the clerk at (985) 497-3331, or visit the courthouse at 2393 Highway 18 in Edgard.

Criminal court records for LaPlace-area defendants are also held in Edgard. These include all felony and misdemeanor cases filed in St. John the Baptist Parish. The complete file for each case, including charging documents, motions, court minutes, and final judgments, is public under La. R.S. 44:1. Juvenile cases are not public under La. R.S. 44:4, and certain sealed matters are restricted.

When contacting the clerk's office, have as much identifying information as possible: party names, approximate filing dates, and any case numbers you already know. This makes the search faster whether you are calling or visiting in person.

Property Records: Conveyances and Mortgages

Every real estate transaction in St. John the Baptist Parish, including LaPlace, must be recorded with the clerk in Edgard to have legal effect against third parties. The conveyance index traces the ownership history of every parcel. The mortgage index records all liens and security interests. Both are open to the public and searchable through the LCRAA portal and ClerkConnect.

LaPlace's location between New Orleans and Baton Rouge along the River Road corridor has made it a busy area for real estate activity. Whether you are performing a title search, researching a property dispute, or checking for liens before a purchase, the Edgard courthouse holds the records you need. Certified copies require an in-person visit or a written request to the clerk's office.

Vital Records and Marriage in St. John the Baptist Parish

Marriage licenses for St. John the Baptist Parish are recorded by the clerk of court in Edgard. If you were married in this parish, the license is on file there. Certified copies of marriage records can be requested in person or by mail.

Birth and death certificates are not handled by the parish clerk. These records are issued by the Louisiana Department of Health and are held at the state level. For certified copies of recent vital records, contact the Department of Health. For historical vital records, the Louisiana Secretary of State provides a free online index.

Statewide Public Records Tools

The Louisiana Secretary of State at sos.la.gov holds state-level public records including business entity filings and notary commissions. If you need to look up a business with a LaPlace address, the Secretary of State's search portal is the place to start. The state archives hold older historical documents from across Louisiana.

The eClerks platform at eclerksla.com and the LCRAA portal at laclerksportal.org together cover most parish-level records across all 64 Louisiana parishes. Louisiana's public records law gives every person broad access rights under La. R.S. 44:1, and state agencies must respond to requests within three business days. Most records are open; exemptions under La. R.S. 44:4 cover juvenile matters, health records, and limited other categories.

Nearby Qualifying Cities

LaPlace sits between New Orleans and Baton Rouge. Several nearby cities have public records pages.