Find St. Landry Parish Public Records

St. Landry Parish public records are kept by the Clerk of Court in Opelousas and cover civil and criminal court filings, land conveyances, mortgage records, and marriage licenses for one of the larger parishes in south-central Louisiana. Under La. R.S. 44:1 and Louisiana Constitution Article XII, Section 3, any person has the right to access and copy records held by the clerk's office, and this page explains how to search and request those records.

St. Landry Parish Clerk of Court

The Clerk of Court is the official custodian of public records for St. Landry Parish. The office is at the St. Landry Parish Courthouse, 118 South Court Street, Opelousas, LA 70570. Phone: (337) 948-3788. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, and the office is closed on legal holidays. Staff handle civil and criminal court records, land conveyances and mortgages, and marriage licenses for the parish.

The 27th Judicial District covers St. Landry Parish only. This single-parish district means all civil and criminal cases originating in St. Landry go through district court in Opelousas, and the clerk there maintains the official record of each proceeding. The clerk's office also records all real estate transactions in the parish, making it the essential stop for property research as well as court record searches.

St. Landry is one of the larger parishes in Louisiana by area, and its records go back well into the 19th century. The conveyance and mortgage indexes are extensive. If you need older records, be prepared for the possibility that some materials are in bound ledger form rather than digital databases. Calling the office before visiting can help you plan your research and confirm what format the records you need are in.

Mail requests are accepted at 118 South Court Street. Include the names of the parties, approximate dates, and the type of record you need, along with any known case or instrument numbers. The clerk must respond within three business days under Louisiana law.

Online Access to St. Landry Parish Records

The Louisiana Clerks' Remote Access Authority operates the statewide clerks portal at laclerksportal.org. This free tool lets you search civil, criminal, and property record indexes for St. Landry Parish and all other Louisiana parishes by name, case number, or filing date. Basic index searches do not require an account. This is the main online starting point for St. Landry Parish public records research.

The ClerkConnect subscription service provides broader document access for users who regularly need Louisiana clerk records. eClerks LA is another platform that offers online access to certain clerk documents from parishes across the state. Between these three tools, most routine searches for St. Landry Parish public records can be handled remotely without a trip to the Opelousas courthouse. For certified copies, older records, or complex searches, an in-person visit or a mail request may still be needed.

Note: Online indexes may lag new filings by several business days. For the most recent filings, contact the clerk's office directly at (337) 948-3788.

Court Records in the 27th Judicial District

The 27th Judicial District handles all civil and criminal cases filed in St. Landry Parish. Civil records include property disputes, contract claims, divorce and custody matters, succession proceedings, and other civil suits. Criminal records include both felony and misdemeanor cases charged in this parish. All of these filings are public under La. R.S. 44:1, with limited exceptions for juvenile proceedings, sealed records, and other statutorily exempt materials.

Each case file at the clerk's office contains the original petition or charging documents, all motions and responses, minute entries from each court proceeding, and the final judgment or disposition. You can search by name or case number at the LCRAA portal online or in person at the clerk's office in Opelousas. Staff can help you locate the right index if you are not sure where to start. For complex or historical case research, an in-person visit often produces faster results than a mail request.

Property and Land Records

All real property transactions in St. Landry Parish must be recorded with the Clerk of Court to be legally effective against third parties. The conveyance index tracks the ownership chain for every parcel in the parish. Mortgage records document all liens and encumbrances. These records are open to the public and searchable at the clerk's office or through the LCRAA statewide portal.

St. Landry Parish has an extensive history of land transactions, including old Spanish and French land grants from before statehood. Some of the oldest records in the conveyance index go back many decades and may only exist in bound ledger form. If you are doing a title search that goes back more than a few decades, an in-person visit to the Opelousas courthouse is the most reliable approach. For recent transactions and current ownership research, the LCRAA portal is a good starting point.

For property assessment data or address-based property lookups, contact the St. Landry Parish Assessor's Office. The assessor maintains records independently of the clerk and can identify parcels by address, which helps narrow a conveyance index search.

Marriage Licenses and Vital Records

Marriage licenses issued in St. Landry Parish are recorded and kept by the Clerk of Court in Opelousas. Copies of marriage licenses and recorded certificates can be obtained by visiting the clerk's office or submitting a written request by mail. Provide both parties' names and the approximate year of the marriage. Birth and death certificates are handled by the Louisiana Department of Health at the state level. The parish clerk does not issue those documents.

Note: Military discharge records filed with the clerk after July 1, 2000 are not available as public records under La. R.S. 44:20, even if they are on file at the Opelousas courthouse.

Statewide Resources

Several state agencies maintain records that are relevant to St. Landry Parish research. The Louisiana Secretary of State at sos.la.gov handles business filings, elections, notary records, and the state archives. Business entities can be searched through GeauxBiz. The Louisiana State Archives at sos.la.gov/historicalresources/ hold older historical materials from across the state.

Louisiana's public records law is anchored in La. R.S. 44:1, which broadly defines public records to include writings, documents, photographs, and electronic data held by any public body. Article XII, Section 3 of the Louisiana Constitution reinforces this with a constitutional guarantee of access for every person. Agencies must respond to requests within three business days. Exemptions under La. R.S. 44:4 cover items like active investigative files, juvenile records, and certain health data, but the default rule is that records are open.

Nearby Parishes

St. Landry Parish borders several other south-central Louisiana parishes, each with its own Clerk of Court and independent public records system.