Search Terrebonne Parish Public Records
Terrebonne Parish public records are maintained by the Clerk of Court in Houma and include civil court filings, criminal cases, property conveyance and mortgage documents, and marriage licenses for this south Louisiana coastal parish. Under La. R.S. 44:1 and Louisiana Constitution Article XII, Section 3, any person has the right to inspect and copy records held by the clerk's office, with most records available online through the LCRAA portal or directly at the Houma courthouse.
Terrebonne Parish Quick Facts
Terrebonne Parish Clerk of Court
The Terrebonne Parish Clerk of Court is the main custodian of public records for this parish. The office is at the Terrebonne Parish Courthouse, 7856 Main Street, Houma, LA 70360. The main phone number is (985) 868-5660. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, excluding legal holidays. The clerk also maintains an official website at tpclerks.com, which provides information on services, record types, and how to contact each department.
The 32nd Judicial District covers Terrebonne Parish only. That means all civil and criminal court cases originating in Terrebonne Parish are filed with this clerk's office in Houma. The clerk's office processes civil suits, criminal filings, land transfers, mortgage recordings, and marriage licenses. With a parish population around 111,000, the volume of filings is substantial.
The clerk's website at tpclerks.com is a useful first stop. It outlines the different departments within the office and what each one handles. If you need help figuring out which department holds a specific record type, start there or call the main line at (985) 868-5660.
The Terrebonne Parish Clerk of Court website at tpclerks.com explains available services, record categories, and contact details for each department in the Houma courthouse.
Checking the clerk's website before visiting can save time by identifying the right department for your records request.
Online Public Records Access
Terrebonne Parish public records are searchable online through the Louisiana Clerks of Court statewide portal (LCRAA) at laclerksportal.org. This free index covers civil filings, criminal records, and land documents from the Terrebonne Parish clerk's office. Searching by party name, case number, or filing date does not require a trip to Houma. Index data is generally free; document copies may have a fee.
The ClerkConnect subscription service offers a deeper level of online access, including the ability to view and download documents from Terrebonne Parish court and property records. The eClerks LA platform is another option for accessing certain online documents from this parish. Between these platforms and the LCRAA portal, many routine searches can be completed without an in-person visit to the courthouse on Main Street.
Note: Newly filed records can take a few days to appear in online systems. If you need the most current filings, call the clerk's office at (985) 868-5660 to confirm availability.
Court Records and Case Files
Court records are frequently requested public records in Terrebonne Parish. Civil cases handled in the 32nd JDC include property disputes, contract matters, divorce and custody proceedings, and succession filings. Criminal case files cover felony and misdemeanor charges filed in Terrebonne Parish. Each case file includes the original charging document or petition, all pleadings, court minutes, and the final judgment or disposition.
These records are public under La. R.S. 44:1. Exemptions under La. R.S. 44:4 apply to juvenile proceedings, certain protective order cases, and sealed matters. Outside those categories, the default is public access. Anyone can request court records from the Terrebonne Parish clerk's office by visiting in person, calling, or submitting a written mail request.
Records for cases filed in the city of Houma are part of the Terrebonne Parish court system and are held at the same courthouse on Main Street. There is no separate city-level clerk's office for Houma.
Property and Conveyance Records
Every real estate transfer in Terrebonne Parish must be recorded with the clerk of court to be legally valid. The conveyance records here track the chain of title for every parcel in the parish. Mortgage documents show liens and encumbrances. Both are public and searchable at the clerk's office or online through the LCRAA portal.
Terrebonne Parish includes a large amount of coastal and wetland property, making land records especially important for environmental, legal, and title research. Property sales, mineral rights transfers, and servitudes all generate filings with the clerk. Conveyance records can be searched by owner name or grantee name at the courthouse or through online portals.
Certified copies of property documents cost $1 per page plus a certification charge. For exact current fees, contact the clerk's office at (985) 868-5660 or check tpclerks.com. For older historical records not yet indexed online, an in-person visit or mail request may be required.
Marriage and Vital Records
Marriage licenses for Terrebonne Parish are issued and recorded by the clerk of court. If a marriage took place in Terrebonne Parish, the license and recorded certificate are held at 7856 Main Street, Houma. Copies can be requested in person during business hours or submitted by mail.
Birth and death records are held at the state level by the Louisiana Department of Health. For historical vital records, the Louisiana Secretary of State maintains an online index covering older documents from all Louisiana parishes. This is the best resource for genealogy research connected to Terrebonne Parish families predating modern state health department records.
The Louisiana Secretary of State's vital records index at sos.la.gov provides free online access to historical vital records from Terrebonne Parish and across the state.
Use this index to locate older birth, death, and marriage records before contacting the parish clerk's office.
Note: Certified copies of recent birth and death records must be requested from the Louisiana Department of Health, not the parish clerk's office in Houma.
Statewide Public Records Resources
Several statewide platforms support public records research beyond the Terrebonne Parish clerk's office. The LCRAA statewide portal is free and covers all 64 parishes. The Louisiana Secretary of State handles business records, notary commissions, elections, and archives. Business registration records are searchable through GeauxBiz. The State Archives hold older court, property, and vital records.
Louisiana's open records law is broad. La. R.S. 44:1 defines public records to include any writing, photograph, or other documentation made or received in connection with public business. Agencies must respond promptly. Exemptions under La. R.S. 44:4 exist but are specific; most records held by the Terrebonne Parish clerk are available on request. The Louisiana Constitution Article XII, Section 3 makes public access a constitutional right, not just a statutory one.
Nearby Parishes
Terrebonne Parish borders several other Louisiana parishes, each with its own Clerk of Court and records system.