Washington Parish Public Records
Washington Parish public records are kept by the Clerk of Court in Franklinton and include civil court filings, criminal cases, land conveyance and mortgage records, and marriage licenses for this southeast Louisiana parish near the Mississippi state line. 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 in Franklinton, with many records available online through the LCRAA statewide portal.
Washington Parish Quick Facts
Washington Parish Clerk of Court
The Washington Parish Clerk of Court is the official custodian of public records for this parish. The office is located at the Washington Parish Courthouse, 908 Washington Street, Franklinton, LA 70438. The main phone number is (985) 839-4663. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, except on legal holidays. Written mail requests should be sent to the same address.
The 22nd Judicial District covers St. Tammany and Washington parishes together. Civil and criminal cases originating in Washington Parish are filed in this district court, with the Washington Parish clerk in Franklinton maintaining those records. The clerk handles civil suits, criminal case files, land conveyance and mortgage documents, and marriage licenses. Washington Parish has a population of about 47,000, and the clerk's office processes filings from across the parish on a regular basis.
Calling ahead to (985) 839-4663 before visiting is recommended, especially for older records or specialized document types. Staff can direct you to the right department and confirm whether the records you need are available and in what form. This is a practical step that can save a trip if the documents require advance preparation.
Note: Mail requests for Washington Parish public records should include a description of the records you need, your contact information, and payment for estimated copy fees at $1 per page.
Online Access to Washington Parish Records
The Louisiana Clerks of Court statewide portal (LCRAA) at laclerksportal.org provides free online index access to Washington Parish public records. This system covers civil filings, criminal case records, and land documents from the clerk's office in Franklinton. You can search by party name, case number, or date range without making the trip to Washington Parish. Index data is free; copies of documents may carry a fee.
The statewide clerks portal at laclerksportal.org gives free index access to Washington Parish public records alongside records from all 64 Louisiana parishes.
Searching the portal first can confirm whether a filing exists before you call or visit the clerk's office in Franklinton.
The eClerks LA platform is another online resource that provides access to certain documents from Washington Parish and other Louisiana clerks' offices. The ClerkConnect subscription service offers deeper online access, including the ability to view and download specific court and property documents. Many routine searches can be completed through these platforms without visiting the Franklinton courthouse in person.
Court Records in Washington Parish
Civil and criminal court records for Washington Parish are maintained by the clerk of court in Franklinton. Civil matters include property disputes, contract cases, family law proceedings such as divorce and child custody, and succession filings. Criminal records cover charges filed in the 22nd JDC for offenses arising in Washington Parish.
Each case file includes the original petition or charging document, all pleadings and motions, court minutes, and the final judgment or disposition. These records are open to the public under La. R.S. 44:1. Exemptions under La. R.S. 44:4 apply to juvenile matters and sealed files. The default in Louisiana is public access, and most court records can be reviewed by anyone who asks.
To search or request court records, use the LCRAA portal, call (985) 839-4663, or visit 908 Washington Street in Franklinton during business hours. Providing party names and approximate dates of filing helps the staff locate records quickly and accurately.
Property and Conveyance Records
Real estate transfers in Washington Parish must be recorded with the clerk of court to be legally effective. The conveyance index tracks the chain of title for every parcel in the parish. Mortgage records document liens and encumbrances on property. Both record types are public and searchable at the clerk's office or through the LCRAA portal online.
Washington Parish includes timber land, rural parcels, and residential properties in and around Franklinton. Property sales, timber rights, and rural land transfers all generate filings with the clerk. If you are researching property ownership, conducting a title search, or looking into a boundary matter, the conveyance and mortgage indexes are the right starting point. Searches are typically done by owner name or grantee name.
Certified copies of property documents are $1 per page plus a certification fee. For older records not yet indexed online, an in-person visit or mail request to 908 Washington Street, Franklinton, LA 70438 is required. Confirm current fees by calling the clerk's office before visiting.
Marriage and Vital Records
The Washington Parish Clerk of Court issues and records marriage licenses for the parish. If a marriage took place in Washington Parish, the license and recorded certificate are on file at the Franklinton courthouse. Copies can be requested in person during business hours or submitted by mail to 908 Washington Street.
Birth and death records are maintained 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 64 Louisiana parishes.
The Louisiana Secretary of State's historical records page at sos.la.gov/historicalresources/ includes older vital and court records from Washington Parish and across the state.
This is a useful resource for genealogy research involving Washington Parish families, especially for records from earlier decades.
Note: Certified copies of recent birth or death records must be requested from the Louisiana Department of Health rather than the parish clerk's office in Franklinton.
Statewide Public Records Resources
Beyond the Washington Parish clerk's office, several Louisiana agencies maintain useful public records. The Louisiana Secretary of State handles business filings, notary records, elections, and archives at sos.la.gov. Business registrations are searchable through GeauxBiz. For a statewide criminal history background check, La. R.S. 15:588 authorizes the Louisiana Bureau of Criminal Identification and Information to release background check records through the Louisiana State Police.
Louisiana's open records law is grounded in La. R.S. 44:1 and Louisiana Constitution Article XII, Section 3. Agencies must respond promptly to records requests. Exemptions under La. R.S. 44:4 cover specific categories including juvenile records, health records, and tax returns, but the general rule is public access. These principles apply to the Washington Parish clerk's office in Franklinton just as they do to any other public body in Louisiana.
Nearby Parishes
Washington Parish borders several Louisiana parishes, each with its own Clerk of Court and public records system.