West Feliciana Parish Public Records
West Feliciana Parish public records are kept by the Clerk of Court in St. Francisville and include civil court filings, criminal cases, land conveyance and mortgage documents, and marriage licenses for this small rural parish along the Mississippi River north of Baton Rouge. 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 St. Francisville, with many records accessible online through the LCRAA statewide portal.
West Feliciana Parish Quick Facts
West Feliciana Parish Clerk of Court
The West Feliciana Parish Clerk of Court is the primary keeper of public records for this parish. The office is located at the West Feliciana Parish Courthouse, 4789 Prosperity Street, St. Francisville, LA 70775. The main phone number is (225) 635-3794. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, except on legal holidays. Mail requests should be sent to the same address.
The 20th Judicial District covers West Feliciana Parish only. All civil and criminal cases originating in this parish are filed with the clerk of court in St. Francisville. The clerk maintains civil court filings, criminal case records, land conveyance and mortgage documents, and marriage licenses. West Feliciana has a population of about 16,000. The parish is also home to the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola, which creates some unique records activity tied to the criminal justice system.
Because West Feliciana is a small rural parish with a limited-staff clerk's office, calling ahead at (225) 635-3794 before visiting is a good idea. Staff can confirm whether a record is available and in what form, which can save you a long drive to St. Francisville. Mail requests are also accepted for those who cannot visit in person.
Note: The presence of Angola State Penitentiary in West Feliciana Parish means some court and criminal records in this area may involve correctional proceedings separate from the standard parish court filings.
Online Access to West Feliciana Parish Records
The Louisiana Clerks of Court statewide portal (LCRAA) at laclerksportal.org is the primary online tool for searching West Feliciana Parish public records. This free index covers civil filings, criminal records, and land documents from the clerk's office. You can search by party name, case number, or date range without traveling to St. Francisville. Index searches are free; document copies may carry a fee.
The LCRAA statewide portal at laclerksportal.org indexes West Feliciana Parish public records alongside filings from all other Louisiana parishes.
For a small rural parish like West Feliciana, using the online portal first can confirm whether a filing exists before you make the drive to the courthouse on Prosperity Street.
The eClerks LA platform is another option that provides online access to certain documents from West Feliciana Parish and other Louisiana clerks' offices. Between the LCRAA portal and eClerks LA, many routine searches can be done remotely without an in-person visit to St. Francisville. For certified copies or older records not yet indexed online, a mail request or in-person visit remains necessary.
Court Records in West Feliciana Parish
Civil and criminal court records for West Feliciana Parish are held by the clerk of court in St. Francisville. Civil matters include property disputes, contract cases, family law proceedings such as divorce and child custody, and succession filings. Criminal records cover felony and misdemeanor charges filed in the 20th JDC for offenses arising in West Feliciana 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, but the default is public access. Anyone can request court records from the West Feliciana Parish clerk's office in St. Francisville.
To search or request court records, use the LCRAA portal online, call (225) 635-3794, or visit 4789 Prosperity Street during business hours. Providing party names and approximate filing dates helps staff locate records more quickly. Mail requests are also accepted at the same address.
Property and Land Records
Every real estate transfer in West Feliciana Parish must be recorded with the clerk of court to be legally effective. The conveyance index documents the chain of title for every parcel in the parish. Mortgage records show liens and encumbrances on property. Both are public and searchable at the courthouse or online through the LCRAA portal.
West Feliciana Parish has extensive rural and agricultural land along the Mississippi River bluffs and surrounding areas. Plantation-era properties, rural parcels, timber tracts, and residential lots all generate conveyance and mortgage filings with the clerk. If you are researching property ownership or doing a title search in West Feliciana Parish, the conveyance and mortgage indexes in St. Francisville are the right starting point. Searches are done by owner name or grantee name.
Certified copies of property documents cost $1 per page plus a certification fee. For older historical land records not yet indexed online, contact the clerk at (225) 635-3794 to ask about your options for obtaining copies from the courthouse in St. Francisville.
Marriage and Vital Records
The West Feliciana Parish Clerk of Court issues and records marriage licenses. If a marriage took place in West Feliciana Parish, the license and recorded certificate are on file at 4789 Prosperity Street, St. Francisville. Copies can be requested in person during business hours or by mail.
Birth and death certificates are a state function in Louisiana. The Louisiana Department of Health holds certified birth and death records. Historical vital records, including older documents from West Feliciana Parish and across Louisiana, are accessible through the Louisiana Secretary of State's archives.
The Louisiana Secretary of State's historical records page at sos.la.gov/historicalresources/ provides access to older vital records from West Feliciana Parish and the rest of the state.
This is a helpful resource for genealogy research tied to West Feliciana Parish families, particularly for records predating modern state health department systems.
Note: For certified copies of recent birth or death records, contact the Louisiana Department of Health rather than the parish clerk's office in St. Francisville.
Statewide Public Records Resources
Beyond the West Feliciana Parish clerk's office, several Louisiana agencies support broader public records research. The Louisiana Secretary of State handles business filings, notary commissions, elections, and archives at sos.la.gov. Business registrations are searchable through GeauxBiz. For statewide criminal history, La. R.S. 15:588 authorizes the Louisiana Bureau of Criminal Identification and Information to release background check records through the Louisiana State Police.
La. R.S. 44:1 broadly defines public records and requires agencies to respond promptly to requests. Exemptions under La. R.S. 44:4 are specific and limited. Louisiana Constitution Article XII, Section 3 makes public records access a constitutional right. These rules apply to the West Feliciana Parish clerk's office in St. Francisville, and to every other public body in Louisiana, regardless of parish size or remoteness.
Nearby Parishes
West Feliciana Parish borders several other Louisiana parishes, each with its own Clerk of Court and public records system.