Court records in Lafourche Parish, Louisiana, are maintained by the Clerk of the District Court and are accessible through online tools, official court portals, and directly at the clerk's office. LafourcheParishCourt.org will help find publicly available information about parish court records. Additionally, you can use the Lafourche Clerk of Court records search portal, the federal PACER system, and Louisiana state resources.
Lafourche Court System Overview
Lafourche Parish is part of the 17th Judicial District Court of Louisiana. This district serves only Lafourche Parish — no other parish is included. The Judicial Branch of Louisiana consists of a hierarchy of courts: from local city courts to the State Supreme Court. The 17th Judicial District Court handles all civil and criminal cases of general jurisdiction. Judges are elected by parish residents. The courthouse is located in Thibodaux.
The Lafourche Parish Clerk of Court office operates in the same building and is responsible for maintaining all parish court records.
Courts Serving Lafourche
Residents of Lafourche Parish are served by several courts of different jurisdictions — from parish to federal.
| Court | Address and Contacts |
|---|---|
| 17th Judicial District Court | 303 West 3rd Street, Thibodaux, LA 70301 |
| Thibodaux City Court | 310 West 2nd Street, Thibodaux, LA 70301 |
| U.S. District Court — Eastern District of Louisiana | 500 Poydras Street, New Orleans, LA 70130 |
| U.S. Bankruptcy Court — Eastern District of Louisiana | 500 Poydras Street, New Orleans, LA 70130 |
Lafourche Parish belongs to the Eastern District of the federal courts of Louisiana. The PACER system is used to access federal cases.
What Types of Cases Lafourche Courts Hear
The courts serving Lafourche Parish hear a wide range of cases. Here are the main categories:
- Criminal cases: felonies, misdemeanors, traffic violations
- Civil cases: lawsuits for any amount, including small claims
- Family law: divorce, child custody, alimony, protective orders
- Probate: estate administration, guardianship, trust management
- Juvenile cases: juvenile offenses, child protection cases, adoptions
Further sections detail each of these categories.
District Court Cases in Lafourche
The 17th Judicial District Court is the parish's court of general jurisdiction. It hears serious criminal cases (felonies) after indictment by the Grand Jury or preliminary hearings. Civil lawsuits without monetary limits also go to the district court. Additionally, the court hears appeals from city courts, post-conviction relief cases, and any other general jurisdiction matters under Louisiana law.
Cases are distributed among judges according to the district's internal rules. Criminal prosecution is conducted by the District Attorney of the 17th District. If you need a specific case number or status, start with the clerk of court's online records search.
Magistrate Court Cases in Lafourche
Louisiana does not have a separate "magistrate" court tier as in some other states. The role of a limited jurisdiction court in Lafourche Parish is performed by the Thibodaux City Court. It hears:
- Misdemeanors and city ordinance violations
- Civil cases with claims up to $50,000 (according to Louisiana law for city courts)
- Small claims — typically up to $5,000
- Traffic violations
- Preliminary hearings and bail settings
DUI cases within the city of Thibodaux start in the City Court. For cases arising outside city limits, initial hearings are conducted by the 17th District Court.
Family Law, Probate, and Juvenile Matters in Lafourche
Family Law
Divorces, custody disputes, alimony, paternity establishment, and protective orders are all handled by the 17th Judicial District Court. Louisiana is a community property state, so property division in divorce has its specifics. Certified copies of divorce documents can be obtained from the parish clerk of court where the divorce was filed.
Probate
Succession cases (successions in Louisiana terminology), tutorship of minors, curatorship of incapacitated persons, and trust management also fall under the jurisdiction of the district court. The clerk of court maintains a registry of all probate cases.
Juvenile Matters
Juvenile cases — offenses, Child in Need of Care, and adoptions — are handled by the district court. Juvenile case records are confidential under Louisiana law. The Louisiana Department of Children & Family Services (DCFS) participates in child protection cases.
How Cases Move Through the Lafourche Court System
The general process for cases moving through the Lafourche Parish courts is as follows:
- Case initiation. A criminal case begins with a complaint or indictment; a civil case starts with a petition. Documents are filed with the clerk of court's office.
- Judge assignment. The clerk assigns the case to judges of the 17th District according to the internal schedule.
- Initial hearings. In criminal cases — arraignment (charging and bail setting). In civil cases — a preliminary conference to set a schedule.
- Pre-trial phase. Filing motions, discovery, plea negotiations in criminal cases, or mediation in civil cases.
- Trial. Jury trial or bench trial. Alternatively — plea agreement, settlement, or default judgment.
- Post-judgment. Sentencing, appeal to the 1st Circuit Court of Appeal or the Louisiana Supreme Court, enforcement of judgment.
Court Administration, Local Rules, and Public Access in Lafourche
The administrative judge of the 17th Judicial District manages the court's organizational matters. Local court rules regulate procedural details — from filing deadlines to hearing procedures. These rules can be obtained directly from the clerk of court's office.
According to the Louisiana Public Records Act, court records are public, except for sealed cases, juvenile cases, and some family cases with restricted access. Anyone can view open records through the clerk of court's online portal or by visiting the office in person.
Hearings are usually held in person at the courthouse in Thibodaux. For information on remote participation, contact the court office directly at (985) 447-4841.
Court Records and Related Court Resources in Lafourche
- Online court records search. The Lafourche Clerk of Court portal allows searching for civil, criminal, mortgage, and conveyance records of the parish.
- Federal court records. Cases of the Eastern District of Louisiana are available through the PACER system.
- Arrest and inmate records. The Lafourche Parish Jail inmate list is updated regularly. Crime and arrest information is also published by the Lafourche Parish Sheriff's Office.
- State correctional system. To search for individuals under the supervision of the Department of Public Safety & Corrections, use the DOC inmate search.
- Pardons and parole. The hearing schedule is available on the Parole Dockets page.
- Marriage certificates. The Louisiana Department of Health provides information on obtaining marriage certificates. Marriage licenses are issued by the Lafourche Parish Clerk of Court.
- Divorce certificates. Certified copies of divorce decrees are issued by the clerk of court of the parish where the divorce was filed.
- Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex. Detention information is available on the LPCC website.
- General parish information. The Lafourche Parish profile, including local government contacts, is posted on the official Louisiana state website.
For more information about court records and resources in Lafourche Parish, visit LafourcheParishCourt.org.