St. George Divorce Decree Records

St. George divorce decree records are held by the East Baton Rouge Parish Clerk of Court. St. George is a newly incorporated city within East Baton Rouge Parish, and the city government does not maintain divorce records. All divorce cases filed by St. George residents go through the 19th Judicial District Court, and the East Baton Rouge Parish Clerk of Court is the office that keeps those files and provides certified copies of decrees. If you need a divorce decree from a case filed while living in St. George, you contact the parish clerk, not the city.

About St. George and Divorce Records

St. George is one of Louisiana's newest cities. It was incorporated in 2019 and began operations in 2020. The city was created out of the southeastern portion of East Baton Rouge Parish. As the city website at stgeorgela.gov explains, St. George was born from the effort to create a local independent school district in the southeastern part of East Baton Rouge Parish. City of St. George Transition District was created by SB423 signed June 12, 2020.

Despite being its own city, St. George does not run its own court system and does not keep divorce records. That function belongs to the East Baton Rouge Parish Clerk of Court. This is how it works across Louisiana. Cities do not maintain divorce records. The parish clerk holds all divorce case files regardless of which city within the parish the parties lived in.

The St. George city website at stgeorgela.gov lists city services and contact info. Note that divorce records are not among those city services. The city has a new office at 11207 Proverbs Avenue, St. George, LA 70816, effective July 1, 2025. That office handles city business, not court records.

Where to Get St. George Divorce Decree Records

To get a divorce decree for a case filed by a St. George resident, you go to the East Baton Rouge Parish Clerk of Court. Clerk Doug Welborn heads that office. The clerk's goal, as stated on the office website, is to provide quality service to every customer. The office has two locations: the Downtown Archives Building in the basement of the West River Center Parking Garage, and a branch at 9050 Airline Highway, Suite 100.

Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. The office closes at 4:00 PM and stops taking new applications at 3:30 PM. Do not show up at 4:00 PM and expect to file a new request. Plan to arrive well before then.

You can reach the clerk at dwelborn@ebrclerkofcourt.org. The clerk's website is at ebrclerk.com. The site lists fees, access options, and how to use the e-search subscription for remote record access.

How to Search St. George Divorce Decree Records

You can search for divorce decree records filed in East Baton Rouge Parish through the clerk's e-search subscription service at ebrclerk.com. This is the most convenient way to look up a case without going to the courthouse in person. The index search through the statewide eClerks LA portal is also available for free and covers East Baton Rouge Parish civil records.

In-person searches at either clerk's office location let you look up a case by name or case number and request copies the same day. Copy fees are $1.00 per page. Access to the index is free. You pay only when copies are made. Certified copies cost more than plain copies. Call ahead to confirm the current certification fee.

Louisiana Revised Statute 44:33.1 requires the clerk to publicize the name of the public records custodian. The custodian for East Baton Rouge Parish is Doug Welborn. Records are public under La. R.S. 44:1. Most records can be accessed by anyone, subject to copy fees.

East Baton Rouge Parish Clerk of Court

The East Baton Rouge Parish Clerk of Court at ebrclerk.com is the official source for divorce decree records for all of East Baton Rouge Parish, including St. George.

The clerk's website provides information on how to access records, office locations, hours, and how to contact staff. Check the site before you visit to confirm what you need to bring and what payment methods are accepted.

Filing for Divorce in St. George

St. George residents file for divorce at the 19th Judicial District Court through the East Baton Rouge Parish Clerk of Court. You file the petition and pay the filing fee at the clerk's office. The case gets assigned a number and all documents are kept in the clerk's files.

Under Louisiana Civil Code Article 3941, at least one spouse must be domiciled in Louisiana. If you live in St. George, you are domiciled in Louisiana and you file in East Baton Rouge Parish. You file in the parish where either spouse lives.

Louisiana Civil Code Article 102 sets the waiting period after filing. No minor children: 180 days. With minor children: 365 days. Under Article 103, if you have already been separated long enough before you file, the court can issue the decree without the waiting period.

Louisiana is a community property state under Civil Code Article 2325. Property earned or acquired during the marriage belongs equally to both spouses unless an agreement says otherwise. The final decree is a public record under La. R.S. 44:1.

Fees for St. George Divorce Decree Records

The East Baton Rouge Parish Clerk of Court charges $1.00 per page for copies. Access to the record index is free. You pay only for copies. Certified copies of the final decree cost more than plain copies. Call the clerk's office for the current certification fee before you visit or send a request.

The Louisiana Department of Health issues a divorce certificate for $9 per certified copy. It is a short document showing the names, date, and parish of the divorce. It does not include the full terms of the judgment. Most legal and financial institutions want the full decree. Use the certificate only if the requesting party says it is enough.

If you have limited income, you can ask the court to waive filing fees using an In Forma Pauperis form. The judge decides if you qualify. Waivers cover filing fees, not copy fees for records you request afterward.

Legal Help for St. George Divorce Cases

St. George residents can use legal resources serving the greater Baton Rouge area. Several programs help people with divorce cases at little or no cost.

Louisiana Law Help at louisianalawhelp.org has free guides for people filing without a lawyer. The site covers the entire process from filing the petition to getting your final decree. It explains community property rules, child support guidelines, and how to serve your spouse under Louisiana law.

Capital Area Legal Services Corporation serves East Baton Rouge Parish and handles family law cases for qualifying low-income residents. The Louisiana State Bar Association has a statewide referral program for those who need a paid attorney. Call 211 to find local legal aid programs in the Baton Rouge area.

Divorce Decree vs. Divorce Certificate in St. George

After a divorce is final, two types of documents can prove the marriage ended. Know the difference before you request anything.

The divorce decree is the full court order signed by the judge. It contains all the terms: property division, custody, support, and any other conditions. You get a certified copy from the East Baton Rouge Parish Clerk of Court. This is the document most agencies and institutions require.

The divorce certificate is a short summary document issued by the Louisiana Department of Health. It costs $9 per certified copy. It shows names, date, and parish. It does not contain the full terms of the decree. Use the full decree for legal, financial, and official matters unless told otherwise by the requesting party.

East Baton Rouge Parish Divorce Decree Records

St. George is within East Baton Rouge Parish. All divorce filings for St. George residents go through the East Baton Rouge Parish Clerk of Court. For full details on the parish court system, fees, and related records, visit the East Baton Rouge Parish divorce records page.

View East Baton Rouge Parish Divorce Decree Records

Nearby Cities

These nearby Louisiana cities also file divorce cases at their respective parish courthouses.