Acadia Parish Divorce Decree
Acadia Parish divorce decree records are kept at the Clerk of Court office in Crowley, where all civil case files from the 13th Judicial District Court are stored and available for public access.
Acadia Parish Quick Facts
Acadia Parish Clerk of Court
The Clerk of Court is the official keeper of all divorce decree records in Acadia Parish. The current clerk is Kip Judice. This office files new divorce cases, stores all case documents, and provides copies of divorce judgments to those who request them. The office is at 500 North Parkerson Avenue in Crowley.
Staff at the Acadia Parish Clerk's office can search for cases by name or case number. They can pull records going back many years. If you need a certified copy of a divorce decree, you must request it directly from this office. Online copies obtained through their remote systems are not certified. Certified copies are what most courts and agencies require when you need to prove a divorce took place.
The Acadia Parish Clerk of Court website lists office hours, contact details, and available services. You can reach the office by phone at (337) 788-8881 or by email at laura@acadiaparishclerk.com.
The office is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. The mailing address is P.O. Box 922, Crowley, LA 70527. Fax lines are available on both the first floor at (337) 783-3855 and the second floor at (337) 788-1048.
Visit the clerk's website to see the full list of services and to get information about account setup for online record access.
| Main Office |
500 North Parkerson Avenue Crowley, LA 70526 Phone: (337) 788-8881 |
|---|---|
| Mailing Address | P.O. Box 922, Crowley, LA 70527 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| laura@acadiaparishclerk.com | |
| Website | acadiaparishclerk.com |
| Clerk | Kip Judice |
The Acadia Parish Clerk's website shows current department information and any updates to office hours or procedures. Check there first before you make a trip or send a mail request.
The site at acadiaparishclerk.com gives you access to online search options and contact details for each department in the Acadia Parish courthouse.
How to Search Acadia Parish Divorce Decree Records
You can find an Acadia Parish divorce decree in more than one way. The clerk's office lets you search in person, by mail, or through their online system. Each method works for different needs. In-person visits are best if you need a certified copy right away. Online access is good for getting basic case info fast.
The Acadia Parish Clerk of Court offers online access through Clerk Connect and the DocuNet Online Service. These systems let account holders search civil records, including divorce cases, from their computer. To get an account, contact the Chief Deputy at (337) 788-8881. The fee structure for online access is separate from the copy fees charged at the counter. Once you find a case online, you can see case details and document images, but those copies are not certified. If you need a certified copy for legal use, you must contact the clerk directly and request it through proper channels.
To search, you will need at least one of the following:
- Full name of one or both parties
- Approximate date the divorce was filed
- Case number if you have it
- Year the divorce was granted
The eClerks LA portal also gives free index access to civil records across Louisiana parishes including Acadia. This statewide tool can help you find a case number before you contact the local clerk. It does not provide certified copies, but it can help you narrow down the case details you need before making a formal request.
Acadia Parish Divorce Decree Fees
Acadia Parish has set copy and certification fees for divorce decree records. Know these rates before you request copies so you can send the right payment amount.
In-person copies cost $2 per page. If you need records faxed to you, the fee is $6 per copy. Certification of a divorce decree adds $6 per copy. A civil record search covering cases filed within the last 30 years costs $20. Records older than 30 years are free for public viewing, though copy fees still apply when you want physical copies made. A 10-minute entry request costs $10. Online access through Clerk Connect or DocuNet is priced separately based on subscription type.
Make checks or money orders payable to "Acadia Parish Clerk of Court" when sending mail requests. The office does not give legal advice. If you need help with a form or do not know which case number to ask for, contact Louisiana Law Help for free self-help guides.
If your income is low, you may qualify for a fee waiver. File an In Forma Pauperis form with the court and ask the clerk about the process. This can reduce or remove filing costs for those who meet the income threshold.
Filing a Divorce in Acadia Parish
Filing for divorce in Acadia Parish follows Louisiana state law. You file with the Clerk of Court at the courthouse in Crowley. The 13th Judicial District Court hears all divorce cases filed in this parish. Each step creates documents that go into the case file, which becomes the permanent record.
Under Louisiana Civil Code Article 3941, at least one spouse must be domiciled in Louisiana to file here. You must file in the parish where one of the spouses lives. So if you or your spouse lives in Acadia Parish, you file in Crowley. The petition for divorce is the first paper filed. It states the legal grounds and what the person filing wants the court to order.
Louisiana Civil Code Article 102 sets a waiting period. If no minor children are involved, spouses must live separate and apart for 180 days after filing. If there are minor children, the waiting period is 365 days. Under Article 103, if the parties have already been living apart for the required time, a divorce may be granted more quickly without the additional waiting period. These rules apply in every parish, including Acadia.
Louisiana is a community property state under Louisiana Civil Code Article 2325. This means property gained during the marriage is generally split equally. The final judgment of divorce, also called the divorce decree, ends the marriage and sets out all agreed or ordered terms. Under La. R.S. 44:1, the Public Records Law, this decree becomes a public document once filed with the Acadia Parish Clerk of Court.
What Is in an Acadia Parish Divorce Decree
A divorce decree is the judge's final signed order ending a marriage. It is the most important document in a divorce case file. The Acadia Parish Clerk of Court holds these records in the courthouse in Crowley.
The full divorce decree typically shows the names of both parties, the date of the marriage, the date the divorce was granted, the grounds under Louisiana law, any property division terms, child custody orders, visitation schedules, child support amounts, and any spousal support ordered. If both spouses agreed on all terms, the decree may be shorter. If the case went to trial, the file will include more documents. All of these papers are part of the case file and are generally public under La. R.S. 44:1.
Certified copies of a divorce decree from Acadia Parish are often required when you want to change your name with the DMV or Social Security Administration, sell or transfer property, apply for certain government benefits, or remarry. You get certified copies from the Clerk of Court, not from the Louisiana Department of Health.
The LDH Vital Records office issues divorce certificates, not divorce decrees. A certificate is a short document showing only basic facts like names, date, and parish. It does not include property division or custody terms. For most legal needs, you need the full decree, not just the certificate.
Louisiana Statewide Divorce Decree Resources
Several statewide tools can help you find Acadia Parish divorce records. The eClerks LA system at eclerksla.com gives free public access to civil record indexes across all 64 Louisiana parishes. You can search by name to find a case number, then use that number when you contact the Acadia Parish Clerk of Court.
The Louisiana Clerks of Court Association at laclerksofcourt.org can be reached at (225) 293-1162. This group supports all 64 parish clerks and can help you find the right office if you are not sure where a case was filed.
The association site lists all parish clerks and their contact details. It is a good starting point if you know a divorce happened in Louisiana but are not sure which parish.
Louisiana Law Help at louisianalawhelp.org has free guides and forms for people going through a divorce without an attorney. The site covers how to file, what forms to use, and what to expect at each step. Legal aid organizations across the state, including those serving Acadia Parish, can also assist people who qualify for free legal help.
Cities in Acadia Parish
Crowley is the parish seat and the location of the courthouse where all Acadia Parish divorce decrees are filed and stored. Other communities in the parish, including Rayne, Iota, Church Point, and Morse, also file divorce cases with the same Clerk of Court in Crowley. No cities in Acadia Parish currently meet the 100,000-person threshold for a separate city page.
Nearby Parishes
These parishes border Acadia Parish. If you are not certain which parish to file in, check the address where you live. You must file your divorce case in the right parish for the court to have jurisdiction over your case.