Find Divorce Decree in Ascension Parish

Ascension Parish divorce decree records are held by the Clerk of Court, with offices in both Gonzales and Donaldsonville serving residents who need to search, request, or file divorce documents.

Ascension Parish Clerk of Court

The Clerk of Court is the official keeper of all Ascension Parish divorce decree records. The current clerk is Bridget Hanna. This office stores all civil case files, processes new filings, and provides copies of divorce judgments and other court records on request.

Ascension Parish has two office locations. The main office in Gonzales is at 607 East Worthey Street, 1st Floor, Gonzales, LA 70737. The civil division phone is (225) 621-8400, extension 2. The criminal division is extension 3. The satellite office in Donaldsonville is at 300 Houmas Street, Donaldsonville, LA 70346, and can be reached at (225) 473-9866, extension 8. Most divorce case files are accessible at either location, but it is best to call ahead to confirm which office holds the specific case you need.

For civil suit inquiries, you may contact June Julien by email at june@ascensioncourthouse.org. The Ascension Parish Clerk of Court website at ascensionclerk.com lists all departments, contact information, and services offered by the office.

The Ascension Parish Clerk's website has updated contact information and links to their online search system. Check there before you visit or send a mail request.

The ascensionclerk.com site also provides access to the ACCESS online search system where subscribers can look up civil records including divorce cases.

How to Search Ascension Parish Divorce Decree Records

You have several ways to find an Ascension Parish divorce decree. You can visit either office location, send a mail request, or use the online ACCESS system. The ACCESS system stands for Ascension Clerk of Court Electronic Search System. It is available by subscription and lets you look up civil records by case number or party name from your computer.

To open an ACCESS account, contact the clerk's office at the Gonzales location. Subscriptions are available at different rate levels depending on how often you need access. Online records found through ACCESS are not certified. If you need a certified copy for legal purposes, you must request it directly from the clerk and pay the certification fee. Certified copies are often required by courts, banks, government agencies, and title companies.

For mail requests, write to the Gonzales main office at 607 East Worthey Street, 1st Floor, Gonzales, LA 70737. Include the full names of both parties, the year of the divorce, and the case number if known. Include a check or money order for the search and copy fees. Send a self-addressed stamped envelope if you want copies returned by mail.

The eClerks LA statewide portal provides free index access to civil records across all Louisiana parishes. Use it to find a case number before you contact the Ascension Parish Clerk for official copies.

Ascension Parish Divorce Decree Fees

Ascension Parish charges a $15 search fee for divorce record searches. Regular copies cost $1 per page. Certified copies cost $5 per document. These fees apply to in-person and mail requests. Online access through the ACCESS system requires a separate subscription. Call the office to get current rates before sending payment.

For mail requests, make checks or money orders payable to the Ascension Parish Clerk of Court. The office will confirm the total cost before processing. If you are not sure how many pages are in a file, ask the clerk for an estimate before you pay.

Fee waivers may be available for those with low income. File an In Forma Pauperis form with the court to request a reduction or waiver of filing fees. The Louisiana Law Help website has guides on how to file this form and what the process involves.

The Louisiana Department of Health charges $9 for a divorce certificate. That document does not contain the full terms of the decree. For property transfers, custody enforcement, and other legal needs, you will need the full certified divorce decree from the Ascension Parish Clerk of Court.

Filing for Divorce in Ascension Parish

Divorce cases in Ascension Parish go through the 23rd Judicial District Court. You file the petition with the Clerk of Court at either the Gonzales or Donaldsonville office. The filing starts the case and gives you a case number. All papers filed after that point go into the case file at the clerk's office.

Louisiana Civil Code Article 3941 requires that at least one spouse be domiciled in Louisiana. You file in the parish where either spouse lives. Ascension Parish residents file with the clerk at one of the two locations listed above. Under Louisiana Civil Code Article 102, spouses must live separate and apart for 180 days after filing if no minor children are involved. With minor children, the wait is 365 days. Under Article 103, if the separation has already lasted the required time, the divorce can proceed without the additional waiting period.

Louisiana Civil Code Article 2325 makes Louisiana a community property state. Property gained during the marriage is generally divided equally. The divorce decree, the final court order that ends the marriage, contains all the agreed or ordered terms for property, custody, support, and the dissolution of the marriage itself. Once signed by the judge and filed with the clerk, this document becomes a public record under La. R.S. 44:1.

What Is in an Ascension Parish Divorce Decree

A divorce decree from Ascension Parish is the judge's final order ending the marriage. It typically includes the names of both parties, date and place of marriage, grounds for divorce under Louisiana law, division of community property, custody and visitation orders if children are involved, child support amounts, and any spousal support ordered. The entire case file, from the original petition to the final judgment, is kept at the clerk's office.

Certified copies of the divorce decree are often needed when changing a name, selling property, remarrying, or proving marital status to a government agency. Only the Ascension Parish Clerk of Court can issue certified copies of decrees from this parish. The LDH Vital Records office in Louisiana does not issue divorce decrees. LDH issues divorce certificates, which are shorter documents that show only basic information and cost $9 each. Most legal uses require the full certified decree, not the certificate.

Louisiana Divorce Decree Resources

Statewide tools can help you find Ascension Parish divorce records. The Louisiana Clerks of Court Association at (225) 293-1162 can direct you to the right office. The eClerks LA portal at eclerksla.com lets you search civil record indexes for free across all 64 Louisiana parishes.

This free tool gives you access to civil case index data, which can help you find a case number before you contact the Ascension Parish clerk for certified copies.

Louisiana Law Help at louisianalawhelp.org has free guides for people going through a divorce without a lawyer. Southeast Louisiana Legal Services offers free legal help to qualifying residents of Ascension Parish and nearby areas. Call 211 to find local legal aid resources.

Cities in Ascension Parish

Ascension Parish is one of the fastest-growing parishes in Louisiana. The community of Prairieville is a major residential area in the parish. Gonzales and Donaldsonville are also significant communities. All divorce cases in Ascension Parish are filed with the Clerk of Court through the 23rd Judicial District Court at one of the two clerk's office locations.

Nearby Parishes

These parishes border Ascension Parish. File your divorce case in the parish where you or your spouse lives. Check your address to confirm which parish has jurisdiction.