Beauregard Parish Divorce Decree

Beauregard Parish divorce decree records are maintained by the Clerk of Court in DeRidder, where all civil case files from the 36th Judicial District Court are stored and available for public request.

Beauregard Parish Clerk of Court

The Clerk of Court in DeRidder is the official keeper of all Beauregard Parish divorce decree records. The courthouse is at 200 West Second Street, DeRidder, LA 70634. You can reach the office by phone at (337) 463-8595 or by fax at (337) 462-3916. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. The 36th Judicial District Court handles all civil matters in Beauregard Parish, including divorce filings.

When you contact the clerk's office, have the names of both parties ready. If you know the year of the divorce or the case number, that will help staff find the record faster. In-person requests let you search the records and get copies on the same day. Mail requests are also accepted. Include the names of both parties, the approximate date of divorce, and the case number if known.

One thing to know about the Beauregard Parish clerk: certified copies of birth and death certificates are not processed after 3:30 PM, though the office is open until 4:30 PM. If you need a certified divorce decree, call ahead to confirm the cutoff time for that type of request as well.

Beauregard Parish offers an online records search portal with civil and criminal index data and document imaging from 2009 to the present. The portal is available by subscription for $20 per day or $100 per month.

The portal shows civil and criminal records from 2009 forward. For older Beauregard Parish divorce decrees, contact the clerk's office directly for in-person or mail research assistance.

How to Find a Beauregard Parish Divorce Decree

You can access a Beauregard Parish divorce decree in person, by mail, or through the online records portal. Each method has different steps and costs. In-person is the fastest way to get copies if you can go to the DeRidder courthouse during business hours. The online portal is useful if you need to search records from another location or want to see index data before visiting.

The online records search portal covers civil and criminal records with document imaging from 2009 to the present. If the divorce was filed before 2009, the online portal may not have a digitized copy. In that case, you will need to contact the clerk directly for a manual search of older paper records. Daily access costs $20, and monthly access costs $100. Online copies are not certified. Certified copies must be requested from the Beauregard Parish Clerk of Court in person or by mail.

For mail requests, write to the clerk at 200 West Second Street, DeRidder, LA 70634. Include the names of both parties, the year of the divorce, and the case number if you have it. Include payment for the estimated copy fees. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope so the clerk can return the copies to you.

You can also search the eClerks LA statewide portal at no cost. This tool gives you free index access to civil records across all Louisiana parishes and can help you locate a Beauregard Parish case number before you request official copies from the clerk.

Beauregard Parish Divorce Record Fees

Standard copies of Beauregard Parish divorce decree documents cost $1 per page. Certified copies cost $5 per page. The online subscription portal runs $20 per day or $100 per month. Call the office to confirm current rates before sending payment. Fees can change, and the clerk can give you an estimate for the specific record you need.

Make checks or money orders payable to the Beauregard Parish Clerk of Court. Cash is accepted in person. The office does not give legal advice about your case. If you need help filling out forms or understanding the process, visit Louisiana Law Help at louisianalawhelp.org. If your income is low, you can ask the court to waive or reduce fees by filing an In Forma Pauperis form.

The Louisiana Department of Health sells divorce certificates for $9 each. These are not the same as divorce decrees. A certificate shows only basic information. For legal matters like property transfers, name changes with government agencies, or remarriage, you typically need the full certified divorce decree from the Beauregard Parish Clerk of Court, not just the LDH certificate.

Divorce Filing Process in Beauregard Parish

Divorce cases in Beauregard Parish are filed with the Clerk of Court at the courthouse in DeRidder. The 36th Judicial District Court hears these cases. You start by filing a petition for divorce and paying the filing fee. The clerk assigns a case number, and all future documents in the case are filed under that number.

Under Louisiana Civil Code Article 3941, at least one spouse must be domiciled in Louisiana to file for divorce in this state. You file in the parish where either spouse lives. If you live in Beauregard Parish, you file at the DeRidder courthouse. Louisiana Civil Code Article 102 sets the waiting period after filing. With no minor children involved, the required separation is 180 days. With minor children, the wait is 365 days. Louisiana Civil Code Article 103 allows a divorce without an additional waiting period if the spouses have already been living apart for the required time before filing.

Louisiana Civil Code Article 2325 makes Louisiana a community property state. Property gained during the marriage is generally split equally between spouses unless they reach a different agreement. The final judgment of divorce, also called the divorce decree, ends the marriage and sets all terms for property, custody, and support. Once the judge signs it and the clerk files it, the decree is a public record under La. R.S. 44:1.

Temporary custody and support orders can be filed while the case is active. All these orders are kept in the case file at the Beauregard Parish Clerk of Court. Anyone can request copies of most documents in the file.

What a Beauregard Parish Divorce Decree Contains

A divorce decree from Beauregard Parish is the judge's final signed order that ends the marriage. It typically lists the full names of both spouses, the date and location of the marriage, the grounds for divorce under Louisiana law, any property division terms, child custody and visitation orders if applicable, child support amounts, and spousal support if ordered. This document is the most important one in the divorce case file.

Other papers in a typical divorce case file include the original petition for divorce, the defendant's answer, any motions or hearings during the case, and any temporary orders. All of these documents are public under La. R.S. 44:1 unless a court has ordered specific records sealed. You can request copies of any document in the file from the Beauregard Parish Clerk of Court at 200 West Second Street in DeRidder.

Certified copies of the divorce decree are needed for many tasks. Name changes with the Social Security Administration, DMV, or passport office all require a certified copy. Title transfers, remarriage applications, and some government benefit applications also need a certified decree. Only the Beauregard Parish Clerk of Court can issue certified copies of decrees from this parish.

Legal Help for Beauregard Parish Divorce Cases

If you need help with a divorce case in Beauregard Parish, several resources are available. Legal aid organizations in southwest Louisiana provide free help to those who qualify. Call 211 to find local assistance. Louisiana Law Help at louisianalawhelp.org has self-help guides and forms for people filing on their own.

The Louisiana Clerks of Court Association can help you find the right clerk's office if you are not sure where a case was filed. Their number is (225) 293-1162.

The association website lists all 64 parish clerks of court in Louisiana, including Beauregard Parish. It is a good starting point if you need help locating where a divorce was filed.

Cities in Beauregard Parish

DeRidder is the parish seat and the location of the Clerk of Court where all Beauregard Parish divorce decrees are filed and stored. Other communities include Merryville, Ragley, and Singer. No cities in Beauregard Parish currently meet the 100,000-person population threshold for a separate city page. All divorce cases in the parish go through the 36th Judicial District Court at the DeRidder courthouse.

Nearby Parishes

These parishes border Beauregard Parish. If you are not certain which parish to file in, check the address where you or your spouse lives. Under Louisiana law, you must file for divorce in the parish where at least one spouse is domiciled.