Bossier Parish Divorce Decree

Bossier Parish divorce decree records are kept at the Clerk of Court office in Benton, where all civil case files from the 26th Judicial District Court are stored and available for those who need to search or request copies.

Bossier Parish Clerk of Court

The Clerk of Court in Benton is the official keeper of all Bossier Parish divorce decree records. The current clerk is Jill M. Sessions. The office is at 204 Burt Blvd, Benton, LA 71006. The mailing address is P.O. Box 430, Benton, LA 71006. You can reach the office by phone at (318) 965-2336 or by fax at (318) 965-1299. For email inquiries, write to info@bossierclerk.com. The 26th Judicial District Court is shared between Bossier and Webster parishes.

The clerk's office stores all civil case files, accepts new filings, and provides copies of court records on request. Both in-person and mail requests are accepted. Online access is available through the records portal at bossierclerk.com, which requires account creation. To set up an account, contact the clerk's office directly.

The Bossier Parish Clerk of Court website has information on services, departments, and how to get copies of court records. Check the site for the most current hours and any updates to office procedures.

The Bossier Parish Clerk's website at bossierclerk.com shows the records portal where you can search civil case index data once you have an account set up.

The bossierclerk.com site provides access to the online records portal and lists contact information for all departments, including civil records where divorce decrees are stored.

How to Find a Bossier Parish Divorce Decree

You can search for a Bossier Parish divorce decree in person at the Benton courthouse, by mail, or through the online records portal. The online portal requires an account. Once you have an account, you can search by case number, party name, or other identifying information. Contact the clerk's office to set up access.

The online portal lets you find case index data and view some document images. However, copies pulled from the online portal are not certified. If you need a certified copy of a Bossier Parish divorce decree for legal use, you must request it directly from the Benton office. Standard copy fees are $1 per page, plus additional certification fees.

For mail requests, write to P.O. Box 430, Benton, LA 71006. Include the full names of both parties, the year of the divorce, and the case number if you have it. Include a check or money order for the estimated fees. Add a self-addressed stamped envelope for the clerk to return your copies.

You can also use the eClerks LA statewide portal for free index access to civil records in all Louisiana parishes, including Bossier. This tool can help you find a case number before you contact the local clerk for official copies.

The statewide court records portal at louisianacourtrecords.us/bossierparish/ provides civil record index access that complements the Bossier Parish Clerk's own portal for those searching for divorce cases.

Access Restrictions for Bossier Parish Divorce Records

Most Bossier Parish divorce decree records are public under La. R.S. 44:1. Anyone can request them. However, certain records are not available to the public. Sealed records require a court order to access. Juvenile records, adoption records, and mental health cases are restricted by law. Personal information such as Social Security numbers and financial account numbers may be redacted from copies provided to the public.

If you request a record and the clerk tells you it is sealed or restricted, you may need to file a motion with the court or work through an attorney to gain access. This is not common for standard divorce cases, but it can happen when a judge has issued a specific order restricting access.

Certified copies of Bossier Parish divorce decrees are available to anyone who can pay the copy and certification fees. You do not have to be a party to the case to get an uncertified copy. For certified copies, bring a photo ID when you visit the Benton office.

Divorce Filing Process in Bossier Parish

Divorce cases in Bossier Parish are filed with the Clerk of Court in Benton. The 26th Judicial District Court handles these cases. You begin by filing a petition for divorce and paying the filing fee at the clerk's office. The clerk gives you a case number. All future documents in the case are filed under that number.

Louisiana Civil Code Article 3941 requires at least one spouse to be domiciled in Louisiana. You file in the parish where either spouse lives. Bossier Parish residents file at the Benton courthouse. Under Louisiana Civil Code Article 102, spouses must live separate and apart for 180 days after filing if no minor children are involved. If there are minor children, the wait is 365 days. Louisiana Civil Code Article 103 allows divorce without an extra wait if the spouses have already been 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 unless the parties agree to different terms. The final judgment of divorce, the divorce decree, contains all terms for property, custody, and support. Once filed with the Bossier Parish Clerk of Court, it is a public record under La. R.S. 44:1.

Temporary orders for custody and support can be issued while the case is pending. These orders go into the case file and can be requested from the clerk at any time during or after the case.

What a Bossier Parish Divorce Decree Contains

A Bossier Parish divorce decree is the judge's final signed order ending the marriage. It typically includes the full names of both spouses, the date and place of the marriage, grounds for divorce under Louisiana law, property division terms, child custody and visitation orders if applicable, child support amounts, and any spousal support ordered. The full case file also includes the original petition, responses, motions, and any temporary orders issued during the case.

You can get copies of any document in the file from the Bossier Parish Clerk of Court. Certified copies cost more than uncertified ones. Certified copies are required for legal matters like name changes, property transfers, and remarriage. Only the Bossier Parish Clerk of Court can issue certified copies of decrees filed in this parish.

LDH Vital Records issues divorce certificates, not divorce decrees. A certificate shows only basic facts and costs $9 per copy from the state. For most legal uses, you need the full certified decree from the clerk, not the state certificate.

Legal Help for Bossier Parish Divorce Cases

Several resources help Bossier Parish residents with divorce cases. Northwest Louisiana Legal Services may offer free help to those who qualify by income. Call 211 to find what is available in your area. Louisiana Law Help at louisianalawhelp.org has self-help guides and forms for people handling their own divorce without an attorney. The Louisiana State Bar Association has a referral service for family law attorneys in the Shreveport and Bossier City area.

The Louisiana Clerks of Court Association at (225) 293-1162 can help you confirm which office to contact if you are not sure where a case was filed.

Cities in Bossier Parish

Benton is the parish seat and the location of the Clerk of Court where all Bossier Parish divorce decrees are filed and stored. The city of Bossier City is the largest city in the parish and is located just across the Red River from Shreveport. All divorce cases filed by Bossier City and other Bossier Parish residents go through the 26th Judicial District Court at the Benton courthouse.

Nearby Parishes

These parishes border Bossier Parish. File your divorce case where you or your spouse is domiciled. If you live in Bossier Parish, file at the Benton courthouse.