East Baton Rouge Parish Divorce Decree
East Baton Rouge Parish divorce decree records are kept at the Clerk of Court office in Baton Rouge, one of Louisiana's most populated parishes. The 19th Judicial District Court handles all divorce cases filed here, and the Clerk of Court serves as the official custodian of all divorce decrees, case files, and related court documents under Louisiana Public Records Law.
East Baton Rouge Parish Quick Facts
East Baton Rouge Parish Clerk of Court
The Clerk of Court is the keeper of all divorce decree records in East Baton Rouge Parish. This office stores court filings, civil judgments, and certified copies of final divorce orders. The Public Records Custodian is Doug Welborn. You can reach him by email at dwelborn@ebrclerkofcourt.org for public records requests. The clerk's office has two locations: the Downtown Archives Building and the Airline Highway branch.
The Downtown Archives Building is at the basement level of the West River Center Parking Garage in Baton Rouge. The Airline Highway Branch is at 9050 Airline Highway, Suite 100. Both locations are open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. The office closes at 4:00 PM. No new applications are accepted after 3:30 PM. Call ahead or check online before you go to confirm current hours.
The East Baton Rouge Parish Clerk of Court website at ebrclerk.com lists department contacts, services, and online access details. You can find forms, fee schedules, and public records request information there.
La. R.S. 44:33.1 requires the clerk to publicize the name and contact info of the custodian of public records. Doug Welborn holds that role for East Baton Rouge Parish. Juvenile Court records are handled separately and are not part of the main clerk's office. You may need to petition the Juvenile Court directly if your case involves records from that court.
| Downtown Office |
Downtown Archives Building Basement, West River Center Parking Garage Baton Rouge, LA Custodian: Doug Welborn |
|---|---|
| Airline Highway Branch |
9050 Airline Highway, Suite 100 Baton Rouge, LA |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM (closes 4:00 PM; no new applications after 3:30 PM) |
| Public Records Email | dwelborn@ebrclerkofcourt.org |
| Website | ebrclerk.com |
How to Search East Baton Rouge Parish Divorce Decree Records
You can find East Baton Rouge Parish divorce decree records in person, online, or by mail. Each method gives you access to the same files. Online searches are good for finding case numbers and basic info. In-person visits let you see the full file. Certified copies must come from the clerk's office directly.
The East Baton Rouge Clerk of Court offers an e-search subscription service. This online tool lets subscribers look up civil, criminal, traffic, marriage, mortgage, and conveyance records. You can search divorce cases by name or case number. The subscription fee is nominal. Contact the clerk's office to sign up. Records found through e-search are not certified. To get a certified copy of a divorce decree, you must request it from the clerk.
You can also search in person at either office location. Bring the full names of the parties and the year of the divorce if you know it. Staff will search by name or case number. Records are available for public examination during business hours at no charge. Copies cost $1.00 per page whether printed on paper or delivered electronically. That rate applies to both physical and digital copies.
The third-party site Louisiana Court Records also lists East Baton Rouge Parish civil case information and can help you locate a case number before visiting the clerk in person.
Mail requests are also accepted. Send your written request with the parties' names, the case number if known, and a check or money order for the copy fees to the custodian at the Downtown Archives Building location.
Filing for Divorce in East Baton Rouge Parish
Divorce cases in East Baton Rouge Parish go through the 19th Judicial District Court. Louisiana law sets the rules for who can file and where. Under Louisiana Civil Code Article 3941, at least one spouse must be domiciled in Louisiana. You file in the parish where either spouse lives. East Baton Rouge Parish residents file at the Baton Rouge courthouse.
When you file a petition for divorce, you pay a filing fee and receive a case number. That number stays with your case for the rest of the proceedings. The clerk keeps all documents filed in the case. These include the petition, the answer from the other spouse, any temporary orders for custody or support, and the final judgment. Each document becomes part of the public record when filed.
Louisiana Civil Code Article 102 sets a waiting period of 180 days after filing if no minor children are involved. If the marriage produced minor children, the waiting period is 365 days. Under Article 103, if you have already lived apart for the required time before you file, you may ask for an immediate judgment without any additional wait. The grounds must meet Louisiana's legal standards either way.
Louisiana is a community property state under Louisiana Civil Code Article 2325. Property and debts gained during the marriage are split equally unless the parties agree on different terms. The final divorce decree ends the marriage and records all of these terms. Once signed by the judge, it becomes part of the public record in East Baton Rouge Parish under La. R.S. 44:1.
What East Baton Rouge Divorce Decree Records Contain
A divorce decree from East Baton Rouge Parish is the judge's final signed order ending the marriage. It is the most important document in the case file. Most people who need proof of a divorce need a certified copy of this decree. It covers all the key terms the court ordered. Lenders, agencies, and courts in other states often ask for a certified copy when a name change or property transfer is involved.
The case file contains several other documents too. The petition for divorce starts the case. The answer is the other spouse's response. Temporary orders may appear in the file if either party asked for custody or support before the final ruling. Property settlement agreements are also part of the record. All of these documents are public unless a judge sealed them.
A typical East Baton Rouge divorce decree will show the names of both spouses, the date of marriage, the grounds for divorce, division of community property, child custody terms, a visitation schedule if applicable, child support amounts, and any spousal support that was ordered. Under La. R.S. 44:1, all of these records are public. You do not have to be a party to the case to view them.
Divorce Decree vs. Divorce Certificate in East Baton Rouge Parish
These are two different documents. A divorce certificate is issued by the Louisiana Department of Health Vital Records. It is a short document that confirms a divorce took place. It shows the names of the parties, the date, and the parish. The LDH charges $9 for one certified copy. You can order it by mail or in person at a local health unit.
A divorce certificate does not contain the full terms of the settlement. It does not show property division, custody orders, or support amounts. For those details, you need the full divorce decree from the Clerk of Court in East Baton Rouge Parish. Most legal and financial matters require the full decree, not the certificate. If you are not sure which document you need, ask the agency or court that is requesting it.
Legal Help and Resources in East Baton Rouge Parish
Several groups offer free or low-cost legal help in East Baton Rouge Parish. Compass, formerly known as LARC Legal Services, serves low-income residents in the area with family law matters including divorce. Call 211 to find out whether you qualify for free help based on income. The Baton Rouge Bar Association also runs a lawyer referral service for those who need a family law attorney.
Louisiana Law Help at louisianalawhelp.org has self-help guides and forms for people who want to handle their divorce without an attorney. The guides explain Louisiana's divorce laws in plain language. The site covers Article 102 and Article 103 divorces, community property rules, and custody basics. It is a free resource run by legal aid groups across the state.
The Louisiana Clerks of Court Association also maintains information on record access, fees, and procedures for all 64 parishes including East Baton Rouge.
Online Access Through eClerks LA
The eClerks LA statewide portal gives free index access to civil, land, marriage, and probate records across Louisiana parishes. You can search East Baton Rouge Parish records through this portal without paying a subscription fee. The index shows case names and numbers. To see full documents, you may need to pay for access or visit the clerk in person.
eClerks LA is a good first step when you are trying to find a case number or confirm that a divorce was filed in East Baton Rouge Parish. Once you have the case number, you can order a certified copy from the clerk by mail, in person, or through e-search. The portal is free to use for basic searches.
Cities in East Baton Rouge Parish
East Baton Rouge Parish includes several cities and communities. All of them file divorce cases through the 19th Judicial District Court at the Baton Rouge courthouse. Qualifying cities in this parish include Baton Rouge, St. George, and Central. Other communities in the parish such as Zachary, Baker, and Pride also file divorce cases through the same courthouse.
Nearby Parishes
These parishes border East Baton Rouge Parish. If you are not sure which parish handles your divorce case, check where you or your spouse lives. You must file in the correct parish for the court to have jurisdiction.