Grant Parish Divorce Decree Records
Grant Parish divorce decree records are kept at the Clerk of Court in Colfax and are public records under La. R.S. 44:1. The 35th Judicial District Court handles all divorce filings in Grant Parish, and the Clerk of Court is the official custodian of all final judgments, civil case files, and related court documents for this parish.
Grant Parish Quick Facts
Grant Parish Clerk of Court
The Clerk of Court in Colfax maintains all civil court records for Grant Parish, including all divorce decree records from the 35th Judicial District Court. This office is the only place to get certified copies of Grant Parish divorce decrees. Louisiana does not keep local divorce court records at a state level. You must contact the clerk in the parish where the case was filed.
The clerk's office is at 200 Main Street, Colfax, LA 71417. The phone number is (318) 627-3246. Office hours are standard weekday hours. Call ahead to confirm current times. Staff can search for cases by name or by case number. Bring valid government-issued photo ID when you visit in person. The office has a civil records search portal and a criminal records search portal available through their website, though a login is required to access records.
The Louisiana Court Records site for Grant Parish lists basic case information and can help you find a case number before contacting the clerk's office. This free tool may save you time by letting you do some initial research from home.
Mail requests are accepted. Write to the Grant Parish Clerk of Court at 200 Main Street, Colfax, LA 71417. Include the full names of both spouses, the year of the divorce, and the case number if you have it. Specify whether you want a plain copy or a certified copy. Include a check or money order for the fees.
| Address | 200 Main Street Colfax, LA 71417 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (318) 627-3246 |
| Judicial District | 35th Judicial District Court |
| Uncertified Copies | $1 per page |
| Certified Copies | $5 per page |
| Online Access | $20/day or $100/month (login required) |
Access Rules for Grant Parish Divorce Decree Records
Grant Parish has specific rules for who can get certified copies of divorce decrees. Certified copies are restricted to the parties involved in the case and legally authorized representatives. If you are not a party to the divorce, you can view the record during business hours but may not be able to get a certified copy. Plain, uncertified copies may be available to the public under Louisiana public records law.
To get a certified copy, you must provide complete names of both spouses, the date of the divorce, and the parish where the judgment was granted. You must also provide a valid government-issued ID and proof of your eligibility. This means you are a party to the case or have legal authority to request on behalf of a party. If you are an attorney or authorized representative, bring documentation showing your authority.
Online access to Grant Parish court records is available through the clerk's portal, but users must create an account and log in. The online subscription costs $20 per day or $100 per month. This lets you search the civil and criminal records remotely. Online copies obtained through the portal are not certified. You must request certified copies from the clerk's office directly.
Plain, uncertified copies cost $1 per page. Certified copies cost $5 per page. These rates apply to divorce decrees and other civil records. If you need multiple pages, the cost adds up. Know how many pages you need before you visit or send a request. Most simple divorce decrees are a few pages, but more complex cases with property agreements and custody orders can be longer.
Filing for Divorce in Grant Parish
Divorce filings in Grant Parish go through the 35th Judicial District Court in Colfax. Louisiana Civil Code Article 3941 requires at least one spouse to be domiciled in Louisiana. You file in the parish where either spouse lives. Grant Parish residents file in Colfax.
The first step is filing a petition for divorce with the Clerk of Court. Pay the filing fee and get a case number. The Clerk keeps all documents filed in the case. Your spouse must be served with the divorce papers. A sheriff or process server handles service. All of this creates a public record under La. R.S. 44:1.
Louisiana Civil Code Article 102 requires a waiting period. No minor children means 180 days of separation after filing. Minor children present means 365 days of separation. Under Article 103, if you were already separated for the required time before filing, you can request an immediate judgment of divorce. No additional waiting period applies. The clerk can tell you which form to use based on your situation.
Louisiana is a community property state. Louisiana Civil Code Article 2325 says all property and debts gained during the marriage belong equally to both spouses. The divorce decree from Grant Parish will divide this property and address custody, visitation, child support, and spousal support if ordered. Once the judge signs, the decree is a permanent part of the public record in Colfax.
What Grant Parish Divorce Decree Records Contain
The divorce decree is the judge's final signed order. It ends the marriage legally. Certified copies of this document are what most courts, agencies, and lenders require as proof of a divorce. These come only from the Grant Parish Clerk of Court. No other office can give you a certified copy of a Grant Parish divorce decree.
A divorce decree from Grant Parish typically shows both spouses' full names, the date of marriage, the grounds for divorce, community property division, child custody and visitation arrangements, child support amounts, spousal support if ordered, and the date the judge signed. Under La. R.S. 44:1, these are public records. Access rules for certified copies are more restricted in Grant Parish than in some other parishes, but viewing the record is generally available to any member of the public.
The Louisiana Department of Health Vital Records issues a separate document called a divorce certificate. It costs $9 and only confirms the basic facts of the divorce. It does not contain the terms of the settlement. For most legal and financial purposes, the full decree from the Clerk of Court is what you need. Do not confuse a certificate from the LDH with a decree from the clerk.
Legal Help for Grant Parish Residents
Free legal help is available in Louisiana for people who meet income guidelines. Central Louisiana Legal Services or other regional legal aid offices may serve Grant Parish. Call 211 to get a referral and find out if you qualify. The Louisiana State Bar Association also runs a statewide lawyer referral service.
Louisiana Law Help at louisianalawhelp.org offers free self-help guides for divorce cases. The site covers Article 102 and Article 103 divorces in plain language. It also explains community property rules and custody basics. These guides are free and useful for anyone thinking about handling their own divorce case in Grant Parish.
The eClerks LA statewide portal provides free index access to civil records in many Louisiana parishes. You can use it to look up a Grant Parish case before visiting the clerk's office in Colfax.
Cities in Grant Parish
Grant Parish is a rural central Louisiana parish. Colfax is the parish seat and primary community. All divorce cases from throughout the parish are filed at the Colfax courthouse through the 35th Judicial District Court. No cities in Grant Parish meet the population threshold for a separate city page on this site.
Nearby Parishes
These parishes border Grant Parish. File your divorce case in the parish where you or your spouse lives. Check your address to confirm the right parish before you file.