Morehouse Parish Divorce Decree Records
Morehouse Parish divorce decree records are kept at the Clerk of Court office in Bastrop, where all civil cases go through the 4th Judicial District Court. The Clerk of Court is the official custodian of every divorce petition, final judgment, and court order filed in Morehouse Parish, and these records are available to the public under Louisiana law.
Morehouse Parish Quick Facts
Morehouse Parish Clerk of Court
The Morehouse Parish Clerk of Court in Bastrop is the office that stores, files, and provides access to all divorce decree records in the parish. This office serves the 4th Judicial District Court, which covers both Morehouse and Ouachita parishes. The clerk's staff can search case files by name or case number and provide copies of divorce decrees to anyone who requests them.
The Morehouse Parish Clerk of Court does not have a dedicated public website with online record search features. To get records, you need to contact the office directly by phone or in person. The Louisiana Clerks of Court Association maintains a directory of all parish clerk offices and can help you find the current phone number and address for the Bastrop courthouse. Call ahead before visiting to confirm hours and fees.
For a free online index search, use the eClerks LA statewide portal. This tool covers civil case indexes from parishes across Louisiana, including Morehouse Parish. You can search by name to find a case number, which then makes your request to the clerk's office faster and more precise.
The Louisiana Clerks of Court Association provides contact information for every parish clerk in the state, including Morehouse Parish in Bastrop.
| Parish Seat | Bastrop, Louisiana |
|---|---|
| Judicial District | 4th Judicial District Court |
| Circuit | 2nd Circuit Court of Appeal |
| Directory | laclerksofcourt.org |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, standard business hours |
How to Get a Morehouse Parish Divorce Decree
Start by searching the case index on the eClerks LA statewide portal. Search by the names of one or both parties. The portal returns basic case information including the case number and filing date. Note the case number down because you will need it when you contact the Morehouse Parish Clerk of Court in Bastrop.
Once you have the case number, call the Bastrop courthouse to speak with the civil records division. Ask for a copy of the divorce decree. Tell them whether you need a plain copy or a certified copy. Certified copies carry the court's official seal and are needed for legal transactions. Plain copies are less expensive and work for personal reference. The staff will confirm the fee and tell you how to pay.
You can also visit the Bastrop courthouse in person during business hours. Bring a photo ID and the names of both parties, or the case number if you have it. Staff will pull the file and make copies. In-person visits are often the fastest way to get a decree, especially if the case is recent.
Mail requests are possible. Write to the Morehouse Parish Clerk of Court in Bastrop with the names, year of the divorce, and what you need. Enclose payment and a return envelope. Confirm the mailing address and fee by phone before sending.
Louisiana Public Records Law, La. R.S. 44:1, makes divorce decrees public. You do not need to be one of the parties to request a copy. Pay the copy fee and the record is yours to obtain.
What Morehouse Parish Divorce Decree Records Show
A divorce decree from the 4th Judicial District Court in Morehouse Parish is the court's signed final judgment ending the marriage. It is the official legal document proving the divorce. The decree is filed with the Clerk of Court and becomes a permanent public record at the Bastrop courthouse.
The document includes the names of both spouses, the date of the final judgment, and all court orders made as part of the case. Louisiana is a community property state under Civil Code Article 2325, so the decree addresses how marital property and debts are divided. If there are minor children, the decree includes a custody arrangement, visitation schedule, and child support orders. Spousal support, if ordered, is also in the decree. Either party's name restoration request, if any, appears there too.
Certified copies are needed for legal purposes like remarriage, changing a name on a driver's license or Social Security card, refinancing a home, or transferring property that was assigned in the divorce settlement. Ask the Morehouse Parish Clerk of Court specifically for a certified copy if that is what you need. A plain copy costs less but may not be accepted by all agencies for official purposes.
Filing for Divorce in Morehouse Parish
Morehouse Parish residents file divorce petitions at the 4th Judicial District Court through the Clerk of Court office in Bastrop. Under Louisiana Civil Code Article 3941, at least one spouse must be domiciled in Louisiana, and the case is filed in the parish where either spouse lives. If you live in Bastrop or anywhere else in Morehouse Parish, that is your filing location.
The most common divorce path in Louisiana is under Civil Code Article 102. You file a petition, then live separate and apart from your spouse for the waiting period. No minor children means a 180-day wait. Minor children means a 365-day wait. After the waiting period, you go back to court to finalize the divorce. The judge signs the final judgment, and the Clerk of Court records it as the divorce decree.
Civil Code Article 103 applies if you and your spouse were already separated for the required time before you filed, or if fault grounds exist such as adultery or a felony conviction. Article 103 cases can proceed to a final judgment without an additional waiting period after filing. In both paths, every document filed becomes part of the case record at the Bastrop Clerk of Court. The final decree is part of the permanent public record for Morehouse Parish.
Divorce Decree Fees in Morehouse Parish
Fees for copies of divorce decrees in Morehouse Parish are set by the Clerk of Court and may change from time to time. Standard copy fees across Louisiana clerks' offices typically run $1 per page for plain copies, with extra for certified copies. Call the Bastrop courthouse before mailing payment to confirm the exact amount. In-person visitors can pay at the counter when copies are ready.
If you cannot pay filing fees when you are starting a divorce case, ask the clerk about filing an In Forma Pauperis petition. This is a sworn statement of your finances that goes before the judge. If the judge grants it, some or all fees may be waived. Organizations that provide legal aid in northeast Louisiana can help you prepare this form.
Divorce Certificates Are Not the Same as Divorce Decrees
Louisiana's Department of Health issues short-form divorce certificates for $9 per copy. A certificate confirms the divorce happened but does not include the detailed court orders. Many legal, financial, and government agencies require the full court decree rather than the short certificate. The full divorce decree comes from the Morehouse Parish Clerk of Court in Bastrop, not from LDH.
If you are not sure which document you need, ask the agency or institution making the request. They can tell you whether a certificate or the full decree is acceptable for their purposes. When in doubt, get the full decree. It covers everything the certificate covers and more.
The Louisiana Department of Health vital records page explains the divorce certificate process. Full divorce decrees come from the parish Clerk of Court, not LDH.
Legal Help for Morehouse Parish Residents
If you need legal help with a divorce in Morehouse Parish, a few options are available. Louisiana Law Help at louisianalawhelp.org has free guides and forms for people handling their own divorce case in Louisiana. The site walks you through the process step by step using plain language. It covers both Article 102 and Article 103 divorce filings.
North Louisiana Legal Services may serve Morehouse Parish and provides free legal assistance to those who qualify based on income. Call 211 to check eligibility and ask about family law services. The Louisiana State Bar Association's referral service can connect you with an attorney if you need paid representation.
The eClerks LA portal gives free civil case index access for Morehouse Parish and all other Louisiana parishes to help you find case numbers before contacting the clerk.
Cities in Morehouse Parish
Bastrop is the largest city in Morehouse Parish and serves as the parish seat. Mer Rouge and Oak Ridge are other communities in the parish. None of these cities meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page. All Morehouse Parish residents file divorce cases through the 4th Judicial District Court Clerk of Court office in Bastrop.
Nearby Parishes
These parishes border Morehouse Parish in northeast Louisiana. Your divorce must be filed in the parish where you or your spouse lives under Louisiana Civil Code Article 3941.