Red River Parish Divorce Decree
Red River Parish divorce decree records are held by the Clerk of Court in Coushatta under the 39th Judicial District Court. Anyone who needs a divorce decree from a case filed in this parish must contact the clerk's office directly to request copies or search the records.
Red River Parish Quick Facts
Red River Parish Clerk of Court
The Clerk of Court in Red River Parish is the official keeper of all court records, including divorce decrees. The clerk's office is in Coushatta, the parish seat. All divorce cases filed in Red River Parish go through the 39th Judicial District Court, and the final decrees are kept at the courthouse.
Red River Parish does not have an official clerk website at this time. To get a divorce decree or to search records, contact the clerk's office in Coushatta directly by phone or in person. Staff can tell you what information you need to provide, what the current fees are, and whether mail requests are accepted. The Louisiana Clerks of Court Association has a statewide directory that includes contact information for the Red River Parish Clerk of Court.
When you call or visit the clerk, be ready to give the full names of both spouses and the approximate year the divorce was filed. If you have a case number, that speeds up the search. The clerk can look up cases by name in most instances. Let the office know whether you want a plain copy or a certified copy of the divorce decree, since the fees are different for each.
| Parish Seat | Coushatta, Louisiana |
|---|---|
| Judicial District | 39th Judicial District Court |
| Clerk Website | No official clerk website at this time |
| Statewide Directory | laclerksofcourt.org |
Searching Red River Parish Divorce Decree Records Online
Red River Parish does not have its own online records search portal at this time. However, the statewide eClerks LA system may have index data for some Red River Parish cases. This is a free tool that lets you search case indexes across Louisiana parishes by party name.
The eClerks LA portal is a good first step. It may show basic case information like filing date, case number, and party names. If you find a match, contact the Red River Parish Clerk of Court to get a full copy or certified divorce decree. Keep in mind that not all cases may be indexed in this system, especially older ones.
For cases not found online, the best option is a direct request to the clerk. The clerk can perform manual searches for older records not yet in a computer system. Give as much information as you can to help narrow the search. This is especially true for records from many decades ago.
Divorce Laws That Apply in Red River Parish
All divorces in Red River Parish follow Louisiana state law. The 39th Judicial District Court applies these rules to every case it handles. Knowing the law helps you understand what is in a divorce decree and what steps were required to get it.
Under Louisiana Civil Code Article 3941, you must be domiciled in Louisiana to file for divorce here. You file in the parish where either spouse lives. Red River Parish residents file through the 39th Judicial District Court at the parish courthouse in Coushatta.
Louisiana Civil Code Article 102 sets waiting periods. Without minor children, you must live separate and apart for 180 days after filing. With minor children, the wait is 365 days. Under Article 103, if you and your spouse were already living apart for the required time when you filed, the court can issue an immediate divorce judgment. Fault-based grounds are also available under Article 103 in some situations.
Louisiana is a community property state under Civil Code Article 2325. Property gained during the marriage belongs equally to both spouses. The divorce decree addresses how this property is divided. It also covers child custody, child support, visitation, and spousal support if those issues apply. Once the judge signs it, the final judgment of divorce is filed with the Clerk of Court and becomes part of the public record under La. R.S. 44:1.
Access to Public Divorce Records
Divorce decrees in Red River Parish are public records. Louisiana's Public Records Law (La. R.S. 44:1) gives any person the right to see or get copies of court records. You do not have to be a party to the case. Any member of the public can request a copy of a divorce decree from the Clerk of Court.
Some records are not open to the public. Sealed cases, adoptions, and judicial commitments are restricted. The clerk will let you know if a record you asked for is not available. Most divorce decrees, though, are in the public file and can be copied for a fee.
The Louisiana Clerks of Court Association site at laclerksofcourt.org is a helpful resource. It has contact info for all 64 parish clerks. You can use it to get the current phone number for the Red River Parish Clerk of Court and confirm hours before you visit or call.
Divorce Decree vs. Divorce Certificate
Two different documents often come up when people search for proof of a divorce. They serve different purposes and come from different offices.
A divorce certificate comes from the Louisiana Department of Health Vital Records. It is a short document that shows a divorce took place. It lists the names, the date, and the parish. It does not have the full terms of the case. The LDH charges $9 per certified copy. You can order it by mail through the LDH Vital Records office.
A divorce decree is the full signed judgment from the court. It comes from the Red River Parish Clerk of Court. It includes the settlement terms, custody orders, property division, and all other conditions the judge ordered. Most legal uses require the full decree. Contact the clerk to request it and to find out the current fee per page.
Legal Help for Red River Parish Residents
If you need help with a divorce case in Red River Parish, several options are available. Legal aid groups offer free or low-cost help to people who qualify based on income. Knowing where to look can make the process much easier.
Northwest Louisiana Legal Services may serve Red River Parish residents. Call 211 to ask about eligibility and get a referral. The Louisiana State Bar Association has a statewide referral service that can connect you with a local family law attorney. Louisiana Law Help at louisianalawhelp.org has step-by-step guides and forms for people handling their own cases.
The Louisiana Supreme Court site has links to court rules, forms, and procedures. The state judiciary site also has useful information for people navigating the court system on their own. These are free public resources you can use anytime.
Cities in Red River Parish
Red River Parish is a smaller parish in northwest Louisiana. Coushatta is the largest community and serves as the parish seat. Other communities include Coushatta and Red River areas. No cities in Red River Parish meet the population threshold for a separate city page on this site. All divorce cases from any address in the parish are filed through the 39th Judicial District Court and the Red River Parish Clerk of Court in Coushatta.
Nearby Parishes
These parishes border Red River Parish. Make sure to file in the parish where you live. The court needs jurisdiction over your case, and that starts with filing in the right parish.