St. Landry Parish Divorce Decree Records

St. Landry Parish divorce decree records are kept at the Clerk of Court in Opelousas under the 27th Judicial District Court. All divorce cases filed in this parish go through this court, and the clerk's office holds all final judgments, case files, and certified copies.

St. Landry Parish Clerk of Court

The Clerk of Court in St. Landry Parish is the official custodian of all court records, including divorce decrees. The office is in Opelousas, the parish seat. All divorce cases in St. Landry Parish are handled by the 27th Judicial District Court. The Clerk of Court stores all final judgments and provides copies to people who request them.

St. Landry Parish does not have an official Clerk of Court website at this time. To find or request a divorce decree, contact the clerk's office directly by phone or in person. The Louisiana Clerks of Court Association maintains a statewide directory with current contact information for all 64 parish clerks. Use it to get the current phone number and address for the St. Landry Parish Clerk of Court.

When you contact the office, have the full names of both spouses and the approximate year the divorce was filed. A case number helps narrow the search. The clerk's staff can look up cases by name. Ask about the fee schedule and whether mail requests are accepted before your visit.

Searching St. Landry Parish Divorce Decree Records Online

St. Landry Parish does not have a local online search portal at this time. The statewide eClerks LA system is a free option for checking case index data before contacting the clerk directly.

The eClerks LA portal lets you search by party name across Louisiana parishes. If a St. Landry Parish case appears in the index, note the case number and contact the Clerk of Court in Opelousas to request the full decree or certified copy. Older records may not be in the online index. For those, a direct request to the clerk is the best approach.

In-person visits to the clerk's office in Opelousas let you view the full case file. Bring photo ID. Have the party names ready. Staff will help you find the record and request copies. Ask about the fee per page and the additional cost for certification if you need a certified decree.

Divorce Law in St. Landry Parish

Divorces in St. Landry Parish follow Louisiana state law. The 27th Judicial District Court applies these rules to every case. Understanding the law helps you know what information a divorce decree from this parish will contain.

Louisiana Civil Code Article 3941 requires that at least one spouse be domiciled in Louisiana to file for divorce here. You file in the parish where either spouse lives. Residents of St. Landry Parish file at the courthouse in Opelousas through the 27th Judicial District Court.

Under Article 102, spouses must live apart for 180 days after filing if there are no minor children. If minor children are involved, the separation period is 365 days. Under Article 103, if the spouses were already separated for the required time before filing, the court can grant an immediate divorce judgment. Fault grounds also apply under Article 103.

Louisiana Civil Code Article 2325 makes Louisiana a community property state. Property earned during the marriage belongs to both spouses equally. The divorce decree divides that property and also covers child custody, child support, visitation, and spousal support if applicable. Once signed, the decree is filed at the Clerk of Court and becomes a public record under La. R.S. 44:1.

Public Access to Divorce Records

Louisiana Public Records Law (La. R.S. 44:1) gives any person the right to request public court records. Divorce decrees in St. Landry Parish are public documents. You do not have to be a party to the case. Anyone can ask the clerk for a copy.

Some records are restricted. Sealed cases, adoptions, and judicial commitments are not open to the public. The clerk will let you know if a record is restricted. For all other records, copies are available for a fee. Plain copies cost a set amount per page. Certified copies cost more but carry the clerk's seal and are accepted in legal and financial proceedings as official documents.

For a mail request, write to the Clerk of Court with the party names, approximate filing year, and a description of the documents you need. Ask the clerk to confirm fees and accepted payment methods before you send anything.

State Resources for St. Landry Parish Divorce Records

A few state-level resources help with divorce records connected to St. Landry Parish. The Louisiana Department of Health issues divorce certificates for $9 per certified copy. A certificate is a short summary document. It confirms a divorce happened and shows the names, date, and parish. It does not include custody terms, property division, or other court orders. Order one by mail from the LDH Vital Records office. For the full decree, you need the Clerk of Court in Opelousas.

The Louisiana State Archives holds older historical records. For very old cases going back many decades, the Louisiana State Archives may have additional resources. This is especially useful for genealogy research or locating records that predate electronic storage.

Legal Help in St. Landry Parish

Acadiana Legal Service Corporation may serve St. Landry Parish residents and offers free legal help to people who qualify based on income. They handle family law cases including divorce. Call 211 to ask about eligibility and find contact information. The Louisiana State Bar Association has a statewide referral service for finding a local family law attorney.

Louisiana Law Help at louisianalawhelp.org has free guides and court forms for people who want to handle their own divorce case. The site explains the law clearly and covers topics like how to file, what forms to use, and how to ask for a fee waiver. The Louisiana Judiciary site also links to court rules and local court information for the 27th Judicial District.

Cities in St. Landry Parish

St. Landry Parish is a large parish in south-central Louisiana. Opelousas is the parish seat and largest city. Other communities include Eunice, Sunset, Port Barre, and Washington. None of these communities meet the population threshold for a separate city page on this site. All divorce cases from any address in St. Landry Parish go through the 27th Judicial District Court and the Clerk of Court in Opelousas.

Nearby Parishes

These parishes border St. Landry Parish. File in the parish where you live so the court has proper jurisdiction over your case.