Tangipahoa Parish Divorce Decree
Tangipahoa Parish divorce decree records are kept by the Clerk of Court, which operates two offices serving residents in both Amite and Hammond. The 21st Judicial District Court handles all divorce cases filed in the parish, and certified copies of any divorce decree must come from this office.
Tangipahoa Parish Quick Facts
Tangipahoa Parish Clerk of Court
The Clerk of Court is the official keeper of all divorce decree records in Tangipahoa Parish. Gary T. Stanga is the current Clerk. His office handles filings, maintains case files, and provides certified copies of divorce judgments to those who request them. Two office locations serve the parish.
The main office is in Amite at 110 N Bay Street, Suite 100. A second branch office is in Hammond at 318-A NW Railroad Avenue. Both offices can help with divorce decree requests. Note that the Hammond office closes from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. for lunch, so plan your visit around that. If you are not sure which office to visit, call ahead.
The Tangipahoa Parish Clerk of Court website has contact info, forms, and online access options. You can reach the Amite office by phone at (985) 748-4146. The Hammond branch is at (985) 549-1638.
The Amite office also serves as the mailing address. Send mail to Gary T. Stanga, Clerk of Court, P.O. Box 667, Amite, LA 70422.
| Amite Office (Main) |
110 N Bay Street, Suite 100 Amite, LA 70422 Phone: (985) 748-4146 Fax: (985) 748-6503 |
|---|---|
| Hammond Office |
318-A NW Railroad Avenue Hammond, LA 70401 Phone: (985) 549-1638 Fax: (985) 549-1639 Closed 12:00-1:00 p.m. for lunch |
| Mailing Address | P.O. Box 667, Amite, LA 70422 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Clerk | Gary T. Stanga |
| gstanga@tangiclerk.org |
How to Get Tangipahoa Parish Divorce Decree Records
To get a copy of a divorce decree from Tangipahoa Parish, you must submit a written request to the Clerk of Court. You can do this in person at either office or by mail to the Amite address. Staff will search the case files and pull the record.
When you make a request, include the full names of both parties in the divorce. Give the date of the divorce if you know it. An approximate year is fine if you don't have the exact date. A case file number helps speed things up, but it is not required. You also need to show a valid government-issued photo ID when picking up records in person.
Mail requests take longer. Include a copy of your ID and a check or money order for the applicable fees. The clerk will mail the copy back to you. Call the office first to confirm current turnaround times if your need is urgent.
Sealed or confidential records require a signed court order to access. Most divorce decree records in Tangipahoa Parish are public under Louisiana Public Records Law, La. R.S. 44:1, but some parts of a file may be restricted.
Online Divorce Decree Search in Tangipahoa Parish
Tangipahoa Parish offers a civil records online search through ClerkConnect. This system lets you search for case information by name or case number from your computer. You do not need to visit the courthouse to look up basic case details.
The Tangipahoa civil eSearch is at clerkconnect.com/civilinquiry/tangipahoacc. Access costs $20 for 24 hours, $40 for 30 days, or $300 for a full year. Civil suit records go back to 1974, and document images are available going back to 1989. Online access shows index info and images but does not give you a certified copy. For a certified copy of a divorce decree, you still need to contact the clerk directly.
The eClerks LA statewide portal also provides a free index search for Louisiana parishes. You can use it to find basic case info at no cost.
Free index searches show whether a case exists, but you need a subscription or in-person visit to see full document images or get certified copies.
Tangipahoa Parish Divorce Decree Fees
The Tangipahoa Parish Clerk of Court charges set fees for divorce record copies and searches. Know what to expect before you go.
Standard copy fee is $1 per page. Certification of a document costs $10 per document. A search fee of $10 also applies when the clerk must conduct a record search. So if you need one certified copy of a divorce decree and the clerk has to search for it, the total starts at $20 plus the per-page copy cost. Fees can change, so call ahead to confirm current rates before sending payment.
Payment options may include cash, check, or money order. Ask the office what forms of payment they accept. If you have low income, you may be able to file an In Forma Pauperis petition with the court to request a fee waiver.
Filing for Divorce in Tangipahoa Parish
Divorce cases in Tangipahoa Parish go through the 21st Judicial District Court. You file with the Clerk of Court at either the Amite or Hammond office. The clerk assigns a case number and keeps all documents in the case file.
Under Louisiana Civil Code Article 3941, at least one spouse must be domiciled in Louisiana to file for divorce here. You file in the parish where either you or your spouse lives. Tangipahoa Parish residents file at either clerk office. The 21st JDC judges handle the case from filing to final decree.
Louisiana law sets waiting periods tied to the grounds you use. Under Article 102, if you file and then live separate and apart, you must wait 180 days with no minor children or 365 days if there are minor children before getting the final judgment. Under Article 103, if you have already been separated for the required time, you can ask for an immediate divorce judgment without the waiting period.
Starting January 1, 2026, attorneys can no longer file by fax or mail in state district courts due to Act No. 352 from the 2025 Regular Session. All attorney filings must now go through approved electronic filing systems. If you need a judge's signature on any document, contact the judge's chambers at (985) 748-9445.
What a Tangipahoa Parish Divorce Decree Contains
A final divorce decree from the 21st Judicial District Court is a signed order by the judge. It ends the marriage and sets out all the terms the parties agreed to or that the judge decided.
Typical contents include the full legal names of both spouses, the date of marriage, the date of separation, and the grounds for divorce. The decree also states how community property is divided. Louisiana is a community property state under Civil Code Article 2325. Property gained during the marriage belongs to both spouses equally unless they agree otherwise.
If the couple has minor children, the decree includes custody terms. It sets out who has physical custody, how visitation works, and the child support amount. Spousal support may also be part of the order if either party requested it and the court granted it. Certified copies of this full decree are often needed to change a name, sell property, or get remarried.
Divorce Certificate vs. Divorce Decree
These are two different documents. Many people need both at different times.
A divorce certificate is a short official record issued by the Louisiana Department of Health Vital Records. It shows the names of the parties, the date the divorce was granted, and the parish. It does not contain custody terms, property division, or support orders. The LDH charges $9 for one certified copy of a divorce certificate. You can order it from the state or pick it up at a local health unit.
A divorce decree is the full court order. It has all the terms from the case. You get it from the Tangipahoa Parish Clerk of Court. Most legal and financial uses require the full decree rather than just a certificate. When in doubt, get the full decree from the clerk.
Legal Help for Divorce Cases in Tangipahoa Parish
If you need help with a divorce case, several resources are available in and around Tangipahoa Parish. Some offer free help based on income.
Southeast Louisiana Legal Services provides free civil legal help to those who qualify. They handle family law matters including divorce. Call 211 to find out what services are available in your area. Louisiana Law Help has self-help guides, forms, and plain-language explanations of divorce law for people who want to handle their own case. The Louisiana State Bar Association has a lawyer referral service if you need a paid attorney.
Related Records in Tangipahoa Parish
The Tangipahoa Parish Clerk of Court also holds marriage records, land records, and probate records. If you need a marriage record to go with a divorce decree request, the same clerk office handles it.
The Louisiana Department of Health Vital Records keeps divorce certificates at the state level. These are separate from the full divorce decree files at the clerk's office.
Property transfers often happen as part of or after a divorce. The Tangipahoa Parish Clerk also records conveyances and mortgages. You may need those records if property was transferred as part of a divorce settlement.
Cities in Tangipahoa Parish
Tangipahoa Parish includes several communities, all of which file divorce cases through the 21st Judicial District Court. Hammond is the largest city and has its own branch clerk office at 318-A NW Railroad Avenue. Amite, Ponchatoula, Independence, and Kentwood are other communities in the parish that file divorce cases at the clerk offices.
Nearby Parishes
These parishes border Tangipahoa Parish. File in the parish where you or your spouse lives. Check your address before filing to make sure you go to the right courthouse.