Terrebonne Parish Divorce Decree Records
Terrebonne Parish divorce decree records are held exclusively by the Clerk of Court in Houma. The 32nd Judicial District Court handles all divorce cases in the parish, and the Clerk of Court is the only authority that can issue certified copies of any divorce decree from this court.
Terrebonne Parish Quick Facts
Terrebonne Parish Clerk of Court
Jodie P. Burton is the Clerk of Court for Terrebonne Parish. The clerk's office at 7856 Main Street in Houma maintains all divorce decree records for the 32nd Judicial District. Staff handle filing, case storage, and certified copy requests for divorce records.
The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Call (985) 868-5660 before visiting to confirm hours or check on a request. Fax is available at (985) 868-5143 for general communications. Mail goes to P.O. Box 1569, Houma, LA 70361-1569.
The Terrebonne Parish Clerk of Court website has department info, online services, and public records search tools. Civil and criminal eFiling is available through the site.
The clerk has been explicit that the Louisiana Vital Records Registry cannot issue certified divorce decrees. The Terrebonne Parish Clerk of Court is the sole authority for certified copies of any divorce decree from the 32nd Judicial District Court.
| Office Address |
7856 Main Street Houma, LA 70360 |
|---|---|
| Mailing Address | P.O. Box 1569, Houma, LA 70361-1569 |
| Phone | (985) 868-5660 |
| Fax | (985) 868-5143 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Website | terrebonneclerk.org |
Where to Get a Certified Divorce Decree in Terrebonne Parish
This is one of the most common sources of confusion for people looking for divorce records in Louisiana. The state Vital Records office does not issue certified divorce decrees. Only the Clerk of Court in the parish where the divorce was granted can do that.
For Terrebonne Parish divorces, you must contact the clerk's office in Houma. Do not contact the Louisiana Department of Health for a certified copy of a full divorce decree. The LDH only issues short divorce certificates. Those certificates show basic facts but do not include custody orders, property terms, or support amounts. Most legal and financial matters require the full decree from the clerk, not a certificate from the state.
How to Request Terrebonne Parish Divorce Decree Records
To get a divorce decree from Terrebonne Parish, submit a written request to the Clerk of Court. You can go in person to the Houma office or send a mail request.
Your request should include the names of both parties in the divorce, the date and place of the divorce if known, and the case file number. Staff can search by name if you don't have a case number. Bring a valid photo ID if you visit in person. For mail requests, include a copy of your ID and payment for the applicable fees.
Civil records in Terrebonne Parish go back to July 1, 1990. Marriage records start from August 12, 1961. Mortgage records begin September 9, 1946. Conveyance records go back to December 31, 1971. If your case is older than July 1990, the clerk may still have it on file, so it is worth calling to ask before assuming the record does not exist.
Terrebonne Parish Divorce Decree Copy Fees
Fees apply when you request divorce records from the Terrebonne Parish Clerk of Court. Know what to expect before you visit or mail a request.
The record search fee for civil records is $15. Standard copies cost $1 per page. Certified copies cost $5 plus $1 per page. So a five-page certified divorce decree would cost $5 plus $5 for pages, totaling $10 for the certified copy plus the $15 search fee if the clerk has to conduct a search. Call ahead to confirm current fees since they can change.
If you have low income, you may ask the court to waive fees by filing an In Forma Pauperis form. Court staff can point you to the right form. Payment by cash, check, or money order is typically accepted.
Online Divorce Record Search in Terrebonne Parish
Terrebonne Parish has an online public records search portal. You can search land, civil, criminal, and marriage records at search.terrebonneclerk.org. This is a free tool for basic case index lookups.
The Louisiana Clerks of Court Association statewide portal also gives you free access to index records from Terrebonne and other parishes. Use the free search to find a case number and confirm that a record exists before visiting or mailing a request.
Online searches do not produce certified copies. For a certified copy, you must contact the clerk. The portal is best used to find a case number and confirm what records exist before you make a formal request.
Filing for Divorce in Terrebonne Parish
Divorce cases in Terrebonne Parish go through the 32nd Judicial District Court. You file at the clerk's office in Houma. The clerk assigns a case number and receives all documents going forward.
Louisiana Civil Code Article 3941 requires one spouse to be domiciled in Louisiana. You file in the parish where you or your spouse lives. Terrebonne Parish residents file in Houma. Under Article 102, after you file, both spouses must live separate and apart. The wait is 180 days if there are no minor children, or 365 days with minor children. Under Article 103, if you have already been separated for the required period or have fault grounds, you can file for an immediate divorce without the wait.
Louisiana is a community property state under Civil Code Article 2325. All property and debt from the marriage are split equally unless the spouses reach their own agreement. The divorce decree from the 32nd JDC includes all terms and becomes part of the public record under La. R.S. 44:1.
What a Terrebonne Parish Divorce Decree Contains
The final divorce decree is the judge's signed order ending the marriage. It covers all terms the parties agreed to or that the court decided. This is the document most people need when they change names, sell property, or deal with any legal matter that requires proof of a completed divorce.
A Terrebonne Parish divorce decree will generally include the names of both spouses, dates of marriage and separation, grounds for the divorce, how community property was divided, and if children are involved, custody, visitation, and child support terms. Spousal support orders appear if the court granted them. Certified copies carry the clerk's seal and are accepted by banks, courts, and government agencies. Plain copies cost less and are fine for personal reference.
Legal Help for Divorce in Terrebonne Parish
Several resources can help residents of Terrebonne Parish with divorce cases. Free help is available for those who qualify based on income.
Southeast Louisiana Legal Services serves Terrebonne Parish and can provide free civil legal help. Call 211 to connect with local services. Louisiana Law Help has divorce forms and step-by-step guides for self-represented people. The Louisiana State Bar Association referral service can connect you with a private family law attorney in the Houma area.
Cities in Terrebonne Parish
Terrebonne Parish is home to Houma, the parish seat and largest city, where the Clerk of Court is located. All communities in Terrebonne Parish file divorce cases through the 32nd Judicial District Court in Houma. Gray, Schriever, and other communities in the parish all use the same courthouse.
Nearby Parishes
Terrebonne Parish is in south-central Louisiana near the Gulf Coast. If you live near a parish border, confirm your parish of residence before you file.