Vermilion Parish Divorce Decree

Vermilion Parish divorce decree records are maintained by the Clerk of Court in Abbeville, which serves the 15th Judicial District Court. To get a certified copy of a divorce decree, you must contact the clerk's office directly in person or by phone.

Vermilion Parish Clerk of Court

Dianne Meaux Broussard is the Clerk of Court for Vermilion Parish. Carlton Campbell serves as Chief Deputy. The clerk's office at 100 N. State Street, Suite 101 in Abbeville keeps all divorce decree records for the 15th Judicial District.

Office hours are 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday. Reach the main line at (337) 898-1992 ext. 243. Fax is (337) 898-9803. The 15th Judicial District Court serves three parishes: Vermilion, Lafayette, and Acadia. Each has its own clerk, but the court covers all three.

The clerk's website may have limited availability at times. If you can't reach the site online, call the office directly. Staff can answer questions about records, fees, and procedures over the phone.

Vermilion Parish is in the Cajun Country region of south Louisiana. All divorce cases filed in the parish go through the 15th JDC, and the clerk in Abbeville keeps the case files.

How to Get a Vermilion Parish Divorce Decree

The process to get a divorce decree in Vermilion Parish is straightforward. Visit the clerk's office in Abbeville or send a written request by mail. In-person requests are handled faster.

When you request records, bring a valid photo ID. Fill out the request form at the clerk's office, or include the same information in a letter if you are mailing. The form asks for the names of both parties in the divorce and the date of the divorce. Include a case number if you have one.

Most Vermilion Parish divorce decree records are public under Louisiana Public Records Law, La. R.S. 44:1. Anyone can request to see them. Certified copies cost more than plain copies. Call the office to confirm current fees before you go or before you send payment by mail.

Online Divorce Record Search for Vermilion Parish

The eClerks LA statewide portal provides free index access to civil records from Vermilion Parish. You can search by name to find case numbers and basic case information at no charge.

For full document images and certified copies, you must contact the Vermilion Parish Clerk of Court directly. The free eClerks search is a good starting point, but it does not replace a formal records request from the clerk. Use it to find a case number first, then contact the office.

Filing for Divorce in Vermilion Parish

Divorce cases in Vermilion Parish go through the 15th Judicial District Court. You file your petition with the Clerk of Court in Abbeville. The clerk assigns a case number and holds all documents.

Louisiana Civil Code Article 3941 says one spouse must be domiciled in Louisiana to file for divorce here. File in the parish where you or your spouse lives. Vermilion Parish residents file at the Abbeville courthouse.

Under Article 102, after filing, you must live separate and apart. The wait is 180 days with no minor children, or 365 days if minor children are involved. Under Article 103, you can skip the waiting period if you have already been separated for the required time or if you are filing on fault grounds such as adultery or conviction of a felony.

Louisiana is a community property state under Civil Code Article 2325. Any property or debt from the marriage is divided equally unless the spouses agree otherwise. The final decree from the 15th JDC covers all of this and is filed as a public record under La. R.S. 44:1.

What a Vermilion Parish Divorce Decree Contains

The divorce decree is the judge's final signed order ending the marriage. It sets out every term that the court decided or that the parties agreed to.

A Vermilion Parish divorce decree will generally include both spouses' full legal names, the date the marriage began, the date the parties separated, the grounds for the divorce, and how community property and debts are divided. If there are minor children, the decree states custody and visitation terms and the child support amount. Spousal support appears in the decree if the court ordered it. The certified copy carries the clerk's seal and signature. Banks, courts, government offices, and insurance companies often require the certified version for name changes, property deals, and legal claims.

Divorce Certificates vs. Full Decrees

Louisiana maintains two types of official divorce documents. Many people mix them up.

A divorce certificate is a short document from the state Vital Records office. It shows who divorced, when, and where. It does not have property terms, custody orders, or support amounts. The Louisiana Department of Health Vital Records issues these for $9 each. They are useful for proving a divorce happened but not enough for most legal or financial matters. For anything that requires the full terms of the divorce, you need the actual decree from the Vermilion Parish Clerk of Court.

Legal Resources for Vermilion Parish Residents

Several options exist for legal help with divorce cases in Vermilion Parish.

The Acadiana Legal Service Corporation provides free legal help to qualifying low-income residents in the Acadiana region, which includes Vermilion Parish. Call 211 to find out about local services and eligibility. Louisiana Law Help offers self-help tools, plain-language guides, and downloadable forms for divorce cases in Louisiana. The Louisiana State Bar Association referral line can connect you with a private family law attorney who practices in the Abbeville area if you need paid legal counsel.

Related Records in Vermilion Parish

The Vermilion Parish Clerk of Court also handles marriage records, land records, conveyances, and probate matters. If you need a marriage certificate to pair with a divorce record, the same clerk office has both.

Property transfers often follow a divorce. The clerk's office records all conveyances in the parish. If property was transferred as part of a Vermilion Parish divorce settlement, those records are at the same courthouse in Abbeville. The Louisiana Clerks of Court Association website can help you understand what each parish clerk handles statewide.

Cities in Vermilion Parish

Abbeville is the parish seat and the location of the Clerk of Court. Other communities in Vermilion Parish include Erath, Gueydan, Kaplan, and Maurice. All communities in the parish file divorce cases through the 15th Judicial District Court in Abbeville. No cities in Vermilion Parish meet the population threshold for a separate city page on this site.

Nearby Parishes

Vermilion Parish is in south Louisiana along the Gulf Coast. These parishes share borders with Vermilion Parish.