Yes, divorce records are public in Louisiana. Any adult can walk into the Clerk of Court’s office in the parish where the divorce was granted and ask to see the file, and the clerk has to hand it over without asking why. A judge can seal portions of a record in narrow circumstances, and certain personal identifiers are stripped out before anyone sees the file, but open access is the default.
Why the Records Are Open
The Louisiana Constitution guarantees the right to examine public documents except where a specific law says otherwise.1Louisiana State Senate. State Constitution of 1974 – Article XII General Provisions Court filings qualify as public records under Louisiana Revised Statutes Title 44, and La. R.S. 44:32 requires the custodian (the parish Clerk of Court) to present those records to any adult who asks.2Justia Law. Louisiana Revised Statutes 44:32 – Duty to Permit Examination The clerk cannot ask why you want the document. The only allowable questions verify your age and identity, or narrow a vague request.
That access covers everything in the case file: the initial petition, motions filed during the case, and the final judgment. You do not have to be a spouse, a family member, or an attorney.
Decree or Certificate: Know Which You Need
People often conflate two different documents.
A divorce decree is the court order that ended the marriage. It contains the actual terms: property division, spousal support, custody, child support. You need a certified copy of the decree to enforce any of those terms or to prove the divorce’s conditions in another legal proceeding.3USAGov. How to Get a Copy of a Divorce Decree or Certificate
A divorce certificate is a shorter vital record confirming that a divorce occurred, with the spouses’ names, location, and date. It’s usually enough for administrative tasks like a name change or proof of eligibility to remarry.
One point that trips people up: Louisiana’s Vital Records Registry does not issue divorce certificates. If you contact the Louisiana Department of Health, they’ll send you to the parish clerk.4Louisiana Department of Health. Marriage Certificates and Licenses For any Louisiana divorce record, decree or certificate, the parish Clerk of Court is the only source.
How to Request Records From the Parish Clerk
Requests go to the Clerk of Court in the parish where the divorce was finalized. There is no centralized statewide divorce database, so you need the right parish. If you’re not sure, start with the parish where the couple last lived together.
Bring as much of the following as you can:
- Both spouses’ full legal names, including maiden names or prior surnames
- The parish where the divorce was granted
- The year of the judgment, or a narrow range
- The docket number, if you have it — this makes the search almost instant
You can submit the request in person, by mail with an application form and payment, or through an online portal if the parish offers one. In-person visits typically get you same-day access. Mail turnaround varies by parish workload. Most clerks post request forms and instructions on their websites.
Searching the Statewide Index Online
Louisiana runs a free statewide search portal through the Louisiana Clerks’ Remote Access Authority at eclerksla.com. It covers all 64 parishes and lets you search indices for civil, family, and probate court records.5eClerks LA. What Is the Louisiana Statewide Portal The index search is free, so you can confirm a divorce exists and pin down the parish and case number before paying for anything.
Viewing or downloading the actual document images may cost extra, with fees set by the individual parish. Some charge per page; others sell daily or subscription access. If you only need to verify a divorce and locate the file, the free index is usually enough.
What It Costs and How Long It Takes
Fees vary by parish, but the structure is consistent. Uncertified copies typically run $1.00 per page.6EBR Clerk of Court. East Baton Rouge Parish Clerk of Court – Section: Public Records Request Notice Certified copies (the version accepted as legal proof) add a certification fee on top of the per-page cost. Calcasieu Parish, for example, charges $10.00 for certification.7Calcasieu Clerk. Fees and Costs – Section: Civil Records Department Check the specific clerk’s fee schedule before submitting.
If you visit in person, you can usually walk out with your copies the same day. You can also examine records at the clerk’s office at no charge during business hours, which works when you only need to review a file.6EBR Clerk of Court. East Baton Rouge Parish Clerk of Court – Section: Public Records Request Notice Mail requests take longer, so build in time if you have a deadline.
What You Won’t See in the File
Public does not mean everything is visible. As of January 1, 2026, Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure Article 253 bars filings from including the first five digits of any Social Security number, tax identification numbers, state identification numbers, driver’s license numbers, financial account numbers, or full dates of birth.8Louisiana State Legislature. Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure Article 253 Only the last four digits of Social Security and account numbers appear, and only the birth year is shown.
The person filing the document is responsible for the redactions, not the clerk. If private information slipped into an older filing, a party can ask the court to redact it after the fact.
When a Record Can Be Sealed
Sealing goes further than redaction and removes part or all of a file from public view. Louisiana courts can order it under their inherent judicial authority, but the standard is demanding.9Justia Law. Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure Article 191 – Inherent Judicial Power
In Copeland v. Copeland (2007), the Louisiana Supreme Court held that a party seeking to seal records must make a specific showing that a privacy interest outweighs the public’s constitutional right of access. General claims of embarrassment or inconvenience are not enough. Any sealing order must be narrowly tailored.
In practice, courts rarely seal an entire divorce file. Judges are more willing to seal specific documents inside a case, such as financial affidavits containing trade secrets, evidence tied to domestic violence where safety is a concern, or psychological evaluations of children. If you want to keep sensitive details private, targeted redaction or partial sealing has a much better chance than a blanket request. To pursue it, file a motion with the court that handled the divorce, identify the specific privacy interest, and list exactly which documents or portions you want sealed.