Common Questions About Lafayette County Court Records
How do I search Lafayette Parish court records?
Start at the Lafayette Parish Clerk of Court site and pick the department or online tool that matches your record. ClerkConnect, eClerks LA, and eSearch are the linked online tools, and the 15th JDC calendar handles court dates. Search by party name if you do not have a case number. If a record is old, sealed, or not imaged, contact the Clerk. More detail is on the court records page.
Is the 15th Judicial District Court the same as federal court?
No. The 15th JDC is Louisiana's state trial court for Lafayette, Acadia, and Vermilion Parishes. Federal cases go to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana. State records are kept by the parish Clerk, while federal records are searched through the federal court and PACER. The District Court page explains how the two systems differ and where each kind of case belongs.
Where is the Lafayette Parish Courthouse?
The main courthouse for local court-record business is at 800 South Buchanan Street, Lafayette, Louisiana 70501. Use that physical address for maps and in-person visits, not a mailing-only address. The Clerk of Court counters and the 15th JDC functions are based there. For directions, parking notes, and contact details, see the Clerk of Court page and the home page map.
Who is the Lafayette Parish Clerk of Court?
The current Clerk of Court is Louis J. Perret, according to the official Clerk biography page. The Clerk is the elected parish official who keeps court filings and many official public records, from civil and criminal cases to land, marriage, and succession records. The office is the local hub for certified copies and filings. Learn more on the Clerk of Court page.
Can I get certified copies online?
No. Online images and index prints are not certified copies. A certified copy must be requested from the Clerk, and a certification fee applies on top of the per-page copy fee. Certified copies are what banks, agencies, and courts accept. Use the Clerk fee page and department contacts for the current amount. See the public records page for request steps.
Are criminal records public?
Many criminal court records are public, but access is limited for juvenile records, sealed cases, expunged records, active investigations, and protected victim data. An arrest and a conviction are not the same thing. A charge is an accusation, while a conviction is a finding or plea of guilt. The arrest records page explains the difference and where to check each one.
How do I search for an inmate?
Use the Lafayette Parish Sheriff's offender-information page and the 365Labs Community Portal. Search by name and check both active inmates and recent bookings. For custody alerts, register on VINELink. A booking shows custody and charge, not a conviction, and the roster changes by the hour. The inmate records page walks through the search and what a profile shows.
How do I confirm someone was released?
Search the Sheriff portal, check recent bookings, and use VINELink to confirm a custody change. For urgent timing, call the jail's information line, since release data can lag behind bond posting or transport. For state-prison inmates, use the Louisiana DOC, and for federal inmates, use the Bureau of Prisons locator. The released inmates page covers each tool.
Can I search warrants online?
There is no single official active-warrant list for the parish. Sheriff custody data and court records may show warrant information after a booking or court entry, but sealed and active warrants may not be public. A person can have an open warrant without being listed as an inmate. The warrant records page explains how to check and how to resolve a warrant safely.
Where do I find marriage and divorce records?
Marriage licenses and records come from the Lafayette Parish Clerk of Court. Divorce records are family-court case files kept through the Clerk and heard in the 15th JDC. To search a divorce, use the Clerk's court-record tools with the party names and a date. Certified copies come from the Clerk, not an online image. See the marriage and divorce records page.
What is a succession?
Succession is Louisiana's name for the probate process that settles an estate after death. It handles wills, heirs, estate property, and the judgment of possession that transfers property to the heirs. Successions are filed with the Clerk and heard in the 15th JDC. Some are formal, while smaller estates may use a simpler procedure. The probate records page covers the steps and fees.
How do I clear a criminal record?
Louisiana uses expungement to limit public access to eligible arrest and conviction records. You file a petition in the court of record, identify the agencies that hold the records, and confirm eligibility before filing. Expungement limits public access but does not erase a record for every authorized agency. The Clerk's expungement page links the forms, and the arrest records page explains the basics.
What happens if I miss a court date?
A missed date can lead to a bench warrant or capias, bond forfeiture, and added penalties. For a traffic ticket, it can also bring a license problem. Contact the court division or an attorney right away, and do not rely on third-party warrant sites. The warrant records page and the traffic court records page explain how to handle a missed date.
How do I file a public records request?
Identify the records clearly, send the request to the right custodian such as the Clerk or Sheriff, and be ready to pay reasonable copy fees. Any adult has the right to inspect and copy public records under Louisiana law, with limited exceptions. A denial can be challenged in court. The public records page lays out the steps, fees, and exemptions in detail.
Are juvenile records searchable?
Generally no. Louisiana's Children's Code restricts juvenile delinquency and child-in-need-of-care records, and these are not ordinary public case files. Access is normally limited to the child, parents or guardians, attorneys, court personnel, and authorized agencies. A general public search will not return juvenile case data, which is by design to protect minors. For broader rules on restricted records, see the public records page.
Are adoption records public?
No. Adoption records are confidential under Louisiana law and are handled differently from ordinary civil records. They cannot be searched like a regular case file, and the Children's Code sets the rules for who may see them. People searching for adoption-related records should contact the court directly and may need to follow a separate process. The probate records page touches on related family-court restrictions.
Still Have Questions?
For the right office, see the Clerk of Court page. For broader access rules, see public records. For records by topic, browse court records, arrest records, inmate records, warrant records, marriage and divorce, or probate.