Lafayette County
Lafayette Parish was founded in 1823 and named in honor of the Marquis de Lafayette, a French aristocrat who supported the American Revolution. The parish covers an area of approximately 269 square miles in the southwestern part of Louisiana. The population of Lafayette Parish is 241,753, according to the 2020 census, while its parish seat is Lafayette.
The court system in Lafayette Parish is divided into the District, City, Justice of The Peace, and Mayor's Courts. The District Court in Lafayette Parish is part of the state's 15th Judicial District Court. It has general jurisdiction over all civil and criminal matters in the parish and handles appeals from lower courts. The City Court in Lafayette County handles civil matters such as personal injury, general damages, contracts, open accounts, commercial paper not more than $20,000, small claims suits of $5,000 or less, and landlord-tenant matters. They also handle criminal matters, traffic offenses, juvenile matters, and family law matters.
Lafayette County has nine Justices of The Peace. These courts resolve civil cases of not more than $5,000. Also, they hold preliminary hearings for most criminal cases in the parish. The Mayor's Courts have jurisdiction in cases involving violations of municipal ordinances, such as jaywalking, animal control, and disturbing the peace.
Lafayette Parish public court records are government materials and documents created during legal proceedings. These records may contain information about court dockets, case filings, motions, judgments, and trial transcripts. Public records are made available under the Louisiana Public Records Act, which grants public access to government documents. Available public court records include:
- Criminal court records
- Land records
- Domestic relations records
- Civil records
- Small claims records
- Probate records
You should know that records, such as juvenile court records, sensitive victim and witness information, and family law records, are confidential and only accessible by authorized individuals. Interested persons can request court records from the Clerk of the Lafayette Parish Court. Requests can be made by phone or in person at the Clerk's Office:
Lafayette Parish Clerk of Court
15th Judicial District
800 S. Buchanan Street
Lafayette, LA 70501
Phone: (337) 291-6400
Court records are also accessible online through the Louisiana Clerk of Court's online portal. Users can search for records by case number, party name, or hearing date. Online access is free, but obtaining certified or physical copies from the Clerk's Office will incur fees.
