Ascension County
Ascension Parish, established in 1807, is located in southeastern Louisiana along the Mississippi River. Its parish seat is Donaldsonville, while its largest city is Gonzales. The parish covers about 290 square miles and has a population of approximately 126,500 people.
Ascension Parish's court structure includes District Courts, Parish Courts, and Justice of the Peace Courts. The 23rd Judicial District Court serves Ascension Parish along with two other parishes. It has general jurisdiction over felony crimes and most civil cases involving property, family law, and probate matters. Parish Courts primarily handle certain criminal and civil cases, such as municipal violations, misdemeanors, and general claims involving monetary disputes or property within certain financial limits, while the Justice of the Peace Courts deals with general civil disputes and small claims. They also conduct preliminary hearings for most criminal offenses and violations. Ascension Parish's legal system is distinct from other states since it is based on Louisiana's civil law traditions, a system derived from French and Spanish law.
Court records in Ascension Parish are transcripts of cases and rulings by the courts within the parish. They are generated from judicial decisions, orders, judgments, and court filings. These records include:
- Civil Records
- Criminal Records
- Probate Records
- Family Records
The Ascension Parish Clerk of Court maintains these records and provides public access per Public Records Law either by in-person visit at the Clerk's Office or by performing a name-based search online. In addition, physical copies or certified copies of court records can be viewed or obtained for a fee by visiting the various parish courthouses at:
300 Houmas Street
Donaldsonville, LA 70346
Phone: (225) 473-9866, ext 8
Fax: (225) 473-8641
607 East Worthey Street
Gonzales, LA 70737
Criminal Phone: (225) 621-8400, ext 3
Criminal Fax: (225) 644-8790
Civil Phone: (225) 621-8400, ext 2
Civil Fax: (225) 621-8403
