Ouachita County
Ouachita Parish was founded in 1807 and was named after the Ouachita Native American people. It is located in the northern part of Louisiana and covers about 610.4 square miles of land area, which is inhabited by an estimated 160,368 residents. Monroe serves as the parish seat.
The Ouachita Parish court system consists of a District Court, two City Courts, six Justice of the Peace Courts, and two Mayor's Courts. Generally, the Ouachita Parish District Court handles all criminal and civil cases, including felonies and property disputes. The court comprises the Domestic Relations Division, Family Division, and Juvenile Division. Cases relating to traffic matters also fall within the court's jurisdiction. The Ouachita Parish City Courts have limited jurisdiction over certain types of civil and criminal cases, such as ordinance violations and misdemeanors. The City Courts have a small claims division for civil cases of up to $3,000, exclusive of fees and costs. The Ouachita Parish Justice of the Peace Courts has limited authority over certain criminal and civil cases, including preliminary hearings, litter violations, and some non-felony cases. These courts share jurisdiction with the District Court over certain civil cases but have less jurisdiction over certain cases involving probate matters, real estate title disputes, and cases involving the state as a defendant. Cases involving local ordinances and traffic violations are heard by the Ouachita Parish Mayor's Courts.
Ouachita Parish court records include all legal information and documents generated during court proceedings. These records consist of various types of files, such as citations, warrants, docket sheets, summons, and affidavits. In general, Ouachita Parish court records that may be accessed by the public include the following:
- Criminal records
- Civil records
- Property records
- Probate records
- Traffic records
In Ouachita Parish, the Clerk of Court maintains court records and makes them available to the public, but it is important to complete a Public Records Request Form and submit it by email or in person at the Clerk's Office. The applicant will be notified when the records are available for review. Viewing or inspecting the parish's court records during regular business hours is free, but charges may be incurred for copies, either physical or electronic. Ouachita Parish's court records can be searched online through the Clerk of Court portal.
