Rapides County
Named for the local river rapids, Rapides Parish has a land area of approximately 1,324 square miles, making it Louisiana's second-largest county by land. The parish was established in 1807 and currently has a population of over 129,000 residents. The county seat and largest city is the City of Alexandria.
Rapides Parish has four trial courts, including the District, Justice of the Peace, City, and Mayor's Courts. The District Court in Rapides Parish, also Louisiana's 9th Judicial District Court, has general jurisdiction over all criminal civil cases. The court's civil division typically hears title-to-land disputes, personal injury claims, and other monetary claims for more than $25,000, while the criminal division hears all felony-related cases. Rapides Parish's Justice Courts preside over criminal preliminary hearings, civil violation trials, and probate matters. The two City Courts in Rapides Parish are located in Alexandria and Pineville. These courts have limited jurisdiction over minor civil and criminal cases. Criminal cases handled by the City Courts include misdemeanors and all other cases involving only bench trials. Meanwhile, financial disputes involving $25,000 or less, landlord-tenant complaints, and small claims under $5,000 in financial settlements are resolved at the Rapides Parish City Courts. The Mayor's Courts in New Rapides have exclusive jurisdiction over ordinance violations and traffic Infractions.
Documents generated during court cases and maintained by the Rapides County Clerk of Court are regarded as public court records. These documents have information on case filings, trial transcripts, evidence, testimonies, dispositions, dockets, and judgments. Rapides Parish trial courts have different court clerks tasked with keeping and disseminating the following public court records:
- Criminal court records
- Real estate records
- Family law records
- Civil records
- Small claims records
- Probate records
Meanwhile, confidential records and other case files containing personal/sensitive information are not publicly accessible, per the Louisiana Public Records Act. The Court Clerk provides confidential records to only record owners, their legal representatives, and other persons granted access by the county court. To obtain public court records in Rapides Parish, record searchers can complete and send public request forms to the Clerk of Court at:
Rapides Parish Clerk of Court
701 Murray Street, Suite 102
Alexandria, LA 71301
Phone: (318) 473-8153
Email: info@rapidesclerk.org
The Court Clerk typically charges $1 per copy and $5 per certified copy. Individuals interested in Rapides Parish court records online can use the eClerks LA Records Search. Users can search for records by case number, party name, or hearing date.
