Terrebonne County
Terrebonne Parish covers about 1,230 square miles of land in southern Louisiana, making it the state's fifth-largest county by land. Established in 1822, the county's name is derived from the French word ‘terre bonne,' meaning ‘good earth.' Terrebonne Parish is home to 108,862 residents as of 2022. Its parish seat and largest city is Houma.
Terrebonne Parish has three trial courts: the District, City, and Justice of The Peace Courts. The District Court in Terrebonne Parish is part of Louisiana's 32nd Judicial District Court. As the county's general jurisdiction court, the District Court can decide any civil or criminal case outside the purview of other county courts. Residents not satisfied with judgments from the City or Justice Courts can appeal to the District Court in Terrebonne Parish.
The City Court of Houma often rules on civil actions involving personal injury, contract breaches, and financial claims for up to $20,000. It also resolves eviction disputes and small claims suits below $5,000. Other legal matters decided by the City Court judge include domestic relations, traffic violations, and juvenile cases. There are nine Justices of the Peace Courts in Terrebonne Parish. These courts resolve small claims where the amount in controversy is $5,000 or less. They also preside over preliminary hearings for most criminal cases in the parish.
Terrebonne Parish court records documents created during legal proceedings. They may contain information on case filings, court dockets, motions, judgments, trial transcripts, and court orders. Court records are publicly accessible as required by the Louisiana Public Records Act. These include:
- Criminal court records
- Property records
- Domestic relations records
- Civil records
- Small claims records
- Probate records
On the other hand, state law prohibits public access to juvenile court records, sensitive victim and witness information, and sealed case files. Interested persons must get court orders permitting them to access confidential court documents. Individuals interested in public court records can access them by contacting the Terrebonne Parish Clerk of Court at:
Terrebonne Parish Clerk of Court
7856 Main Street
Houma, LA 70360
Phone: (985) 868-5660
Court records are also accessible online through the Terrebonne County Court eSearch. 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.
