Rapides Parish, Louisiana State Court Records
According to the Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure, the clerk of court is the legal custodian of all records created and collected during a court proceeding. The Code of Criminal Procedure also supports this claim. The clerk is responsible for keeping, preserving, and distributing these records. Records created in the course of a criminal or civil proceeding become Rapides Parish court records. They provide the public with an overview of the entire court procedure for a particular case or cases, to the extent permitted by governing law for that case type.
Apart from being standalone documents, court records may also be part of an expanded record, such as a criminal record. They may also be combined with a vital record for various legal purposes, including paternity analysis or cases involving proof of age.
Are Rapides Parish Court Records Public?
Yes. The provisions governing access to Louisiana court records, of which Rapides Parish court records form a part, are outlined in different specialized laws, including La. R.S. 44:1 et seq. under the Louisiana Public Records Act, the Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure (RS 13:5992), and the Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure (particularly Art. 251, Chapter 5). The Public Records Act outlines which records members of the public may access and the degree of access permitted. In the same light, the Code of Criminal Procedure and the Code of Civil Procedure state the parts of each type of court record and the entire records that are accessible to the public and those that are restricted.
This is to say that while, under several laws, Rapides Parish court records are considered accessible to the public, certain court records and some information are sealed or confidential. Some of the information one may not find included in a Rapides Parish civil or criminal record, which can only be accessed by parties to the case, judicial or law enforcement personnel, or individuals with a court order, includes
- Personal information of protected individuals (RS 44 §11.2)
- Domiciliary address information of judges (RS 44 §11.1)
- Certain personnel information (RS 44 §11)
- Documents filed in proceedings before the Judiciary Commission, including evidence (RS 44 §10)
- Investigatory and prosecutorial records (RS 44 §3)
Additionally, according to La. C.C.P. art. 253 and La. C.Cr.P. art. 14.1, filers are responsible for not including certain personal information in documents to be filed, such as full dates of birth and financial information, to name a few.
What Information is Available in Rapides Parish Court Records?
A collection of information makes up a Rapides Parish court record. However, these details are only connected to case proceedings. The data in each case record is unique to the type of case, which determines its precise content. While Rapides Parish court records are generally open for public review, access to certain information and documents may be restricted by case type.
The details and documents that one may find in a court file are:
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Case Information |
Documents (generally depend on the case type) |
|---|---|
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Rapides Parish Court Records Search
Statutorily, the clerk of a court in Rapides Parish is responsible for providing case details and, where permitted by law, documents to individuals who need to inspect or copy them. This could be online, in person, or by mail.
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Online Access |
Onsite Access |
Mail Request |
|---|---|---|
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Remote access |
In-person access |
This is a partially remote inquiry option |
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The inquirer does not need to show up at any location. Instead, from any location with internet access, they can search for the record they seek through the Rapid E-Search online resources. |
The inquirer must appear at the courthouse or the clerk's office to use the public access computers provided for digital copies or to search for hard copies of the sought record. |
Requesters complete a designated form or forward a written request to the court that handled the case. |
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Requires a subscription fee |
Searches may incur a fee, as may requests for copies |
Incurs a processing fee, as well as a copying and postage fee |
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Available at any time of the day except during general maintenance periods |
Available only during working hours |
Available only during working hours |
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Subscribers only need a name or a case number to retrieve a record |
While a name and a case number can be provided to retrieve a record, the inquirer may also provide other information for a streamlined search, especially if a case number is not known |
Inquirers are required to provide identifying details; the more details, the better |
Fees for Court Records in Rapides Parish
Under R.S. 44:32, custodians of public records in Rapides Parish, including the clerk of the court, may charge inquirers seeking a public record a reasonable fee. This fee covers search charges as well as copy requests. Some of the fees charged by a clerk of court are
- Name or index search: $20 per search and $10 per name variation
- Copies of civil or suit records: $1 per page and $5 for certification
- Court minutes extract: $10 per page
- Faxed copies:
- Long distance: $2.25
- Short distance: $1
The office will contact requesters who send a fax or mail request to inform them of the amount due. Any outstanding fees must be paid before copies of the records can be provided. Inquirers may pay using cash, checks, or credit cards.
Rapides Parish Courthouse Locations
The 9th Judicial District Court and other local courts, including the City, Justice of the Peace, and Mayor's Courts, make up the judicial system in Rapides Parish. The jurisdictions of these courts range from general jurisdiction, as in the district court, to limited jurisdiction, as in other courts in the parish: City, Justice of the Peace, and Mayor's Courts. Most of these courts handle both criminal and civil cases of varying seriousness.
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Court: |
9th Judicial District Court |
City Courts |
Justice of the Peace Courts |
Mayor's Courts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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Jurisdiction: |
Court of original jurisdiction that oversees civil, criminal, and juvenile cases |
Limited civil disputes with damages up to $50,000, small claims with damages up to $5,000, municipal ordinances, traffic violations, and misdemeanor criminal or juvenile matters |
Oversees minor civil disputes and small claims with damages not exceeding $5,000, evictions, and limited criminal matters |
Hears only municipal ordinance and traffic violations within city limits |
The contact details of each court are outlined below:
Rapides 9th Judicial District Court
701 Murray Street
Alexandria, LA 71309
Phone: (318) 473-8153
Fax: (318) 473-4667
City Courts
515 Washington Street
Alexandria, LA 71309
Phone: (318) 449-5146
904 Main Street
Pineville, LA 71361
Phone: (318) 449-5656
Justice of the Peace Ward 2
3870 Highway 457
Alexandria, LA 71302
Phone: (318) 563-8421
Justice of the Peace Ward 3
1st Justice Court
Cheneyville, LA 71325
Phone: (318) 201-6891
Justice of the Peace Ward 3
2nd Justice Court
Lecompte, LA 71346
Phone: (318) 623-2035
Justice of the Peace Ward 4
1st Justice Court
Woodworth, LA 71485
Phone: (318) 201-1989
Justice of the Peace Ward 4
2nd Justice Court
21 Science Hill Cemetery Road
Glenmora, LA 71433
Phone: (318) 748-4382
Justice of the Peace Ward 5
1st Justice Court
157 Dixie Church Road
Sieper, LA 71472
Phone: (318) 793-4815
Justice of the Peace Ward 5
2nd Justice Court
36 Ed Miller Road
Elmer, LA 71424
Phone: (318) 659-4357 (home)
Phone: (318) 442-9251 (work)
Justice of the Peace Ward 6
257 West River Road
Glenmora, LA 71433
Phone: (318) 748-4493
Justice of the Peace Ward 7
1st Justice Court
1681 Lena Flatwoods Road
Lena, LA 71477
Phone: (318) 793-4891
Justice of the Peace Ward 7
2nd Justice Court
Boyce, LA 71409
Phone: (318) 880-8341
Justice of the Peace Ward 8
3530 England Drive
Alexandria, LA 71303
Justice of the Peace Ward 10
4221 Aspen Court
Pineville, LA 71360
Phone: (318) 640-5073
Justice of the Peace Ward 11
88 Daisy Bell Lane
Deville, LA 71328
Phone: (318) 466-5329
Phone: (318) 664-1828
Mayor's Courts
100 Municipal Lane
Ball, LA 71405
Phone: (318) 640-9604
Fax: (318) 641-9847
Boyce Mayor's Court
807 Londonderry Avenue
Boyce, LA 71409
Phone: (318) 793-2175
Fax: (318) 793-5978
Cheneyville Mayor's Court
201 Derboune Street
Cheneyville, LA 71325
Phone: (318) 279-2155
Fax: (318) 279-2266
4300 Highway 112
Forest Hill, LA 71430
Phone: (318) 748-6300
Fax: (318) 748-8850
Glenmora Mayor's Court
1000 7th Street
Glenmora, LA 71433
Phone: (318) 748-4885
Fax: (318) 748-4649
Lecompte Mayor's Court
1302 Weems Street
Lecompte, LA 71346
Phone: (318) 776-5488
Fax: (318) 776-0004
McNary Mayor's Court
53 West Cady Avenue
Glenmora, LA 71433
Phone: (318) 748-8264
Fax: (318) 748-8524
Woodworth Mayor's Court
9363 Highway 165 South
Woodworth, LA 71485
Phone: (318) 442-1198
Fax: (318) 487-6110
Criminal Records Access in Rapides Parish
Rapides Parish court records, as documents of proceedings alone, are maintained at the local level by the clerk of the court where the case was adjudicated.
However, some court records also become part of criminal records (consisting of arrest records, court records, and dispositions). These records are not usually maintained by the judiciary, unlike standalone court documents. Instead, they are maintained by law enforcement agencies, such as the Bureau of Criminal Identification and Information, a unit of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections under the Louisiana State Police. Requests for Rapides Parish criminal records can be submitted to this agency by mail, online, or in person. This process is termed a background check and can only be performed by authorized members of the public.
For those who only need details of Rapides Parish court proceedings, inquirers can contact the clerk or the court directly, in person or by mail, or use the online case management system provided to retrieve the wanted record.
Rapides Parish Probate Records
Probate records differ from other civil court records in that they are related only to probate successions, which encompass estates, wills, trusts, guardianships, testate and intestate successions, and conservatorships. The records of all adjudicated cases are maintained by the clerk of the 9th Judicial District Court, which has jurisdiction over probate matters.
Like most case records, probate records are available for public inspection. Notwithstanding, an inquirer may experience certain restrictions in relation to accessing some probate records, and sometimes some records may not be available at all for public inspection. The clerk of the court is responsible for disseminating the records maintained by the court. These records can be viewed online, in person, or by mail.
Rapides Parish Family Court Records
The 9th Judicial District Court in Rapides Parish adjudicates all matters of domestic relations. These matters are categorized as family law and include divorce hearings, child support, custody, visitation, cruelty to juveniles, and protective orders, to name a few. Family law records are unique in that they may contain sensitive details; as such, one may find that some case records, parts of some records, and sometimes entire case documents are barred from public access despite the general openness of court records.
Requesters can search for a family record using the court's case search tool. To perform a search, the inquirer must register an account. With a name, a case number, or a date of filing, a user can retrieve family records that are open and available online. For certified copies, certificates, and records available only at the clerk's office, requesters must physically visit the clerk's office.
Alternatively, the requester may submit a written request to the clerk's office.
Federal Court Records in Rapides Parish
The United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana is the federal district court with jurisdiction over civil and criminal cases from Rapides Parish. Certain cases of particular seriousness, cases such as bankruptcy, corruption, or treason, or, to put it another way, cases governed by a federal law, are handled by a federal court instead of a local court. Case records within the scope of public access can be retrieved online through the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) case search tool, in person, or through the mail.
Each of these options follows a prescribed procedure. For instance, those who would prefer to retrieve a record without going to the courthouse can simply create a PACER account, enter a name or case number, pay the required search fee, and proceed to search. There is a search fee one must pay to use the service.
