Kenner Divorce Records Lookup
Divorce records for Kenner residents are held by the Jefferson Parish Clerk of Court and heard by the 24th Judicial District Court in Gretna. Kenner is within Jefferson Parish, and while the city has its own court system for municipal matters, all divorce cases go through the parish-level 24th JDC. This page covers how to find, request, and file divorce records in Kenner.
Kenner Quick Facts
Where Kenner Divorce Cases Are Filed
Kenner is a city within Jefferson Parish, located on the east bank near the New Orleans airport. All divorce cases for Kenner residents are handled by the 24th Judicial District Court and the Jefferson Parish Clerk of Court, both based in Gretna on the west bank.
Kenner has a City Court, but it handles only municipal matters -- traffic, misdemeanors, and some civil claims. The Kenner City Court does not hear divorce cases. For all divorce filings, Kenner residents go to Gretna.
Jefferson Parish also has two Parish Courts. These handle some civil matters but not divorce. Any divorce case in Jefferson Parish, including Kenner, goes to the 24th JDC at the Thomas F. Donelon Courthouse.
As one source notes regarding the parish court system: "If you get arrested in Kenner, Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, you would go to the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center for jail and the 24th Judicial District Court for court." The same principle applies to civil matters like divorce -- the 24th JDC is the court that handles them.
Jefferson Parish Clerk of Court - Main Office (Gretna)
| Court | 24th Judicial District Court / Jefferson Parish Clerk of Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 200 Derbigny Street, Suite 5600, Gretna, LA 70053 |
| Phone | (504) 364-2900 |
| Hours | Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM |
| Website | https://www.jpclerkofcourt.us |
Jefferson Parish Clerk of Court - East Bank Branch
| Court | Jefferson Parish Clerk of Court (East Bank) |
|---|---|
| Address | Joseph S. Yenni Building, 1221 Elmwood Park Blvd., Jefferson, LA 70123 |
| Phone | (504) 736-6390 |
| Hours | Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM |
| Website | https://www.jpclerkofcourt.us |
Kenner is on the east bank of the Mississippi, so the Elmwood Park Boulevard branch may be more convenient for some transactions. However, new filings and primary case management go through the main Gretna office.
What Records the Clerk Keeps
The Jefferson Parish Clerk of Court is the official custodian of divorce records for all cases filed in the 24th JDC. The vital records available from the Jefferson Parish Clerk of Court include birth certificates, death certificates, marriage licenses, and divorce decrees.
This means the Clerk is the single point of contact for most vital document requests in Jefferson Parish. If you need a certified copy of a divorce decree from a Kenner-area case, you request it from this Clerk's office, not from any Kenner city office.
The Clerk maintains records electronically. All filings are digitally preserved, making records retrievable for both recent and older cases. Public access terminals at the Gretna courthouse allow free searches during business hours.
The Jefferson Parish Clerk of Court website provides access to the civil records portal. The screenshot below shows the Clerk's system for searching Kenner and Jefferson Parish divorce case records.
The Clerk's portal covers all civil cases filed in Jefferson Parish, including divorces for Kenner residents, and allows searches by party name or case number through the 24th JDC records system.
Searching Kenner Divorce Records Online
The Jefferson Parish Clerk's website at jpclerkofcourt.us provides online access to case records. You can search by party name or case number. Some records are viewable online; others require an in-person visit to the courthouse.
Public access terminals at the Donelon Courthouse in Gretna allow free searches without a subscription. This is a good option for occasional searches or for those who need to locate a case number before requesting certified copies.
The statewide eClerks LA portal at eclerksla.com also covers Jefferson Parish records. This is useful if you are searching across multiple parishes or are not sure which parish holds the records you need.
The 24th Judicial District Court maintains a website with court calendars, docket information, and self-help resources for Kenner and other Jefferson Parish residents. The screenshot below shows the 24th JDC portal used for tracking active divorce and family cases.
The 24th JDC portal provides docket and scheduling information for active divorce proceedings in Jefferson Parish, which is useful for Kenner residents tracking the status of a case before requesting certified documents.
Filing for Divorce as a Kenner Resident
To file for divorce in Kenner, at least one spouse must be domiciled in Jefferson Parish under Louisiana Civil Code Article 3941. Living in Kenner satisfies this requirement since Kenner is within Jefferson Parish.
Louisiana Civil Code Article 102 lets you file before the required separation is complete. After the petition is served, you wait 180 days if there are no minor children, or 365 days if minor children are involved. Under Article 103, if you and your spouse have already been separated for the required period before you file, the court can grant an immediate divorce.
New suits are filed at the civil department in Suite 2400 of the Donelon Courthouse in Gretna, along with a security deposit for court costs. E-filing is available for attorneys; individual filers can file in person, by mail, or by fax.
Louisiana is a community property state under Civil Code Article 2325. Assets and debts acquired during the marriage are generally split equally unless the parties agree otherwise or a court finds cause to depart from equal division. Property disputes can extend the time it takes to finalize a divorce.
Self-Help and Legal Aid in Kenner
The 24th JDC Self-Help Center at the Donelon Courthouse in Gretna is open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Income must be at or below 200% of the federal poverty level to use the center. Staff can help with forms and procedures for self-represented parties but do not give legal advice.
Southeast Louisiana Legal Services provides free civil legal help to income-qualifying residents of Jefferson Parish, including Kenner. Call (504) 529-1000 to check eligibility. They handle family law cases including divorce.
The Jefferson Parish Law Library at 200 Derbigny Street, Suite 5200, Gretna, is open to the public. Call (504) 364-2970 for hours. The library has legal research materials and form sets that can help self-represented parties navigate the process.
Louisiana Law Help at louisianalawhelp.org has guides specific to Louisiana divorce law. For a private attorney referral, the Louisiana State Bar Association's referral service can connect you with family law attorneys in the greater New Orleans and Jefferson Parish area.
Requesting Certified Copies
Certified copies of divorce decrees and other case documents are available from the Jefferson Parish Clerk of Court at 200 Derbigny Street in Gretna. You can also use the East Bank branch at 1221 Elmwood Park Blvd. for some requests.
Provide the names of both parties and the approximate year the divorce was finalized. The Clerk will locate the case and prepare certified copies. Call (504) 364-2900 to ask about current copy fees before submitting a mail request.
Mail requests should be sent to the main Gretna office. Include a check or money order for estimated fees and a self-addressed stamped envelope for return of documents.
Public Records Law
Under La. R.S. 44:1, Louisiana's Public Records Law, finalized divorce records are public. Case filings, petitions, and judgments can be reviewed and copied by any member of the public. Records involving minor children or sealed by the court may have limited access. Ask the Clerk about restrictions when making your request.
Jefferson Parish Divorce Records
Kenner divorce cases are part of Jefferson Parish's court system. The Jefferson Parish Clerk of Court holds official case records and issues certified copies. For the full parish-level guide to records, fees, and access options, visit the Jefferson Parish page.