Caddo Parish Divorce Records

Caddo Parish divorce records are held by the Clerk of Court in Shreveport and are public under La. R.S. 44:1. The 1st Judicial District Court, which serves Caddo Parish exclusively, handles all civil cases including divorces. You can search filings online through Clerk Connect or visit the office at 501 Texas Street, Room 103, in Shreveport.

Caddo Parish Clerk of Court

The Caddo Parish Clerk of Court is at 501 Texas Street, Room 103, Shreveport, LA 71101. The main phone number is (318) 226-6500. The marriage department can be reached directly at (318) 226-6789, and the email for that department is marriage@caddoclerk.com. The clerk's website is at caddoclerk.com. Office hours are Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, which is slightly later than many other Louisiana parish clerks.

The scope of the clerk's responsibilities is broad. As stated on the clerk's site, "The Clerk's Office keeps the records for Caddo Parish, including Mortgages, Conveyances, Marriage Licenses, Civil Suits, Criminal Cases, and Minutes for the First Judicial District Court. We are also responsible for training election commissioners and tabulating election results for the parish. The Clerk's Office also draws juries for Court." Civil suits include divorce cases, which means divorce filings, final judgments, and related documents from the 1st JDC are all part of the clerk's records.

Certified copies of divorce judgments are available at the counter at 501 Texas Street. Mail requests are also accepted. Include the full names of both parties, the approximate filing year, and payment for applicable copy fees. Fees follow the standard Louisiana schedule under La. R.S. 13:841.

The clerk's homepage links to record access tools and gives an overview of the services the office provides for Caddo Parish civil court filings.

Marriage and Related Records

The Caddo Parish Clerk also maintains marriage licenses, which are often used alongside divorce records when researching a person's marital history. The marriage information page at caddoclerk.com/marriage.htm provides details on how to request copies of marriage licenses and what the office can help with in that area.

Understanding both marriage and divorce records is useful in many situations, including estate proceedings, name changes, and applications where proof of marital status is required. The Caddo Parish Clerk holds both types of documents and can provide certified copies of each.

The marriage records page also explains what the clerk's office holds and how long different record types have been maintained for Caddo Parish.

Note: Marriage record copies are priced at $6.55 per copy at the Caddo Parish Clerk. Divorce record copy fees may differ. Contact the office at (318) 226-6500 for current pricing before submitting payment.

Clerk Connect Online Search

Caddo Parish records are searchable online through Clerk Connect's Caddo Parish portal. This platform provides access to civil case indexes, which include divorce filings. You can search by the names of the parties or by case number to confirm whether a case was filed and to see basic case information like filing dates and court division assignments.

As described on the clerk's site, "Divorce Records searches reveal divorce papers filed in Shreveport Courts and divorce certificates. The state of Louisiana also maintains an index, known as the Louisiana Divorce Index, which is available for public record searches of Divorce filings." That statewide index is accessible through the eClerks LA system and complements the parish-level search on Clerk Connect.

The Caddo-specific Clerk Connect page is one of the most direct online tools for searching divorce filings with the First Judicial District Court.

The statewide eClerks LA portal is a free additional resource for searching Louisiana Divorce Index entries and civil records across multiple parishes when you are not sure exactly where a case was filed.

The 1st Judicial District Court

The 1st Judicial District Court serves Caddo Parish only. All civil cases filed in Caddo Parish, including divorces, go through this court. The court operates out of the Shreveport courthouse, where the clerk's office is also located. Judge assignments rotate among the divisions of the 1st JDC based on case type and the filing date.

Louisiana requires a waiting period before a divorce can be finalized. Under Civil Code Article 102, the court waits 180 days from service of the petition, or 365 days if minor children are in the household. Couples who have already been living apart for the required time can file under Civil Code Article 103, which avoids the extra wait after filing.

At least one spouse must be domiciled in Louisiana to file in Caddo Parish. Civil Code Article 3941 establishes this domicile rule. Caddo Parish is one of the more active parishes for divorce filings due to its large population in the Shreveport metro area. The 1st JDC handles a high volume of cases, and the clerk's extended hours until 5:00 PM help accommodate that workload.

Community Property in Caddo Parish Divorces

Louisiana divides marital assets equally under Civil Code Article 2325. Everything acquired during the marriage belongs equally to both spouses. Property owned before the marriage, and gifts or inheritances received at any time, stays with the individual spouse as separate property. The community ends when the divorce petition is served, not at the time of the final judgment.

Caddo Parish divorce cases that involve significant property disputes or business interests may take longer to resolve. For straightforward splits, uncontested divorces move through the 1st JDC more quickly. Partition agreements filed in these cases are public record and can be obtained from the clerk's office at 501 Texas Street.

Criminal background checks through the Caddo Parish Clerk cost $20, while other record fees vary. Always confirm pricing for divorce record copies directly with the clerk at (318) 226-6500 before sending payment.

Legal Help in Shreveport and Caddo Parish

Northwest Louisiana Legal Services at (318) 222-7186 provides free legal help to qualifying Caddo Parish residents. Louisiana Law Help at louisianalawhelp.org has step-by-step guides for divorce filings in Louisiana and can help self-represented filers understand what forms to use and how to navigate the court process. The Louisiana State Bar at (800) 421-5722 can connect you with a family law attorney in the Shreveport area if you need representation.

For contested divorces, custody disputes, or cases involving significant assets, working with an attorney is strongly recommended. The clerk's staff can explain the filing process and provide form guidance, but they cannot give legal advice. Shreveport has a large legal community, and the Louisiana State Bar referral service can match you with attorneys who handle family law matters in Caddo Parish.

Caddo Parish Nearby

Bossier Parish is directly to the east across the Red River and operates through the 26th Judicial District. Red River Parish sits to the southeast with its own clerk and court. De Soto Parish is to the south and handles divorce filings through a separate judicial district.