East Baton Rouge Parish Divorce Records

East Baton Rouge Parish divorce records date back to 1782 and are held by the Clerk of Court in Baton Rouge under the Louisiana Public Records Law, La. R.S. 44:1. The clerk's office serves the 19th Judicial District Court, which covers East Baton Rouge Parish alone, and provides certified copies, online search access, and in-person assistance for anyone who needs to find a divorce case or judgment.

East Baton Rouge Parish Clerk of Court

The East Baton Rouge Parish Clerk of Court operates out of two locations. The main office is at 222 St. Louis Street, Room B115, Baton Rouge, LA 70802, and can be reached at (225) 389-3950. The Airline Branch office is at 9050 Airline Highway, Baton Rouge, LA 70815, phone (225) 293-2933. Both locations are open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. The main office handles most public records requests, including certified copies of divorce judgments.

According to the clerk's office, "Certified copies of Judgement of Divorce for divorces finalized in East Baton Rouge Parish are available from the Public Service Department of the Office of the Clerk of Court. Contact this Department about obtaining copies of your divorce judgement by calling (225) 389-3950." This is the most direct route to getting an official certified copy for legal use. The Public Service Department handles these requests and can tell you about current fees and turnaround time over the phone.

Marriage records go back to 1840, and divorce records start at 1782, making this one of the oldest and most complete civil record collections in Louisiana. That historical depth means researchers tracing family history may find records here that simply do not exist in other formats. The clerk's website is at ebrclerkofcourt.org. That site has contact details, office maps, and information on how to request records by mail or in person.

The clerk's main website lists all services, branch locations, and instructions for requesting divorce records from East Baton Rouge Parish.

Family Court and the Family Department

East Baton Rouge Parish has a dedicated Family Court at 300 North Boulevard, 4th Floor, Baton Rouge, LA 70801. The Family Court phone number is (225) 389-4680. For the Family Department specifically, call (225) 389-3972. This court handles many domestic matters including divorce cases, child custody, and support proceedings. The clerk's Family and Probate Department maintains the records for these cases.

As the clerk's office describes it: "The Family and Probate Department houses all of the information contained in these cases. All pleadings, petitions, answers, exceptions, motions and judgments filed in each case are microfilmed in this department and are available for in-house viewing by the public. Older records from the department are housed in the Archives Department (225) 389-3988 and in the department's former office in City Hall (225) 389-7837."

If you need to view records in person, the Family and Probate Department at 300 North Boulevard is the place to go. Staff can pull microfilmed records for in-house viewing. For records older than a certain date, you may need to contact the Archives Department at (225) 389-3988. For very old records held at the former City Hall location, call (225) 389-7837 to confirm availability before visiting.

The Family Court at 300 North Boulevard also operates a Self-Help Center on the 4th Floor for people who are representing themselves in family law matters. This center can help you understand forms and procedures without providing legal advice. It is a useful resource for anyone navigating a divorce without an attorney.

The 19th JDC is the court of record for all divorce cases in East Baton Rouge Parish, with judgments held by the Clerk of Court.

Online Search With Clerk Connect

East Baton Rouge Parish offers online record access through Clerk Connect. This portal provides access to civil, criminal, and property records for the parish. Subscription options include a 24-hour pass for $20, a 30-day subscription for $65, or a 12-month subscription for $780. For a one-time search, the 24-hour pass is the most cost-effective option. Attorneys, researchers, and others who check records frequently may find a longer subscription worthwhile.

The eClerks LA statewide portal also covers East Baton Rouge Parish and offers free basic index searching. For East Baton Rouge specifically, Clerk Connect typically provides more detail and broader document access than the statewide portal. If you are doing a simple one-time name check, start with eClerks LA. If you need full document access or are doing ongoing research, Clerk Connect is the better tool.

The clerk's records search portal links to both Clerk Connect and additional online tools for finding East Baton Rouge divorce case information.

The records search page at ebrclerkofcourt.org/records-search/ gives direct access to all the online options available for East Baton Rouge Parish, including links to the Clerk Connect portal and other search tools maintained by the office.

This records search page is the central hub for all online access to East Baton Rouge civil court records, including divorce filings dating back to 1782.

Note: Clerk Connect subscription fees for East Baton Rouge Parish are subject to change; confirm current pricing on the Clerk Connect website before subscribing.

Louisiana Divorce Law

Louisiana law gives couples two main paths to divorce. Under Louisiana Civil Code Article 102, a spouse files a divorce petition and then waits through a separation period of 180 days (no minor children) or 365 days (with minor children). After the period runs, a rule to show cause is filed and the court issues the judgment. This is the most common path for couples who start the legal process before completing the separation.

Under Louisiana Civil Code Article 103, couples who have already been separated for the required time can get a divorce judgment more quickly without waiting through an additional period. Article 103 also covers grounds like domestic violence and certain criminal convictions. Both paths produce a judgment of divorce filed with the East Baton Rouge Parish Clerk of Court.

Marital property is divided under community property rules set by Louisiana Civil Code Article 2325. Assets and debts built up during the marriage are generally split equally. Separate property stays with the original owner. At least one spouse must be domiciled in Louisiana to file here, as required by Louisiana Civil Code Article 3941.

Legal Aid and Law Library

Southeast Louisiana Legal Services provides free civil legal help to qualifying residents of East Baton Rouge Parish. The office is at 715 St. Ferdinand St., Baton Rouge, and the phone number is (225) 448-0080. The full website is at slls.org. SLLS handles family law matters including divorce for clients who meet income guidelines. This is the first call to make if you cannot afford an attorney.

The Law Library at 300 North Boulevard, 4th Floor, Baton Rouge can be reached at (225) 389-7614. The library is open to the public and has legal resources, Louisiana statutes, case law, and self-help materials. Staff can help you find the right legal forms and explain how to use the library's resources, though they cannot give legal advice. For people doing their own divorce paperwork, the law library is a valuable free resource.

For free general information on Louisiana divorce law, Louisiana Law Help at louisianalawhelp.org has guides, self-help forms, and step-by-step instructions for common family law situations. The site is designed to be accessible to people without a legal background and covers the full divorce process from filing to judgment.

Nearby Parishes

East Baton Rouge Parish borders West Baton Rouge Parish to the west, Iberville Parish to the southwest, Ascension Parish to the south, Livingston Parish to the east, and East Feliciana Parish to the north. Each of those parishes has its own Clerk of Court and maintains its own divorce records. If a case was filed in a neighboring parish, contact that parish's clerk directly.