LaSalle Parish Divorce Records
LaSalle Parish divorce records are kept by the Clerk of Court in Jena and are open to the public under Louisiana law. This page explains how to find those records, what the office offers online, and what to expect when you request copies.
LaSalle Parish Quick Facts
LaSalle Parish Clerk of Court
The LaSalle Parish Clerk of Court is Hon. Steve Andrews, located at 1050 Courthouse Street in Jena. The duties of the Clerk of Court include serving as the Parish Recorder of Deeds, Mortgages, Marriage Licenses, Civil, Criminal, and Probate records. Being kept permanently, the preservation and security of these records is a priority and requires constant attention. The Clerk of Court's office operates from statutory fees it collects, not from taxes.
LaSalle Parish records go back to 1910, when the parish was created from the western section of Catahoula Parish. Marriage, divorce, and probate records from 1910 forward are on file with the clerk. That is over a century of family court history. If you are researching older divorces in LaSalle Parish, the clerk's office is the right place to start.
| Court | LaSalle Parish Clerk of Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 1050 Courthouse Street, Jena, LA 71342 (P.O. Box 1316, Jena, LA 71342) |
| Phone | (318) 992-2158 |
| Fax | (318) 992-2157 |
| Hours | Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM |
| Website | lasalleclerk.com |
The LaSalle Parish Clerk of Court website provides contact information and general information about office services and record access.
The LaSalle Parish Clerk of Court website is the starting point for all record requests in the parish.
Call (318) 992-2158 to ask about a specific case before making the trip to Jena or submitting a mail request.
Contact Information and Office Details
The clerk's contact page provides additional details about how to reach the Jena office, mailing addresses, and what to include when submitting a request. It is worth reviewing this page before sending a mail request to make sure you have the correct address and required information.
The LaSalle Parish Clerk contact page provides mailing addresses, phone numbers, and guidance for record requests.
Use the contact page to confirm the right mailing address and any specific instructions for requesting divorce records from the Jena office.
The 28th Judicial District Court
The 28th Judicial District Court covers LaSalle Parish only. The courthouse is located at 1050 Courthouse Street in Jena, the same building as the clerk's office. The court's email is 28thjdc@gmail.com. The single-parish district keeps all civil matters, including divorce, concentrated in Jena.
Because the 28th JDC serves only LaSalle Parish, the court staff is familiar with local procedures. Self-represented parties may find it easier to navigate than a larger multi-parish court. The clerk's office and the court are close together, which makes it simple to handle both filing and record requests in one visit.
The 28th Judicial District Court website provides information about the court's structure, judges, and civil case procedures for LaSalle Parish.
Visit the 28th JDC website for court schedules, self-help resources, and information about how divorce cases are managed in LaSalle Parish.
Online Records Access: Clerk Connect
LaSalle Parish has a new land records site that went live on August 8, 2022. The clerk also uses the Clerk Connect platform for broader court record access, including civil cases. Clerk Connect allows remote searches of records for participating Louisiana parishes.
Visit Clerk Connect and search for LaSalle Parish to access civil case records online. Some searches are free, while others may require a subscription or per-document fee. Contact the clerk's office to confirm what is currently available through this platform.
LaSalle Parish and Its Records History
LaSalle Parish was created in 1910 from the western section of Catahoula Parish. Situated in the heart of Louisiana, LaSalle Parish has a population of around 14,974 and covers an area of 662 square miles. Records from the parish go back to that founding year. Divorce, marriage, and probate records from 1910 are on file at the Jena courthouse.
Older records may be in paper or microfilm format. More recent records, particularly those from the past decade or two, may be digitized and searchable through the Clerk Connect platform or the new land records site. Ask the clerk about the format and availability of records from specific time periods.
How to Search for Divorce Records
Online
Use Clerk Connect to search LaSalle Parish civil records from home. Enter party names or case numbers to locate divorce cases. For older records, an in-person or mail request may be necessary.
In Person
Visit the LaSalle Parish Clerk of Court at 1050 Courthouse Street, Jena. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Bring the names of both parties and an approximate filing year. Staff can search the index and pull the file. Bring cash or a check for copy fees.
By Mail
Send a written request to P.O. Box 1316, Jena, LA 71342. Include party names, filing year if known, case number if available, and payment for copies. Certified copies cost approximately $5.00 per document. Regular copies vary. The office will mail back the requested records.
Louisiana Divorce Law
Louisiana Civil Code Article 102 requires a 180-day separation period after filing before the court can grant a final judgment. That period extends to 365 days if the couple has minor children. Article 103 allows a faster process if spouses have already lived apart for the required time before filing.
Community property rules under Civil Code Article 2325 require an equal split of all marital property and debts. LaSalle Parish divorce files may include community property settlements, inventories, or partition orders in addition to the standard petition and judgment documents.
Public Records Law
Louisiana R.S. 44:1 makes most court records public. Divorce filings and final judgments are part of that public record. No reason is required to request access. Sealed records need a court order to view, but most divorce case files in LaSalle Parish are fully open.
Nearby Parishes
LaSalle Parish borders several central Louisiana parishes. If a case may have been filed elsewhere, these offices may hold relevant records.