St. John the Baptist Parish Divorce Records
St. John the Baptist Parish divorce records are filed with the Clerk of Court in Edgard and handled by the 40th Judicial District Court, which serves St. John the Baptist Parish exclusively. The 40th JDC is a court of general jurisdiction divided into three divisions, A, B, and C, each with one judge. All court proceedings take place in Edgard at the main courthouse on LA Highway 18. The satellite office in LaPlace is not currently holding court due to damage from Hurricane Ida. If you live in LaPlace or elsewhere in the parish, all case filings and court appearances are in Edgard.
St. John the Baptist Parish Quick Facts
St. John the Baptist Parish Clerk of Court
The Clerk of Court for St. John the Baptist Parish is Eliana DeFrancesch. The main office is located on River Road in Edgard. There is a satellite office at the Arcuri Center in LaPlace, but as of research time, no court is being held there due to Hurricane Ida destruction. All active court matters are handled in Edgard.
| Court | 40th Judicial District Court (St. John the Baptist Parish) |
|---|---|
| Address | 2393 LA Hwy. 18 (River Road), Edgard, LA 70049 (P.O. Box 280, Edgard, LA 70049-0280) |
| Phone | (985) 497-3331 |
| Fax | (985) 497-3972 |
| Hours | Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM |
| Website | https://www.sjbparishclerk.gov/ |
The St. John the Baptist Parish Clerk of Court website at sjbparishclerk.gov provides information about the office, the court system, and available services for the parish.
The clerk's main page gives you access to court news, available services, and direct contact information for the Edgard office on River Road.
Contacting the Clerk's Office
The main number for the clerk's office is (985) 497-3331. You can call to confirm a case exists, ask about fee amounts, or find out what documents you need to bring for an in-person visit. The clerk's staff can also tell you whether a record is available online or only in physical form.
The contact page at sjbparishclerk.gov/contact lists the phone number, fax, mailing address, and other ways to reach the St. John the Baptist Parish Clerk of Court in Edgard.
Use the contact page to find the full mailing address, fax number, and direct phone for the clerk's office before you visit or send a records request to Edgard.
If you are in LaPlace and need to travel to Edgard, note that all trials and court appearances are currently held in Edgard only. The Arcuri Center satellite office in LaPlace is not currently holding court due to Hurricane Ida destruction. Plan accordingly if you have a scheduled hearing or need to file documents in person.
40th Judicial District Court
The 40th Judicial District Court is made up of the parish of St. John the Baptist. It is divided into three divisions: A, B, and C. One judge presides in each division. The court has general jurisdiction and hears civil, criminal, traffic, juvenile, family, and probate matters. Divorce cases fall under the civil and family jurisdiction of the court.
The 40th JDC website at 40thjdc.org covers the court's structure, its three divisions, and procedures for civil cases filed in St. John the Baptist Parish.
The 40th JDC site is the place to learn about the three court divisions, how cases are assigned, and what the court expects from parties filing civil and family law matters in Edgard.
When you file a divorce case, it gets assigned to one of the three divisions. The judge in that division will handle all matters in your case through final judgment. Having a consistent judge for your case is one advantage of the multi-division structure in the 40th JDC.
Filing for Divorce in St. John the Baptist Parish
To file for divorce in St. John the Baptist Parish, at least one spouse must be domiciled in the parish. You file the petition at the clerk's office in Edgard. The clerk assigns the case to one of the three divisions and collects the filing fee. Service on the other party must be completed before the case can move forward.
Louisiana Civil Code Article 102 requires a waiting period before the court can grant the divorce. That period is 180 days if no minor children are involved, and 365 days when there are minor children of the marriage. Article 103 provides an immediate divorce option if the required separation was already done before the petition was filed. Talk to an attorney if you are unsure which article applies to your situation.
Under Louisiana Civil Code Article 2325, Louisiana is a community property state. All property and debt acquired during the marriage belongs equally to both spouses. Separate property, which is what you owned before the marriage or received as a gift or inheritance, stays with the original owner. The 40th JDC applies these rules to all divorce and property division cases in the parish.
Cases involving child custody, support, and visitation can become complex. The court's standard is the best interests of the child in all custody decisions. Both parents will need to provide financial information for support calculations. If the parties cannot agree, the court holds a hearing and the judge makes the final decision.
How to Access and Copy Divorce Records
Divorce records in St. John the Baptist Parish are public records under Louisiana's Public Records Law, La. R.S. 44:1. Once a case is final, the documents are open to public inspection. You can request copies from the clerk's office in Edgard by visiting in person or mailing a written request. The mailing address is P.O. Box 280, Edgard, LA 70049-0280.
Include the case number or the full names of both parties, the specific documents you need, and payment for the fees. Certified copies have the clerk's official seal. They are required for name changes, remarriage, and most legal or government purposes. Plain copies cost less and are fine for personal records.
Call (985) 497-3331 before sending a mail request to confirm the current fee per page and what forms of payment the office accepts. Processing time can vary. Older paper records may take longer to locate than recently filed electronic records.
LaPlace Residents
Many residents of St. John the Baptist Parish live in LaPlace, which is the largest community in the parish. Even though there was previously a satellite office at the Arcuri Center in LaPlace, all court proceedings are currently held at the main courthouse in Edgard. LaPlace residents who need to file documents or attend hearings must travel to Edgard on LA Highway 18. Call the clerk's office at (985) 497-3331 to confirm current court locations before any scheduled appearance.
Legal Aid Resources
Southeast Louisiana Legal Services serves low-income residents in St. John the Baptist Parish and can be reached at (985) 893-0076 for their regional office, or (504) 529-1000 for the main line. They handle family law cases including divorce and custody. The Louisiana State Bar Association also runs a lawyer referral service that can connect you with a licensed family law attorney in the River Parishes area.
Nearby Parishes
St. John the Baptist Parish runs along the Mississippi River between New Orleans and Baton Rouge. St. Charles Parish is to the east along the river. St. James Parish is to the west, also along the river. St. Tammany Parish is across Lake Pontchartrain to the north.