St. Martin Parish Divorce Records
St. Martin Parish divorce records are filed with the Clerk of Court in St. Martinville and handled by the 16th Judicial District Court, which covers St. Mary, Iberia, and St. Martin Parishes. The clerk's website at smpcoc2.com was offline at research time, so contacting the office directly in St. Martinville is the best way to get current contact information, fee details, and access options. The eClerks LA statewide portal provides an online search option for case index information when the clerk's own site is unavailable.
St. Martin Parish Quick Facts
St. Martin Parish Clerk of Court
The St. Martin Parish Clerk of Court is the official keeper of all civil records in the parish, including divorce filings and final judgments. The office is located in St. Martinville. Because the clerk's website was not accessible at research time, calling or visiting in person is the most reliable way to check record availability, confirm fees, and request copies.
| Court | 16th Judicial District Court (St. Mary, Iberia, St. Martin Parishes) |
|---|---|
| Address | St. Martin Parish Courthouse, St. Martinville, LA |
| Phone | Contact office directly |
| Hours | Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM |
| Website | https://www.smpcoc2.com/ (contact office if site is unavailable) |
The 16th Judicial District Court at 16jdc.org serves St. Martin Parish along with St. Mary and Iberia Parishes. If you cannot reach the clerk's office directly, the 16th JDC website may have contact information or court news that helps point you in the right direction.
16th Judicial District Court
The 16th JDC is one of Louisiana's multi-parish judicial districts. It covers St. Mary, Iberia, and St. Martin Parishes. Each parish has its own clerk of court and courthouse, but all three parishes operate under the same judicial district. For St. Martin Parish divorce cases, the relevant courthouse is in St. Martinville.
The 16th Judicial District Court website at 16jdc.org provides court structure information, judge listings, and general guidance for civil cases filed in any of the three parishes under the 16th JDC.
The 16th JDC site is useful for understanding how the court system is organized across St. Martin, St. Mary, and Iberia Parishes, and for finding the right judge or division for your case.
When you file a divorce in St. Martin Parish, the case is assigned to a judge from the 16th JDC who covers St. Martin Parish matters. The clerk's office in St. Martinville can tell you which judge handles family law cases at any given time.
Searching St. Martin Parish Records Online
When the clerk's own website is down, the eClerks LA statewide portal is a useful fallback. You can access it at eClerksLA.com. The portal pulls civil case index data from participating Louisiana parishes and lets you search by name or case number. Results show basic case information such as filing date, case number, and party names.
The eClerks LA portal at eclerksla.com is a statewide resource for searching civil case records across Louisiana parishes, including St. Martin Parish divorce filings when available through the portal.
eClerks LA is a good first step when you want to check whether a case was filed in St. Martin Parish without making a trip to St. Martinville or waiting for the clerk's website to come back online.
Keep in mind that the portal does not provide full documents. For certified copies of any court documents, you must contact the St. Martin Parish Clerk of Court directly and pay the applicable fees. Call the office to confirm current fees and turnaround times before sending a mail request.
Filing for Divorce in St. Martin Parish
To file a divorce in St. Martin Parish, at least one spouse must be domiciled in the parish. You take the petition to the clerk's office in St. Martinville, pay the filing fees, and the clerk assigns a case number. Service on the other party follows.
Louisiana Civil Code Article 102 sets the separation period before a divorce can be granted: 180 days if no minor children are involved, 365 days when there are minor children of the marriage. Article 103 provides an option to skip the waiting period if the separation was already done before the petition was filed. Which article applies depends on your specific facts.
Louisiana Civil Code Article 2325 makes Louisiana a community property state. All property and debt acquired during the marriage belongs to both spouses equally. What you owned before the marriage, or received as a gift or inheritance, is separate property and not divided. The 16th JDC applies these community property rules in St. Martin Parish the same as in every other Louisiana parish.
If the divorce is uncontested and both parties agree on all matters, the process is straightforward. The judge can sign the judgment based on the agreement without a full hearing. Contested cases involving property disputes, custody, or support take longer and generally require legal representation. Either way, the 16th JDC judge assigned to your case makes the final rulings.
Filing fees vary. Contact the St. Martin Parish Clerk of Court to get the current fee schedule before you file. Fee waivers may be available for those who qualify as indigent.
Getting Copies of Divorce Records
Divorce records in St. Martin Parish are public records under La. R.S. 44:1. After a case is final, the documents are available for inspection and copying. You can request copies from the clerk's office in St. Martinville in person or by mail. Bring or include a photo ID, the case number or party names, the specific documents you need, and payment for the fees.
Certified copies carry the official seal and signature of the clerk. They cost more than plain copies but are required for legal and government purposes like name changes, remarriage, or updating identification documents. Ask for the right type when you make your request.
Older records stored in physical files may take more time to locate than recent electronic filings. Call the clerk's office ahead of time if you are looking for a record from several decades ago. Staff can tell you whether it exists and estimate how long it will take to locate and copy.
Legal Aid Resources
Acadiana Legal Service Corporation provides free civil legal help to low-income residents in St. Martin Parish and the surrounding Acadiana region. Their number is (337) 237-4320. They can help with divorce, custody, support, and related family law matters if you meet the income requirements. The Louisiana State Bar Association also runs a lawyer referral service that can connect you with a private family law attorney serving the St. Martinville area.
Nearby Parishes
St. Martin Parish is in south Louisiana's Cajun country. Iberia Parish is to the south and shares the 16th Judicial District. St. Mary Parish is to the southwest, also part of the 16th JDC. Lafayette Parish is to the northwest. Each has its own clerk of court at their parish seat.