Search West Feliciana Parish Divorce Records

West Feliciana Parish divorce records are maintained by the Clerk of Court in St. Francisville, which sits within the 20th Judicial District alongside East Feliciana Parish. The clerk's office keeps divorce, probate, court, and land records going back to 1900, with some records like land documents dating all the way to 1811. If you need to find a divorce case, get a certified copy of a decree, or understand the fees involved in filing a new case, this page covers what you need to know before you reach out to the court.

Clerk of Court Contact Information

The West Feliciana Parish Clerk of Court is based in St. Francisville. This office handles all civil court filings, including divorce cases. It is where you go to file a new case, get copies of existing records, or look up case information. The office is open during standard business hours and can be reached by phone.

About West Feliciana Parish and Its Records

West Feliciana Parish has a long paper trail. As noted in historical records, the parish was created in 1824 and named for Marie Felicite de Galvez. The parish seat of St. Francisville has served as the center of local government since the early 19th century. The clerk's records reflect that deep history.

According to the clerk's office: "Parish Clerk has marriage records from 1879, divorce, probate and court records from 1900 and land records from 1811." That means if you are searching for a divorce from the last century, there is a good chance the record exists in St. Francisville. For researchers looking further back, land records extend to 1811, which is particularly useful for genealogical work.

The West Feliciana Parish Clerk of Court website is the main resource for current contact details and fee information. The site includes dedicated pages for civil fees and recording fees, which are helpful if you are planning to file or request copies.

Clerk's Office Website

The main page of the West Feliciana Parish Clerk of Court site gives an overview of the office, its location, and its services.

The homepage is a good first stop. It links to the office's key pages, including civil fees, recording fees, and contact info. From there you can find the information most relevant to your records request or filing needs.

Civil Filing Fees in West Feliciana Parish

West Feliciana Parish publishes its advance deposit fee schedule online, which is more transparent than many smaller parishes. These deposits are collected at the time of filing and cover the statutory judicial fees required under R.S. 13:10.3. The clerk's fee page notes: "These Advance Deposit fees include the statutory judicial fees as provided in R.S. 13:10.3."

For divorce filings, the relevant fee categories are typically under "New Suit" filings. Here is the current schedule from the clerk's civil fees page:

These fees apply when you first file the case. Additional costs may come up later depending on what the case involves. An uncontested divorce with no service of process (where both parties agree and do not need the sheriff to serve papers) will cost less than a contested case that requires multiple filings and services.

The civil fees page on the clerk's website shows the full list of advance deposit amounts. Always check this page directly before filing, as fees can change and the site reflects the most current schedule.

Recording Fees

If your divorce involves property transfers or other documents that need to be recorded, the clerk's recording fees page has the relevant rates. For longer documents, the fee structure works as follows: for any document with more than 50 pages, the cost is $305 for the first 50 pages, plus $5 for each additional page beyond that. This applies to documents like property settlements and community property partition agreements that may be filed alongside a divorce case.

How to Search for a Divorce Record

West Feliciana Parish does not have a public online case search at this time. To find a divorce record, you need to contact the clerk's office directly. There are a few ways to do this.

Visit the office. The courthouse is at 4785 Prosperity Street in St. Francisville. Come with the full name of one or both parties and the approximate year of the divorce. Staff can search the index and pull the file. Bring cash or check for any copy fees. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.

Call ahead. Dial (225) 635-3794 before you visit or to ask about mailing a request. Staff can confirm whether a record exists, tell you the current copy fee, and explain what you need to submit.

Try eClerks LA. The statewide portal at eClerksLA.com may index some West Feliciana records. Check there first before making a trip to the parish courthouse. Availability depends on what the local clerk's office has digitized.

Check genealogy sources. For older records, FamilySearch has a West Feliciana Parish genealogy guide that can help you understand what records exist and where to find them.

Louisiana Divorce Laws That Apply

Divorce cases in West Feliciana Parish follow Louisiana state law. The rules that matter most are found in the Louisiana Civil Code.

Louisiana Civil Code Article 102 sets out the separation period requirement. If the couple has no minor children, they must live apart for at least 180 days before a final divorce is granted. If minor children are involved, that period extends to 365 days. The petition is filed first, and the court grants the final decree once the waiting period has passed.

Louisiana Civil Code Article 103 covers situations where a divorce can be granted right away. This applies when the parties have already been separated for the required period before filing, or when specific grounds exist, such as adultery or a felony conviction that resulted in imprisonment.

Louisiana is a community property state. Civil Code Article 2325 means that assets and debts built up during the marriage belong equally to both spouses. Division of community property is often the most complex part of a divorce case and can add documents to the court file, including inventories and partition agreements.

Divorce records in Louisiana are public. La. R.S. 44:1 defines public records broadly, and most divorce filings fall within that definition. However, a judge can seal specific documents or portions of a case file when privacy concerns are strong enough, particularly when children are involved.

The domicile requirement under Civil Code Article 3941 means at least one spouse must live in Louisiana, and generally in the parish where the case is filed, for a certain period before a court there can hear the case. If you are unsure whether you can file in West Feliciana Parish, an attorney can help you confirm.

Getting Legal Help

The clerk's office handles paperwork. It cannot give legal advice. If you need help understanding your options or navigating the divorce process, reach out to a legal professional.

Louisiana Law Help is a free resource that provides plain-language guides on divorce, child custody, property division, and more. The site also has a directory of legal aid offices and low-cost legal services. If you cannot afford a private attorney, this is the right place to start. For those who can hire an attorney, the Louisiana State Bar Association's referral service can connect you with a licensed family law attorney in or near the 20th Judicial District.

Certified Copies and What They Are Used For

A certified copy of a divorce decree is an official copy that carries the court's seal. Courts and government agencies often ask for certified copies rather than plain photocopies when you need to prove a divorce happened. Common uses include applying to remarry, changing a name on a government ID, settling an estate, or updating financial accounts. Call the clerk's office at (225) 635-3794 to ask about the current fee for certified copies and what information you need to provide when you make the request.

Nearby Parishes

West Feliciana Parish shares its judicial district with one neighboring parish. East Feliciana Parish is part of the same 20th Judicial District, and its clerk's office is in Clinton. For parishes just outside the district, East Baton Rouge Parish to the south is a large urban court system with more extensive online access. St. Helena Parish to the east has its own separate court system in Greensburg.