Find Dissolution of Marriage in Ascension Parish
Ascension Parish dissolution of marriage records are filed with and maintained by the Clerk of Court, with offices in Gonzales and Donaldsonville. The 23rd Judicial District Court handles all family law cases in the parish, and the clerk's ACCESS online system lets you search civil records including dissolution of marriage cases from anywhere. Certified copies must be requested directly from the clerk's office.
Ascension Parish Quick Facts
Ascension Parish Clerk of Court
Clerk Bridget Hanna leads the Ascension Parish Clerk of Court, which maintains all dissolution of marriage records in the parish. The clerk's mission, as stated on its website, is to "deliver outstanding service while preserving and managing records, as well as facilitating access to legal documents filed in our office." Two offices serve Ascension Parish residents: the main office in Gonzales and the Donaldsonville office serving the parish seat.
Under Louisiana Public Records Law, La. R.S. 44:1, dissolution of marriage records in Ascension Parish are available to the public. You can view records at no charge during business hours at either office. Public access computers are available at both locations and are free to use. You pay only for copies you request. The clerk keeps civil, criminal, traffic, marriage license, and mortgage and conveyance records, all searchable through the ACCESS online system.
The Ascension Parish Clerk of Court website is the central hub for online access, forms, and contact information. It also provides information on how to request certified copies of dissolution of marriage records and what fees apply.
| Gonzales Office (Main) | 607 East Worthey Street, 1st Floor, Gonzales, LA 70737 |
|---|---|
| Civil Phone (Gonzales) | (225) 621-8400 ext. 2 |
| Criminal Phone (Gonzales) | (225) 621-8400 ext. 3 |
| Donaldsonville Office | 300 Houmas Street, Donaldsonville, LA 70346 |
| Phone (Donaldsonville) | (225) 473-9866 ext. 8 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Website | ascensionclerk.com |
Search Ascension Parish Dissolution of Marriage Records Online
The Ascension Parish Clerk of Court uses the ACCESS online system to provide remote access to civil case records, including dissolution of marriage filings. ACCESS covers Mortgage, Conveyance, Maps, Criminal, Traffic, Civil, and Marriage records. You can search case names, view docket entries, and retrieve document images from home or office without traveling to either courthouse location.
The Ascension Parish Clerk of Court website gives direct access to the ACCESS online records system, where civil case records including dissolution of marriage filings can be searched by party name or case number.
ACCESS offers both day passes and monthly subscription options. This is useful if you need to search one or two cases quickly without committing to a longer subscription. For certified copies of dissolution of marriage records, you must contact the clerk directly since online copies are not certified. A family or divorce record search costs $15. Standard copies are $1 per page. Certified copies cost $5 per document on top of the per-page copy charge. Public access computers at both offices let you search for free in person if you prefer not to subscribe online.
The ClerkConnect portal is another multi-parish access option that connects to clerk offices across Louisiana. If you are searching for dissolution of marriage records and are not sure which parish holds them, ClerkConnect can help you check multiple parishes at once.
23rd Judicial District Court and Dissolution of Marriage
The 23rd Judicial District Court serves Ascension, Assumption, and St. James Parishes. The court is located at 828 S. Irma Boulevard, Building 2, Gonzales, LA 70737, phone (225) 621-8400. All dissolution of marriage cases in Ascension Parish are filed here. The court clerk at the same location handles the filing window for new cases and manages the case docket through final judgment.
Louisiana Civil Code Article 102 lets you file for dissolution of marriage before the separation period has passed. After filing, you wait 180 days with no minor children or 365 days if children are involved. Once the waiting period ends, you go back to court for the final judgment. This is the most common no-fault path used in Ascension Parish. Article 103 applies when you have already been living separately for the required time, allowing you to seek a faster judgment since the waiting period is already done.
Both articles require Louisiana residency for at least six months before filing. Ascension Parish is one of the fastest-growing parishes in the state. Many new residents arrive not knowing they need to wait six months before they can file a dissolution of marriage case in a Louisiana court. If you moved to Ascension Parish recently, confirm that you have met the residency requirement before you file.
Louisiana is a community property state under Civil Code Article 2325. Property and debts acquired during the marriage typically belong equally to both spouses. The dissolution of marriage process in Ascension Parish includes handling the division of community property, and any settlement agreement reached by the parties must be filed with the clerk and approved by the court before it becomes binding. That agreement then becomes a permanent part of the case record.
Ascension Parish Dissolution of Marriage Fees
Ascension Parish has some of the clearer fee structures among Louisiana clerks. A family or divorce record search costs $15. Standard copies of documents are $1 per page. Certified copies cost $5 per document, in addition to the per-page copy charge. These fees apply at both the Gonzales and Donaldsonville offices.
Filing fees for a new dissolution of marriage case are separate from copy fees. The amount depends on the type of case, whether service through the sheriff is needed, and what other filings accompany the petition. Call the civil line at (225) 621-8400 ext. 2 to ask about current filing fees before you go. Fees do change, and confirming in advance saves a trip back.
If cost is a concern, the court allows you to ask for a fee waiver by filing an In Forma Pauperis affidavit. The judge reviews income and expenses and decides whether to waive the fees. This option is available for dissolution of marriage cases just as it is for other civil filings in the 23rd JDC.
What Ascension Parish Dissolution of Marriage Records Contain
A dissolution of marriage case file at the Ascension Parish Clerk of Court holds every document filed in the case. The petition opens the case and names both parties, states the legal grounds, and sets out what the filer is asking the court to order. The verification form and civil cover sheet go in next. Service documents follow, showing how and when the other spouse was notified.
Financial disclosures, sworn statements, and community property agreements are part of the file if the parties have assets and debts to divide. Custody and support documents go in when children are involved. The final judgment of dissolution of marriage is the closing document. It is signed by the judge and sets all court-ordered terms. Certified copies of the final judgment are what most people need to prove their marriage has legally ended for purposes of a name change, property transaction, or beneficiary update.
Dissolution of marriage records in Ascension Parish are public under La. R.S. 44:1. Social Security numbers and financial account numbers are redacted from public copies for privacy. Records that have been sealed by court order require a court order to access. For records more than 50 years old, check with the Louisiana State Archives, which holds older court records that have been transferred from parish offices.
Legal Help for Dissolution of Marriage in Ascension Parish
Residents of Ascension Parish who need free legal help with dissolution of marriage can reach the Capital Area Legal Services Corporation by calling 211. Legal aid eligibility is based on income. Capital Area Legal Services serves the greater Baton Rouge area, which includes Ascension Parish.
The Law Library of Louisiana divorce guide explains Articles 102 and 103 in plain terms and is free online. The Louisiana State Bar self-help forms page has forms for dissolution of marriage and related proceedings. The 23rd JDC also provides free legal forms for self-represented litigants in Ascension, Assumption, and St. James Parishes.
The Louisiana Department of Health vital records page is a common starting point for people looking for dissolution of marriage records, but LDH does not issue divorce decrees. LDH's own site confirms that these records come from the Clerk of Court in the parish where the case was filed. For Ascension Parish, that means the clerk's office in Gonzales or Donaldsonville, not the state health department. The LDH phone numbers are (504) 593-5100 and (225) 342-9500 if you want to confirm this directly.
Cities in Ascension Parish
All communities in Ascension Parish file dissolution of marriage cases through the 23rd Judicial District Court. The qualifying city of Prairieville is located in Ascension Parish and residents there file through the same clerk and court as the rest of the parish.
Nearby Parishes
Ascension Parish sits between Baton Rouge and the lower parishes. If you are unsure which parish holds your dissolution of marriage case, file where you are currently domiciled. Louisiana law requires you to file in the parish where either spouse lives.