Find Dissolution of Marriage Records in Caddo Parish
Caddo Parish dissolution of marriage records are held at the Clerk of Court in downtown Shreveport, where the 1st Judicial District Court maintains all civil case files. You can search records online through ClerkConnect or the clerk's own portal, visit the courthouse in person, or submit a written request by mail to get case documents and certified copies.
Caddo Parish Quick Facts
Caddo Parish Clerk of Court
The Caddo Parish Clerk of Court is the official keeper of dissolution of marriage records in the parish. The office is located in the Caddo Parish Courthouse at 501 Texas Street, Room 103, Shreveport, LA 71101. With a staff of about 70 employees, the clerk handles mortgages, conveyances, marriage licenses, civil suits, criminal cases, and court minutes for the 1st Judicial District Court. Dissolution of marriage cases fall under civil suits.
Under Louisiana Public Records Law, La. R.S. 44:1, basic case information such as party names, case numbers, and filing dates is public. Social Security numbers and financial account details are redacted before copies are released. Sealed records require a court order. Access during business hours is free; you pay only for copies.
The Caddo Parish Clerk of Court website provides access to online records, forms, and filing information. Civil e-filing is available through the clerk's site, and UCCs can be filed online as well. Civil filings must be on legal-size paper. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM.
The clerk's website is the starting point for all dissolution of marriage records research in Caddo Parish. It provides direct links to the online case search, e-filing portal, and contact information for each department.
| Address | 501 Texas Street, Room 103, Shreveport, LA 71101 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (318) 226-6500 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Website | caddoclerk.com |
Search Caddo Parish Dissolution of Marriage Records Online
Caddo Parish offers online access to civil records including dissolution of marriage cases. The clerk's website at caddoclerk.com provides a direct link to the case search portal. You can search by party name or case number. Results show filing dates, case activity, and in many cases, document images. The system covers cases going back many years.
The parish also participates in ClerkConnect, which provides broader statewide access and e-filing capability. ClerkConnect allows you to search civil, criminal, and land records online. E-recording is also available for land records through the ClerkConnect platform. For dissolution of marriage case searches, both the clerk's own portal and ClerkConnect can return results.
Civil e-filing is available at caddoclerk.com/civil-e-filing for attorneys and self-represented parties. Electronic filing creates a timestamped submission record. Note that civil filings must be on legal-size paper even when filing electronically in Caddo Parish, so prepare documents to that standard.
1st Judicial District Court Dissolution of Marriage
All dissolution of marriage cases in Caddo Parish are filed in the 1st Judicial District Court. The court has jurisdiction over civil and family law matters for the entire parish. Dissolution of marriage cases are governed by Louisiana Civil Code Articles 102 and 103, and the court applies these statutes to all filings regardless of the grounds stated in the petition.
Louisiana Civil Code Article 102 allows filing before the spouses have separated. After filing, the law imposes a waiting period: 180 days if no minor children are involved, or 365 days when either spouse has minor children. Article 103 applies when the spouses have already been living apart. A final judgment comes faster under Article 103 because the separation period has already been completed. Article 103 also covers fault-based dissolution on grounds of adultery, a felony conviction resulting in imprisonment, or domestic abuse.
Louisiana requires six months of state residency before filing for dissolution of marriage. This is a state-level rule that applies in Caddo Parish the same as everywhere else in Louisiana. If either spouse recently moved to the state, they must wait until the six-month mark before the court can accept the filing.
Dissolution of marriage records in Caddo Parish are described by the clerk as "official legal documents that provide evidence of the dissolution of marriage between two individuals." The records are maintained under Louisiana Civil Code Article 103, which governs divorce proceedings statewide. Case files include the initial petition, summons, financial disclosures, property settlement, child custody documents, and the final judgment.
How to Get Dissolution of Marriage Records in Caddo Parish
The Caddo Parish Clerk of Court offers four ways to get dissolution of marriage records. Each has its own timeline and requirements.
In person at 501 Texas Street, Room 103 is the most direct method. Bring a photo ID and the names of both parties or the case number. Tell the staff whether you want plain copies or certified copies. Certified copies are required for name changes, property transfers, and legal matters in other courts or states. The office is open 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday. Same-day certified copies are often available if the file is on hand.
By phone at (318) 226-6500, staff can help you locate a case and tell you what information you need to provide for a records request. Phone calls do not produce copies, but they help you prepare before visiting or mailing in a request.
Online through ClerkConnect or the clerk's portal at caddoclerk.com, you can search case records directly. Document images are available for many cases. This is the most convenient option for people who cannot visit the courthouse during business hours.
By mail, send a written request with the party names, approximate filing year, a copy of your photo ID, a self-addressed stamped envelope, and payment. Mail to: Caddo Parish Clerk of Court, 501 Texas Street, Room 103, Shreveport, LA 71101. Call first to confirm current fees so your request is not delayed.
Caddo Parish Dissolution of Marriage Record Fees
Fees at the Caddo Parish Clerk of Court are set by the office and may change. Current rates for dissolution of marriage record searches and copies follow a consistent pattern across civil records. A name search runs $5 to $10 per name per year searched. Copies are $1 to $2 per page. Certification fees for court documents run $5 to $15 per document.
These fees apply to records requests for existing cases. Filing fees for a new dissolution of marriage case are separate and vary based on the type of filing, number of parties to be served, and any additional motions or orders requested. Call (318) 226-6500 to confirm current filing fees before you go to the courthouse.
If you cannot afford filing fees, Louisiana courts allow you to file an In Forma Pauperis affidavit asking the judge to waive the fees. The judge reviews your income and expenses and decides based on those facts. This option is available for dissolution of marriage cases in the 1st JDC the same as in other Louisiana courts.
Louisiana State Resources for Dissolution of Marriage
The Louisiana Department of Health does not issue dissolution of marriage records. LDH handles birth, death, and marriage certificates but not divorce judgments. If you need proof of a dissolution of marriage that occurred in Caddo Parish, the only source is the Caddo Parish Clerk of Court, not the state health department.
The LDH vital records page explains what state-level records are available. Dissolution of marriage records are not included. The clerk's office in Shreveport is the sole official custodian of those records.
For older records, the Louisiana State Archives in Baton Rouge holds documents more than 50 years old. If the dissolution of marriage you are researching dates back that far, contact the archives at (225) 922-1208. For more recent records, the Caddo Parish Clerk at (318) 226-6500 is the right contact.
The Law Library of Louisiana provides a free online guide to divorce law in Louisiana, including explanations of Articles 102 and 103, residency requirements, and community property rules under Civil Code Art. 2325. The guide is available at no cost and is a helpful starting point for anyone researching dissolution of marriage in Caddo Parish.
Cities in Caddo Parish
Shreveport is the parish seat of Caddo Parish and one of Louisiana's largest cities. All dissolution of marriage cases filed by Shreveport residents go through the Caddo Parish Clerk of Court at 501 Texas Street. The same clerk, fees, and procedures apply across all communities in Caddo Parish.
Nearby Parishes
Caddo Parish borders Bossier Parish to the east and several other northwest Louisiana parishes. File your dissolution of marriage case in the parish where you or your spouse is domiciled, as required by Louisiana law.