Access East Baton Rouge Parish Dissolution of Marriage Records
East Baton Rouge Parish dissolution of marriage records are maintained by the Clerk of Court under the 19th Judicial District Court, with offices on North Boulevard downtown, on Airline Highway, and an archives location on St. Louis Street. You can search and access these records online through ClerkConnect, visit either clerk location in person, or submit a written request by mail to the clerk's office.
East Baton Rouge Parish Quick Facts
East Baton Rouge Parish Clerk of Court
The Clerk of Court manages all dissolution of marriage records for East Baton Rouge Parish. Access to clerk of court records is free. Patrons pay only for copies made or requested. No appointment or advance contact is needed to inspect records during business hours. La. R.S. 44:33.1 requires the East Baton Rouge Parish Clerk of Court to publicize the name and contact information of its custodian of public records. The email custodian for public records requests is dwelborn@ebrclerkofcourt.org.
The clerk operates two main public-facing offices. The Main Office is downtown at 300 North Blvd. The Airline Office is at 9050 Airline Highway, Suite 100, on the east side of the parish. Both offices handle dissolution of marriage records. The Family Processing Department in Room 153 at the Main Office specifically handles divorce and custody matters. That department's direct phone number is (225) 389-3936. The Family Court itself is located at 9000 Airline Highway, Baton Rouge, LA 70815.
Effective June 4, 2018, the East Baton Rouge Parish Clerk of Court established an electronic system for the filing and storage of civil pleadings. Effective October 1, 2020, the clerk no longer maintains paper files for civil suit records, with the exception of probate proceedings. All dissolution of marriage records filed after those dates exist primarily in electronic form, viewable through the clerk's ClerkConnect portal.
The clerk's official website at ebrclerk.com provides direct access to ClerkConnect, online self-help forms, department contacts, and information about all record types including dissolution of marriage.
The East Baton Rouge Parish Clerk of Court website at ebrclerk.com is the central access point for dissolution of marriage records, ClerkConnect subscriptions, and online self-help resources for the 19th Judicial District Court.
| Main Office | 300 North Blvd., Baton Rouge, LA 70801 |
|---|---|
| Airline Office | 9050 Airline Highway, Suite 100, Baton Rouge, LA 70815 |
| Archives Building | 444 St. Louis Street (basement level), Baton Rouge, LA 70802 |
| Mailing Address | P.O. Box 1991, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-1991 |
| Main Phone | (225) 389-7642 |
| Airline Office Phone | (225) 293-2933 |
| Family Processing Dept. | (225) 389-3936 — Room 153, Main Office |
| Public Records Email | dwelborn@ebrclerkofcourt.org |
| Hours | 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM Monday through Friday (closes 4:00 PM; no new applications after 3:30 PM) |
| Website | ebrclerk.com |
Search East Baton Rouge Dissolution of Marriage Records Online
East Baton Rouge Parish uses ClerkConnect for online public access to court records. As of June 2022, all online records are available through ClerkConnect. Civil, family, probate, criminal, and traffic case information are joined by mortgage, conveyance, map indexes, and UCC records under one searchable system. Online print and electronic certification capability is available through the portal. Dissolution of marriage records, which fall under the Family case type, are fully searchable through ClerkConnect.
ClerkConnect subscription options for East Baton Rouge Parish are: a 24-Hour Pass for $20, a 30-Day Pass for $65, or a 12-Month Pass for $780. Once subscribed, printing costs $0.60 per page. Certified document downloads cost $5.00 per document. For regular (non-certified) copies from the clerk's office, the fee is $1.00 per page whether you get them in person or electronically. The online portal makes it possible to search dissolution of marriage cases, view case histories, and download documents without visiting the courthouse.
The EBR Clerk online access page at ebrclerk.com/online-access provides ClerkConnect subscription options and instructions for searching dissolution of marriage records in East Baton Rouge Parish remotely.
To search dissolution of marriage cases on ClerkConnect, log in or create an account, select the Family case category, and search by party name or case number. Results show full case activity for the 19th Judicial District Court. Document images are available for download. Searches are available around the clock, seven days a week.
How to Get Dissolution of Marriage Records in East Baton Rouge Parish
There are four ways to get dissolution of marriage records from the East Baton Rouge Parish Clerk of Court. Online through ClerkConnect is the most convenient for viewing case information and downloading documents. In person at the Main Office or Airline Office is best for same-day certified copies. Phone the Family Processing Department at (225) 389-3936 for guidance on specific requests. Mail requests to the clerk's P.O. Box when you cannot visit or access the portal.
For in-person requests, visit the Family Processing Department in Room 153 at the Main Office, 300 North Blvd., Baton Rouge. Hours run 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM Monday through Friday, but no new applications are taken after 3:30 PM and the office closes for counter service at 4:00 PM. Give staff the names of both parties and the case number if known. Show a valid photo ID. Pay $1.00 per page for copies. Certified copies include the clerk's seal and signature and are suitable for legal and official use.
For mail requests, write to P.O. Box 1991, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-1991. Include party names, filing year, and case number if available. Attach a copy of your photo ID, a self-addressed stamped envelope, and a check or money order for the estimated fees. You can also email the public records custodian at dwelborn@ebrclerkofcourt.org for guidance on large or complex requests.
East Baton Rouge Family Court also runs an Online Self-Help Resource Center with free fill-in petitions for dissolution of marriage cases. This is useful if you are filing a new case without an attorney. The Self-Help Center is linked from the clerk's website and does not require a ClerkConnect subscription to use.
The EBR Clerk public service page at ebrclerk.com/public-service covers in-person, mail, and online options for obtaining dissolution of marriage records and other documents from the 19th Judicial District Court.
Dissolution of Marriage Case Types and Filing Categories
The East Baton Rouge Parish Clerk of Court organizes civil filings into four categories under its Suit Accounting system: Civil (personal injury, contract, property), Family (divorce and custody), Probate, and Judicial Commitments. Dissolution of marriage cases fall under the Family category. This distinction matters when you are searching ClerkConnect or asking the clerk for specific records, since each category has its own index.
Family category cases include dissolution of marriage petitions filed under Civil Code Art. 102 and Art. 103, custody actions, support proceedings, and related family law matters. If you are searching for a dissolution of marriage record and cannot find it, make sure you are searching the Family index, not the Civil index. The two categories use separate docket numbering in some years.
The clerk's website has a dedicated Suit Accounting page at ebrclerk.com/suit-accounting that explains how cases are categorized and gives details on search procedures for each type. Reviewing that page before you search can save time and prevent confusion between case types.
The EBR Clerk suit accounting page explains how dissolution of marriage and other family cases are categorized in the 19th Judicial District Court's records system, which helps when searching ClerkConnect or making in-person records requests.
What East Baton Rouge Dissolution of Marriage Records Contain
A dissolution of marriage case file in East Baton Rouge Parish includes every document filed from the opening petition through the signed final judgment. The petition names both spouses, states the grounds, and sets out the relief requested. Louisiana Civil Code Art. 102 covers cases filed before the separation period runs. Art. 103 applies where parties are already separated or seeking fault-based dissolution on grounds such as adultery, a felony conviction, or abuse.
The final judgment is the main document most people need. It ends the marriage and resolves all open matters: community property division under Civil Code Art. 2325, child custody and support if children are involved, spousal support if granted, and name restoration if requested. Most official agencies require a certified copy of this judgment as proof of dissolution. A plain copy works for some purposes, but certified is required for Social Security name changes, passport applications, and many court filings.
Note: if this is not your first marriage, anyone applying for a new marriage license in East Baton Rouge Parish must bring a certified copy of the dissolution decree or a death certificate from the most recent marriage. A 24-hour waiting period between issuance of the new marriage license and the ceremony applies. The license is valid for 30 days. This requirement makes having a ready certified copy of your dissolution judgment important if you plan to remarry.
Other documents in the file include service of process records, answers and counter-petitions, interim orders, financial disclosure forms, community property settlement agreements, and any custody or support stipulations. Social Security numbers are redacted from public copies. Sealed records require a court order to access.
Louisiana Dissolution of Marriage Law
Louisiana uses "dissolution of marriage" rather than "divorce" in the Civil Code. Civil Code Art. 102 lets you file a petition and then wait out the required separation period: 180 days without minor children, or 365 days when children are involved. After the wait, either party moves for a final judgment. Art. 103 covers cases where the separation is already complete, allowing faster judgments. Art. 103 also covers fault grounds: adultery, a felony with a hard-labor sentence, and abuse.
A six-month Louisiana residency requirement applies to all dissolution of marriage cases. At least one spouse must be domiciled in Louisiana, and the case must be filed in the parish where either spouse lives. For East Baton Rouge Parish, that means at least one spouse must reside in the parish at the time of filing. Residency in the state and parish can sometimes be shown through driver's licenses, tax records, or voter registration.
Community property under Civil Code Art. 2325 means marital assets and debts are generally split equally. The dissolution judgment must address community property. Parties who cannot agree on division may need a partition proceeding filed separately in the 19th JDC. Property questions left unresolved in the main case do not simply go away; they require a separate action to settle.
For research and self-help, the Law Library of Louisiana divorce guide is free and covers Articles 102 and 103 in plain language. The Louisiana State Bar family law guide includes attorney referral resources. The East Baton Rouge Family Court Online Self-Help Resource Center, linked from ebrclerk.com/public-service, provides free fill-in petition forms for unrepresented parties.
Cities in East Baton Rouge Parish
All cities and communities in East Baton Rouge Parish file dissolution of marriage cases through the 19th Judicial District Court at the clerk's offices in Baton Rouge. Qualifying cities with their own pages include Baton Rouge, St. George, and Central. The same clerk, fees, and procedures apply across the entire parish.
Nearby Parishes
East Baton Rouge Parish is surrounded by several other parishes in south-central Louisiana. If you need to determine which parish has your dissolution of marriage records, the key question is where you or your spouse was domiciled when the case was filed.