Access Iberville Parish Dissolution of Marriage Records
Iberville Parish dissolution of marriage records are held at the Clerk of Court in Plaquemine, where the 18th Judicial District Court processes all family law cases for the parish. You can request certified copies in person at the Meriam Street courthouse, send a written mail request to the clerk, or call the office directly to check on a specific dissolution of marriage case before making the trip to Plaquemine.
Iberville Parish Quick Facts
Iberville Parish Clerk of Court
The Iberville Parish Clerk of Court in Plaquemine holds all dissolution of marriage records for the parish. Every petition, judgment, and supporting document filed in a dissolution case through the 18th Judicial District Court is stored here. Louisiana Public Records Law, La. R.S. 44:1, makes these records open to anyone during business hours at no charge. You pay fees only when requesting copies of specific documents.
The courthouse is located at 58050 Meriam Street in Plaquemine. Plaquemine is the parish seat, and this courthouse handles all civil filings for Iberville Parish, including dissolution of marriage cases. The clerk's staff can search the index by party name or case number. Providing the approximate year of the dissolution helps narrow results when only the names are known.
Iberville Parish does not have a publicly accessible online case portal for dissolution records. To check whether a specific dissolution of marriage case is on file or to find out what documents a case contains, call (225) 687-5160. Staff can confirm case details by phone before you make the trip to Plaquemine or put together a mail request.
| Filing Address | 58050 Meriam St., Plaquemine, LA 70764 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (225) 687-5160 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Judicial District | 18th Judicial District Court |
18th Judicial District Court Dissolution of Marriage
The 18th Judicial District Court serves Iberville, Pointe Coupee, and West Baton Rouge Parishes. Dissolution of marriage cases for Iberville Parish are filed in Plaquemine at the Meriam Street courthouse. Pointe Coupee cases go to the New Roads clerk, and West Baton Rouge cases go to the Port Allen clerk. The three parishes share district court judges but each maintains its own records through its own clerk of court.
Filing a dissolution of marriage in Iberville Parish requires at least one spouse to be domiciled in Louisiana for six months before filing. The case is filed where either spouse lives. If both spouses have left Iberville Parish, they may need to file in a different parish depending on their current domicile. The clerk in Plaquemine can help you confirm where to file if you have a question about which parish applies to your situation.
Louisiana Civil Code Article 102 lets a party file a petition and then wait before getting the final dissolution. The wait is 180 days from service or acceptance of the petition when no minor children are involved. When the couple has children under 18, the wait extends to 365 days. Article 103 covers situations where the spouses have already been separated for the required time before filing, which allows dissolution without an additional waiting period. Article 103 also covers fault grounds including adultery, felony conviction with a sentence to death or hard labor imprisonment, and physical or sexual abuse of a spouse or child. The 18th JDC judge reviews all required materials and signs the final judgment of dissolution of marriage when conditions are satisfied.
The 1st Circuit Court of Appeal in Baton Rouge handles appeals from the 18th JDC. Dissolution of marriage judgments from Iberville Parish that are appealed go there first. The 1st Circuit's decisions on family law matters from the 18th JDC can affect how future dissolution cases in the parish are handled.
Searching Dissolution of Marriage Records Online
Online case searches are useful for locating a case number or checking status. For certified dissolution of marriage records with the court's seal and the clerk's signature, you must contact the Iberville Parish Clerk of Court in Plaquemine. Certified copies cannot be obtained through any online portal.
ClerkConnect is another portal that connects to some Louisiana parish clerk systems. Check whether Iberville Parish data is available through that platform if you want to search online first. Either way, certified records must come directly from the Iberville Parish Clerk of Court.
How to Get Dissolution of Marriage Records in Iberville Parish
Requesting dissolution of marriage records from Iberville Parish involves one of two methods: in person at the Plaquemine courthouse or by mail. Both routes go through the clerk of court at 58050 Meriam Street.
In-person requests are fastest and allow you to review the case file on the same visit. Come during business hours, bring the names of both parties and the approximate year of the dissolution if you know it. A case number helps but is not required. Show a valid government-issued photo ID. The clerk will search the index, locate the file, and tell you what documents it contains. Pay the applicable copy fee and receive your documents. Certified copies add a certification fee on top of the per-page rate and are required when using the document as legal proof.
For mail requests, write to the Iberville Parish Clerk of Court, 58050 Meriam Street, Plaquemine, LA 70764. Include both parties' names, the year of the dissolution, your full name and return address, a copy of your photo ID, and payment by check or money order. Add a self-addressed stamped envelope. Call (225) 687-5160 before sending to confirm the current fee schedule. The clerk will process the request and mail the copies back to you.
Under La. R.S. 44:1, dissolution of marriage records in Louisiana are public records. Anyone may request them without needing to prove they were a party to the case. Sealed records are the only exception. If a judge sealed a specific case, a court order is required to access those records.
What Iberville Parish Dissolution of Marriage Records Contain
A dissolution of marriage case file in Iberville Parish holds every document from the initial petition through the final judgment. The petition names both parties, states the grounds under Article 102 or 103, and sets out what the filing party is asking the court to order. That typically includes division of community property, any request for spousal support, child custody arrangements, child support, and a name change if applicable.
The final judgment of dissolution of marriage is the most important piece. The 18th JDC judge signs it, and the clerk enters it in the official record. A certified copy of this judgment is what you need to change your name with the DMV, update your Social Security record, transfer property, close or divide joint accounts, or show any institution that your marital status has changed. Most agencies will not accept a plain copy for legal purposes. The certified copy carries the clerk's seal, which makes it legally recognized.
Other documents in the file often include the citation and service return or a waiver of service signed by the other spouse, any answers or counter-petitions filed in response, financial affidavits and asset disclosures, community property partition agreements or orders, custody decrees, and child support worksheets. Louisiana Civil Code Article 2325 governs community property in the state, and dissolution files from Iberville Parish often reflect complex property division matters when significant assets are involved. Social Security numbers and financial account numbers are redacted from public copies.
Legal Help for Dissolution of Marriage in Iberville Parish
Baton Rouge area legal aid organizations may serve Iberville Parish residents who need help with dissolution of marriage cases. Eligibility is based on income. Call 211 to be connected with the appropriate legal aid organization for your location and circumstances. They can advise whether your case qualifies for free or reduced-fee assistance.
The Louisiana State Bar Association's lawyer referral service can match you with a family law attorney who handles dissolution of marriage cases in the Plaquemine or Baton Rouge metro area. The 18th JDC covers three parishes, so attorneys in this area are generally familiar with cases filed at the Iberville courthouse.
The Louisiana State Bar legal research guide covers family law resources and explains how dissolution of marriage works under Louisiana Civil Code Articles 102 and 103. It is useful for anyone in Iberville Parish trying to understand the process and their options before filing or consulting an attorney.
The Law Library of Louisiana also provides a free online research guide covering dissolution of marriage procedures statewide. Louisiana Law Help at louisianalawhelp.org has self-help forms and plain-language instructions for people who plan to file their own dissolution case. Both resources are free and accessible online.
Cities in Iberville Parish
Plaquemine is the parish seat and is where the 18th JDC clerk's office is located. All dissolution of marriage cases in Iberville Parish are filed at the Plaquemine courthouse regardless of where in the parish the parties live. No cities in Iberville Parish reach the qualifying population threshold for individual records pages. All residents use the same clerk's office and procedures.
Nearby Parishes
Iberville Parish is in south-central Louisiana and shares borders with several other parishes. Louisiana law requires filing a dissolution of marriage in the parish where either spouse is domiciled at the time of filing. If you live near a parish boundary, confirm your domicile parish before choosing where to file.