Plaquemines Parish Dissolution of Marriage Records

Plaquemines Parish dissolution of marriage records are held at the Clerk of Court in Belle Chasse, where the 25th Judicial District Court handles all family law cases for the parish. You can request records in person at the courthouse, submit a written request by mail, or contact the clerk's office directly by phone to ask about available search options.

Plaquemines Parish Clerk of Court

The Clerk of Court in Belle Chasse is the official keeper of all dissolution of marriage records for Plaquemines Parish. The clerk's civil division handles the filing, indexing, and storage of every dissolution case filed in the 25th Judicial District Court. Under Louisiana Public Records Law, La. R.S. 44:1, these records are open to the public unless sealed by court order.

You can view records at no charge during normal business hours. Copy fees apply when you want paper or certified copies. The clerk's office accepts walk-in visitors, mail requests, and phone inquiries. If you know your case number, you can ask the clerk to pull that case specifically. If you only have party names and an approximate year, the clerk can search by name as well.

Plaquemines is a long, narrow parish that stretches south from the New Orleans metro area along the Mississippi River. The courthouse in Belle Chasse serves the entire parish. There is no second courthouse location. All dissolution of marriage filings go through the Belle Chasse office regardless of where in the parish the parties live.

Search Plaquemines Parish Dissolution of Marriage Records Online

The screenshot below is from the Louisiana Department of Health website. LDH handles vital records statewide, but it does not issue dissolution of marriage records or decrees. That point is worth knowing before you make a request. The actual dissolution records are with the Clerk of Court in Belle Chasse.

LDH does not hold dissolution of marriage records or issue certified decrees. Contact the Plaquemines Parish Clerk of Court directly for certified copies of dissolution judgments.

ClerkConnect is another online option available in many Louisiana parishes. Contact the Plaquemines Parish Clerk of Court at (504) 934-6610 to confirm whether ClerkConnect access is active for 25th JDC civil records. If available, it allows you to search and download documents without visiting the courthouse.

25th Judicial District Court

The 25th Judicial District Court in Belle Chasse handles all dissolution of marriage cases filed in Plaquemines Parish. The court has jurisdiction over civil, family, and domestic cases within the parish. Judges of the 25th JDC hear Article 102 no-fault dissolutions and Article 103 fault-based dissolutions, as well as contested cases involving community property, child custody, and child support.

Under Louisiana Civil Code Article 102, a spouse can file for dissolution and then wait out a living-apart period of 180 days with no minor children, or 365 days when minor children of the marriage are involved. Article 103 allows for immediate dissolution if the parties have already lived apart for the required period, or on fault grounds including adultery, felony conviction, abuse, or abandonment. The court clerk records all filings and the final judgment once the judge signs it.

The 25th JDC Self-Help program provides free legal forms for residents of Plaquemines Parish. You can get forms for custody, dissolution of marriage, child support, name change, unemployment matters, expungement, and general court procedure. These forms are available at no cost. The self-help program does not provide legal advice, but the forms are designed to help people who represent themselves through the process.

If you are not sure which grounds apply to your situation, or if the other spouse plans to contest, speaking with a family law attorney before filing is a good idea. The self-help forms work best for uncontested cases where both parties agree on all terms.

How to Get Dissolution of Marriage Records in Plaquemines Parish

There are three main ways to get dissolution of marriage records from the Plaquemines Parish Clerk of Court. In-person requests are the fastest. Mail requests work if you cannot make the trip. Phone calls can help you confirm what is available and what the current fees are before you submit a formal request.

For in-person visits, go to 301 Main St. in Belle Chasse during business hours. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID. Know the names of both parties and the approximate year the case was filed. If you have the case number, bring that too. Tell the clerk you want to view or obtain a copy of a dissolution of marriage record. The clerk will search the index and retrieve the file. You pay for copies when you pick them up.

For mail requests, write a letter to the Plaquemines Parish Clerk of Court at 301 Main St., Belle Chasse, LA 70037. State the names of the parties, the case number if known, the year of filing, and the type of record you want. Include a copy of your photo ID, a check or money order for the estimated fees, and a self-addressed stamped return envelope. Call ahead at (504) 934-6610 to confirm the current fee schedule before mailing your payment.

Records sealed by court order are not available through public request. Adoptions and certain juvenile matters are also restricted. If you believe your case involves sealed records, contact the clerk's office for guidance on the proper process to request access.

What Plaquemines Parish Dissolution of Marriage Records Contain

A dissolution of marriage case file in the 25th JDC includes every document filed from the opening petition through the signed final judgment. The petition states the legal grounds for dissolution, names both parties, and requests the specific relief the petitioner wants. This might include division of community property, spousal support, child custody, child support, and a name change. The verification form and civil cover sheet accompany the petition.

Once service is complete and the waiting period passes, the court may enter the final judgment. That judgment is the key document. It officially ends the marriage. It also sets out all terms the judge approved, whether by agreement of the parties or after a contested hearing. A certified copy of the final judgment is what you need for most legal purposes, including changing your name on government-issued ID, updating property records, or dealing with financial accounts.

Common documents found in a dissolution of marriage file include:

• Petition for dissolution of marriage
• Verification and civil cover sheet
• Service return or waiver of service
• Answer or counter-petition if filed
• Community property partition agreement
• Child custody and support orders
• Final judgment of dissolution of marriage

Louisiana law protects certain private information. Social Security numbers and financial account numbers are redacted from public copies. If parts of the file were sealed by order of the court, those pages are not accessible without a court order.

Louisiana Court Resources for Dissolution of Marriage

The Louisiana Supreme Court website at lasc.org offers resources on court procedures and rules for the state. The Law Library of Louisiana, which operates under the Supreme Court, publishes a detailed research guide on dissolution of marriage and divorce law in Louisiana. That guide explains the differences between Article 102 and 103, covers residency requirements, and points to key statutes and case law.

The Louisiana Supreme Court site provides links to court rules, forms, and statewide resources relevant to dissolution of marriage proceedings across all parishes.

Louisiana requires at least six months of residency in the state before filing for dissolution of marriage. You file in the parish where either spouse lives. For Plaquemines Parish, both spouses must either currently live in the parish or one of them must have lived there for at least six months prior to filing. The 25th JDC will not accept filings from people who do not meet the residency requirement.

The Law Library of Louisiana dissolution of marriage research guide is a solid starting point if you want to understand the law before you file or before you search for records. It is free to use and written for people without legal training.

Nearby Parishes

Plaquemines Parish borders several parishes to the north and east. If you need to determine which parish handles a particular dissolution of marriage case, check where the parties were domiciled at the time of filing. Louisiana law requires filing in the parish where either spouse lives.