St. Bernard Parish Dissolution of Marriage Records
St. Bernard Parish dissolution of marriage records are maintained by the Clerk of Court in Chalmette, where the 34th Judicial District Court handles all family law cases for the parish. You can request these records in person at the courthouse, by mail, or by phone to ask about search options and current fees before submitting a formal request.
St. Bernard Parish Quick Facts
St. Bernard Parish Clerk of Court
The Clerk of Court in Chalmette is the official keeper of all dissolution of marriage records for St. Bernard Parish. The clerk maintains every civil court filing and index for the 34th Judicial District Court, including all dissolution of marriage petitions, interim orders, and final judgments. Under Louisiana Public Records Law, La. R.S. 44:1, these records are open to the public unless sealed by court order.
St. Bernard Parish is located southeast of New Orleans along the Mississippi River and Lake Borgne. The 34th Judicial District Court in Chalmette serves the entire parish. There is no second filing location. All dissolution of marriage cases for St. Bernard Parish, regardless of where in the parish the parties live, are filed and kept at the Chalmette courthouse.
You can view records at no charge during normal business hours. You pay for copies when you take them. Certified copies cost more than plain copies and are required for most legal and administrative tasks after a dissolution of marriage is final. Call (504) 271-3434 to confirm current fees and hours before you visit or mail a request.
| Address | 1101 W. St. Bernard Hwy., Chalmette, LA 70043 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (504) 271-3434 |
| District | 34th Judicial District Court |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
Search St. Bernard Parish Dissolution of Marriage Records Online
Contact the clerk's office at (504) 271-3434 to ask whether ClerkConnect or another online portal is active for 34th JDC civil records. Some Louisiana parish clerks use ClerkConnect to provide remote access to court records. If available for St. Bernard Parish, you can search and download case documents without visiting the courthouse in Chalmette.
The Louisiana Department of Health does not hold dissolution of marriage records or issue divorce decrees. LDH handles birth, death, and marriage certificates only. All dissolution records for St. Bernard Parish are at the Clerk of Court in Chalmette.
The ClerkConnect platform is available in many Louisiana parishes. Even if it is not yet active for St. Bernard, it is worth checking the clerk's website or calling to confirm. Online access saves a trip to the courthouse when you only need basic case information or copies of specific documents.
34th Judicial District Court
The 34th Judicial District Court in Chalmette has exclusive jurisdiction over all dissolution of marriage cases filed in St. Bernard Parish. The court handles civil, family, and domestic matters for the parish. Judges of the 34th JDC hear both uncontested and contested dissolution cases, including matters involving community property disputes, child custody, and support.
Louisiana Civil Code Article 102 is the most common path for no-fault dissolution of marriage. After the petition is filed, both spouses must live apart for 180 days if there are no minor children of the marriage, or 365 days when minor children are involved. Only after that period passes can the court enter the final judgment of dissolution. Article 103 allows for a more immediate filing in cases involving fault grounds such as adultery, a felony conviction with imprisonment, physical or sexual abuse, or abandonment. Article 103 also applies when the parties already lived apart for the required period before filing.
Louisiana is a community property state. Under Civil Code Article 2325, property acquired during the marriage belongs equally to both spouses. When a St. Bernard Parish couple dissolves their marriage, the community property must be addressed either by agreement or by court order. The partition agreement or judgment becomes part of the dissolution case file and is kept by the Clerk of Court in Chalmette.
Louisiana requires at least six months of state residency before you can file for dissolution of marriage. You file in the parish where you or your spouse is domiciled. If you live in St. Bernard Parish and meet the residency requirement, the 34th JDC in Chalmette is the right court.
How to Get Dissolution of Marriage Records in St. Bernard Parish
There are three main ways to get dissolution of marriage records from the St. Bernard Parish Clerk of Court. In-person is the fastest. Mail works if you cannot make the trip. A phone call first is a good idea no matter which method you choose.
For in-person requests, go to 1101 W. St. Bernard Hwy. in Chalmette during business hours. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID. Know the full names of both parties and the approximate year the case was filed. If you have the case number, bring it. The clerk will search the civil index and pull the file. You can view it at no charge. Pay for copies before you leave. Ask whether you need a certified copy, as that costs more than a plain copy but is required for most legal uses.
For mail requests, write to the St. Bernard Parish Clerk of Court at 1101 W. St. Bernard Hwy., Chalmette, LA 70043. Include the full names of both parties, the case number if you have it, the approximate year of filing, and a clear statement of what records you want. Attach a copy of your photo ID, a check or money order for the estimated fees, and a self-addressed stamped return envelope. Call (504) 271-3434 before mailing to confirm the current fee schedule.
Records sealed by court order are not available through a standard public request. If the file you want is sealed, the clerk will inform you and explain the process for seeking access through a court order.
What St. Bernard Parish Dissolution of Marriage Records Contain
A dissolution of marriage case file at the St. Bernard Parish Clerk of Court contains every document filed in the case from start to finish. The petition is first. It names both parties, states the legal basis for dissolution, and sets out what the petitioner is asking the court to do. The verification and civil cover sheet accompany the petition. If the other spouse files an answer or counter-petition, that goes into the file as well.
Interim orders addressing custody, support, or community property use may follow while the case is pending. The final judgment of dissolution of marriage is the core document. It ends the marriage. It sets out all the terms: division of community property, spousal support if any, child custody and support, and any approved name change. A certified copy of this judgment is what you need to update your name on a driver's license, change beneficiaries on accounts, update title to property, or handle other post-dissolution matters.
Common documents 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 settlement agreement
- Child custody and support orders
- Final judgment of dissolution of marriage
- Name change order if applicable
Under La. R.S. 44:1, these records are public. Social Security numbers and financial account numbers are redacted from public copies. Sealed records are not accessible without a court order.
Louisiana Resources for Dissolution of Marriage
The Law Library of Louisiana dissolution of marriage research guide explains Article 102, Article 103, residency requirements, waiting periods, and community property basics. It is free to use and written for a general audience. A good first stop before you search for records or decide to file.
The Louisiana Supreme Court website provides access to court rules, statewide legal resources, and links to the Law Library of Louisiana. These resources apply to all parishes, including St. Bernard.
Southeast Louisiana Legal Services provides free civil legal help to low-income residents, including help with dissolution of marriage cases. Their service area covers St. Bernard Parish. Call 211 to find out if you qualify and to get contact information. The Louisiana State Bar Association also has a statewide attorney referral service if you need to hire a family law attorney for your dissolution of marriage case in St. Bernard Parish.
The Louisiana State Bar Association attorney directory can help you find a licensed family law attorney in the greater New Orleans metro area who handles dissolution of marriage cases in St. Bernard Parish and surrounding parishes.
Nearby Parishes
St. Bernard Parish borders Orleans and Jefferson parishes to the west and north, and Plaquemines Parish to the south. If you need to determine which parish handles a dissolution of marriage case, the domicile of either spouse at the time of filing determines the correct venue.