Search Terrebonne Parish Dissolution of Marriage Records
Terrebonne Parish dissolution of marriage records are maintained by the Clerk of Court at 7856 Main Street in Houma, where the 32nd Judicial District Court handles all family law cases. Records can be searched through the eClerks public portal, requested in person at the courthouse, or obtained by mail using the clerk's standard process.
Terrebonne Parish Quick Facts
Terrebonne Parish Clerk of Court
Jodie P. Burton leads the Terrebonne Parish Clerk of Court. Her office maintains all family law records for the 32nd Judicial District, including dissolution of marriage case files, community property agreements, custody orders, and related filings. The office operates Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM at 7856 Main Street, Suite 100, in Houma. Under Louisiana Public Records Law, La. R.S. 44:1, these records are public. You can view them in person at no charge; fees apply only when you request copies.
Dissolution of marriage records in Terrebonne Parish go back to 1915. Records from 1915 through 1945 are handwritten. From 1946 through 1970 the records show post-war improvements in record-keeping. Typewritten and early computer records cover 1971 through 1999. A digital transition period runs from 2000 through 2005. From 2006 forward, records are fully digital through Cott Systems. The depth of this archive makes Terrebonne's clerk's office one of the more comprehensive sources for older dissolution of marriage records in the region.
Effective January 1, 2026, Louisiana state law requires attorneys to file all pleadings either in person in paper form or through e-filing. Fax submissions are no longer accepted. This change affects how new dissolution of marriage cases are opened but does not affect how the public accesses existing records.
| Physical Address | 7856 Main Street, Suite 100, Houma, LA 70360 |
|---|---|
| Mailing Address | P.O. Box 1569, Houma, LA 70361-1569 |
| Phone | (985) 868-5660 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Clerk | Jodie P. Burton |
Search Terrebonne Parish Dissolution of Marriage Records Online
Civil records for the 32nd Judicial District Court are searchable through the eClerks public portal. You can search by case number, party names, or document type. The portal gives access to case status and basic filing information. Subscription fees may apply for document image access, and per-page printing costs are charged when you print documents from the portal.
The ClerkConnect portal provides access to Terrebonne Parish court records for registered users. ClerkConnect is a statewide platform used by multiple Louisiana parishes. It supports searches across civil cases including dissolution of marriage. Registration is free, though some document retrieval features may require a paid subscription.
ClerkConnect supports case searches across multiple Louisiana parishes, including Terrebonne, and is one of the faster ways to locate dissolution of marriage case numbers before making an in-person request.
For searches going back before the digital transition period, in-person requests at the courthouse may be required. Records from 1915 through the late 1990s exist in handwritten and typed form and may not be fully indexed in the online system. Call the clerk's office at (985) 868-5660 to ask about availability for older cases before making a trip.
32nd Judicial District Court Dissolution of Marriage
All dissolution of marriage cases in Terrebonne Parish are filed in the 32nd Judicial District Court at 7856 Main Street in Houma. The court's main line is (985) 868-3600. Five judges serve the 32nd JDC and collectively handle all family cases, including dissolution of marriage, child custody, child support, spousal support, and community property partition.
Louisiana Civil Code Article 102 governs no-fault dissolution of marriage in Terrebonne Parish. Under Article 102, one spouse files a petition and then must wait 180 days before the court can enter a final judgment, or 365 days when minor children are part of the case. Article 103 is available when spouses have already lived separate and apart for the required period, or when filing on fault grounds. The six-month Louisiana domicile requirement applies to both article types before a case can be filed.
Community property under Louisiana Civil Code Article 2325 applies to most Terrebonne Parish marriages. The dissolution of marriage case file will include a partition agreement or a court-ordered division of community assets and debts. If the spouses cannot agree, the judge decides. Either way, the final judgment addresses both the dissolution and the property division, and it is all part of the same public case file.
The 32nd JDC Self-Help program offers free legal forms for dissolution of marriage, custody, and court procedure. These forms are available through the court and help self-represented parties understand what to file and in what order. The self-help program does not provide legal advice, but the forms include instructions that explain each step.
The Houma City Court at 8046 Main Street, (985) 868-4232, handles municipal matters only. It does not have jurisdiction over dissolution of marriage cases. All divorce filings in Terrebonne Parish go to the 32nd JDC, not to any city court.
How to Get Dissolution of Marriage Records in Terrebonne Parish
Terrebonne Parish gives you two main ways to get dissolution of marriage records: in person at the Main Street courthouse or by mail. Online searches through eClerks or ClerkConnect can help you locate the case first, then you follow up with a formal copy request.
For in-person requests, go to 7856 Main Street, Suite 100, Houma, during business hours. Bring the names of both parties, the approximate date of the dissolution of marriage, and your government-issued photo ID. The clerk will search the index and pull the case file. Fees are charged as follows: civil record search $15, family court search $15, certified copies $5 plus $1 per page, and regular copies $1 per page. Criminal searches, if needed for other purposes, cost $20. Pay at the time of your request. Certified copies are available the same day for most active files.
For mail requests, write to: Terrebonne Parish Clerk of Court, P.O. Box 1569, Houma, LA 70361-1569. Include the case details, a copy of your government-issued ID, a self-addressed stamped envelope, and a check or money order for the fees. The office will search and mail copies back to you. Allow extra processing time for mail requests, especially for older records that require physical retrieval.
If you need a record from before 2006, note that pre-digital records may require extra time to locate and copy. Handwritten records from the 1915 to 1945 period can be legible but fragile, and staff handle them with care. Call ahead at (985) 868-5660 for any search going back more than 20 years so staff can prepare for your visit.
Louisiana Vital Records and Dissolution of Marriage
The Louisiana Department of Health does not issue dissolution of marriage decrees. LDH only issues birth, death, and marriage certificates. Certified copies of dissolution of marriage judgments come from the Clerk of Court in the parish where the case was filed. In Terrebonne Parish, that means the clerk's office in Houma.
The LDH vital records page explains which documents the state health office does and does not maintain. Dissolution of marriage judgments are not in that list. The clerk of court in each parish is the sole custodian of those records.
Most institutions that ask for divorce documentation, including the Social Security Administration, DMV, and financial institutions, require a certified copy of the final judgment, not a summary or printout from an online portal. The $5 certification fee plus per-page copy cost is worth paying to get the version that will be accepted without question.
Cities in Terrebonne Parish
All communities in Terrebonne Parish file dissolution of marriage cases through the 32nd Judicial District Court in Houma. Houma is the parish seat and the largest city. All residents of the parish, regardless of their specific community, use the same courthouse and clerk's office for dissolution of marriage filings and record requests.
Nearby Parishes
Terrebonne Parish is in the coastal south of Louisiana. If you are not sure which parish holds your dissolution of marriage record, the case was filed in the parish where either spouse lived at the time of filing.