How to Access Public Records in Louisiana (Property, Court, Criminal, Vital & Business Records)

Louisiana public records are documents, electronic files, maps, photographs, and other materials used or retained by Louisiana government agencies that are accessible to the public under the Louisiana Public Records Act (La. R.S. 44:1 et seq.). Louisiana’s right of access is reinforced by the state constitution — Article XII, Section 3 guarantees the right to examine public records, with courts directed to resolve doubts in favor of disclosure.

Residents frequently perform a Louisiana public records search to locate property ownership, court filings, criminal history, vital records, and business registrations across 64 parishes. This guide explains which agency holds each record type and how to search effectively — whether you need a Louisiana property records search, Louisiana court case lookup, Louisiana criminal background check, or Louisiana birth certificate request.

About PublicRecordHub: PublicRecordHub links only to official government offices and does not provide private background reports. All sources are verified and updated regularly to ensure accuracy.

Louisiana Public Records Quick Facts


Open Records Law	Louisiana Public Records Act (La. R.S. 44:1 et seq.)
Constitutional Basis	Louisiana Constitution, Art. XII, §3
Response Deadline	Prompt response required; if records are not immediately available or more time is needed, the custodian must provide a written response and reasonable estimate as required by Louisiana law
Parishes	64 (Louisiana uses parishes, not counties)
Statewide Property Portal	Yes — Louisiana Clerks Remote Access Authority (LCRAA)
Statewide Court Search	Partial — Louisiana Supreme Court portal; parish Clerk of Court for trial records
Birth/Death Records	Louisiana Office of Public Health, Vital Records (from 1914)
Marriage Records	Parish Clerk of Court; Louisiana Office of Public Health (Orleans Parish marriage records only)
Divorce Records	Parish Clerk of Court (district court)
Criminal Records	Louisiana State Police BCII (restricted/closed)
Business Records Portal	Louisiana Secretary of State — geauxBIZ
Residency Required	No — any person 18 or older

Quickest Ways to Find Louisiana Records

Record Type	Go To
Property deeds/mortgages	Louisiana LCRAA or Parish Clerk of Court
Property values/taxes	Parish Assessor and Sheriff (tax collector)
Court cases	Parish Clerk of Court; Louisiana Supreme Court portal (appellate)
Birth/death certificates	Louisiana Office of Public Health, Vital Records
Marriage records	Parish Clerk of Court; OPH (Orleans Parish records only)
Divorce records	Parish Clerk of Court (district court)
Criminal history	Louisiana State Police BCII (restricted; employment/legal use)
Business filings	Louisiana Secretary of State — geauxBIZ
Open records requests	Agency custodian directly or agency online form

What Are Public Records in Louisiana?

Public records in Louisiana include all documentary materials — books, papers, maps, photographs, recordings, electronic data, emails, and databases — used, prepared, possessed, or retained by a public body in connection with public business, as defined by La. R.S. 44:1(A)(2)(a). Records are presumed accessible unless a specific statutory exception applies. The custodian bears the burden of justifying non-disclosure, not the requester. Louisiana’s constitution reinforces this presumption — courts resolve doubts in favor of access.

Quick orientation: In Louisiana, most records are parish-based. If you know the parish, you can usually find the record. If you don’t, start with statewide portals — LCRAA for property records, geauxBIZ for business filings, or the Louisiana Office of Public Health for vital records.

How to Access Public Records in Louisiana

Identify the record type and the agency or parish office that maintains it.
For property records, start with the Louisiana Clerks Remote Access Authority (LCRAA) for a statewide index of land records, or go directly to the Parish Clerk of Court.
For court records, contact the Parish Clerk of Court for trial-level records; use the Louisiana Supreme Court portal for appellate opinions.
For vital records, contact the Louisiana Office of Public Health, Vital Records for birth and death certificates; marriage licenses originate with the Parish Clerk of Court.
Submit requests in writing — by email, online form, mail, or in person. Include a clear description of the records, date ranges, party names, or case numbers.
Agencies must respond promptly. When records are not immediately available or more time is needed, the custodian must provide a written response or reasonable estimate; fees may apply for copies.
Requesters 18 or older may access public records without stating a purpose; identification may be requested but residency is not required.
For a directory of official Louisiana parish record portals organized by parish and record type, visit PublicRecordHub.

Louisiana’s Public Records Law

Public records in Louisiana are governed by the Louisiana Public Records Act, codified at La. R.S. 44:1 et seq., and reinforced by Article XII, Section 3 of the Louisiana Constitution, which guarantees the right to examine public documents.

In simple terms: any document used or retained by a Louisiana public body in the conduct of public business is presumed to be a public record. The custodian must justify withholding, not the requester — and courts are directed to resolve doubts in favor of disclosure.

Key provisions:

Response timeline — agencies must respond promptly. When records are not immediately available or additional processing time is needed, the custodian must provide the written response or estimate required by Louisiana law.
Any person 18 or older — no residency requirement; requesters are not required to state a purpose.
Broad definition — “public record” covers all physical and electronic formats; “public body” includes state, parish, local agencies, and private entities performing governmental functions.
Fees — agencies may charge reasonable fees for copies; electronic delivery is often available at lower cost.
Exemptions — include medical records, personnel files, active law enforcement investigatory records, juvenile records, grand jury records, and other specifically protected categories. Partial disclosure with redaction is required where feasible.
Constitutional backing — Art. XII, §3 provides constitutional-level protection for public access, stronger than most states’ statutory-only frameworks.
Judicial remedy — requesters denied access may file for judicial review in district court; courts must resolve ambiguity in favor of disclosure.

Who Can Request Public Records in Louisiana?

Any person 18 or older may request Louisiana public records — no residency requirement, no need to state a purpose. Custodians may ask for identification and may log inspections, but cannot deny access solely based on non-residency.

Certain record categories carry access restrictions regardless of requester: active law enforcement investigatory records, juvenile records, grand jury records, medical records, sealed court files, and other statutorily protected categories.

Written requests are strongly recommended to preserve rights — including the right to sue if access is improperly denied or delayed.

Common Reasons Records Are Denied in Louisiana

Denials must cite a specific statutory exception. Common reasons include:

Active law enforcement investigatory records and confidential informant information
Medical, mental health, and patient records
Personnel files and employee evaluation records
Juvenile records and sealed court files
Grand jury records and proceedings
Attorney-client communications and work product
Trade secrets and confidential commercial data
Records whose disclosure would constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy
High-level official schedules and sensitive executive records (recent legislative exemptions)

Agencies must inform requesters of the specific legal basis for denial and may not withhold non-exempt portions — redaction and partial disclosure are required where feasible. Requesters may seek judicial review in district court.

Unique Challenges When Searching Louisiana Records

64 parishes, not counties — Louisiana uses parishes instead of counties. All county-equivalent records — property, court, vital, and tax — are organized by parish. Identifying the correct parish is the essential first step in any records search.
Parish Clerk of Court handles both property and court records — one office maintains recorded land instruments (deeds, mortgages, liens) and court case files. Most states split these functions.
Criminal records are largely closed — Louisiana classifies full criminal history records as restricted. The Louisiana State Police BCII maintains certified RAP sheets primarily for authorized employment, licensing, and legal purposes. Parish-level arrest and booking records vary in availability.
Vital records split between OPH and parish — birth and death records are held statewide by OPH from 1914; marriage licenses and certified copies are held by the Parish Clerk of Court in the parish where the license was issued, with the exception of Orleans Parish marriage records, which OPH maintains.
LCRAA provides statewide land record access — the Louisiana Clerks Remote Access Authority offers a centralized statewide index for recorded land instruments across parishes — a significant advantage over states without a statewide portal.

Common Mistakes When Searching Louisiana Public Records

Searching “county” records instead of “parish” records — Louisiana has no counties; all local records are organized by parish. Using county-based search terms will miss Louisiana results.
Going to the wrong office for property records — the Parish Clerk of Court handles both recorded land instruments and court filings in Louisiana. Searching the assessor for deed records, or the court clerk only for property, misses the dual function of the Clerk of Court.
Assuming criminal records are publicly accessible — Louisiana classifies full criminal history (RAP sheets) as closed records. Public access is limited; certified history requires authorization and a fee through Louisiana State Police BCII.
Assuming the Office of Public Health holds all marriage records — Louisiana OPH maintains Orleans Parish marriage records only. For marriages in all other parishes, certified copies must come from the Parish Clerk of Court in the parish where the license was purchased.
Submitting vague or incomplete requests — Louisiana custodians may require clarification before processing. Include specific names, date ranges, instrument types, and case or parcel numbers to avoid delays.

Tips for Faster Louisiana Records Requests

Start with LCRAA for property deed searches — the Louisiana Clerks Remote Access Authority provides a statewide index for recorded land instruments across parishes; faster than contacting each parish Clerk separately.
Identify the correct parish first — all Louisiana local records are parish-based. Confirming the parish before submitting prevents misdirected requests.
Submit requests in writing — written requests preserve your legal rights, including the right to judicial review if access is denied.
Use geauxBIZ for business entity searches — the Louisiana Secretary of State’s portal is the fastest starting point for business registration, officer, and registered agent information.
Request electronic delivery — Louisiana agencies may provide electronic copies at lower cost than paper; specify your preferred format in the request.

Property Records in Louisiana

Property records in Louisiana are maintained at the parish level, with the Parish Clerk of Court serving as the primary custodian for recorded land instruments. Louisiana also benefits from the Louisiana Clerks Remote Access Authority (LCRAA) — a statewide portal providing centralized index access to recorded documents across parishes.

Three offices handle different aspects of property records:

The Parish Clerk of Court records deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, and plat maps — and also maintains court records.
The Parish Assessor maintains parcel data, ownership information, and assessed values.
The Parish Sheriff serves as the primary tax collector in most parishes, handling property tax billing and delinquency.

The Office of State Lands holds historical state land records, patents, and records of state-owned property.

What Louisiana property records contain:

Warranty deeds, quitclaim deeds, and acts of sale
Mortgages, liens, and releases
Servitudes (easements) and rights-of-way
Grantor/grantee index entries and parcel identifiers
Assessed and appraised values (Parish Assessor)
Property tax billing and delinquency (Parish Sheriff)
Historical state land patents (Office of State Lands)

How to search property records in Louisiana:

Identify the parish where the property is located.
Search the LCRAA statewide portal for a centralized index of recorded instruments across parishes.
For document images or certified copies, contact the Parish Clerk of Court directly.
Visit the Parish Assessor portal for ownership history and assessed values.
Contact the Parish Sheriff for property tax payment status and delinquency records.
For historical state land patents or state-owned land records, contact the Office of State Lands.

Use PublicRecordHub’s Louisiana parish directory to locate the correct Clerk of Court, Assessor, and Sheriff portals for any of Louisiana’s 64 parishes.

Court Records in Louisiana

Court records in Louisiana are maintained by the Louisiana Judicial Branch. The Parish Clerk of Court is the primary custodian for trial-level court records. Appellate opinions are published online through the Louisiana Supreme Court and Courts of Appeal.

Louisiana’s court structure:

Louisiana Supreme Court — highest court; opinions published online
Louisiana Courts of Appeal — five circuits; opinions published online
District Courts — trial courts of general jurisdiction; civil, criminal, family, and probate cases; records held by Parish Clerk of Court
City, Parish, and Justice of the Peace Courts — limited jurisdiction; records vary by court

How to access court records in Louisiana:

Identify the parish where the case was filed.
Contact the Parish Clerk of Court for trial-level dockets, case files, and certified copies.
For appellate opinions, use the Louisiana Supreme Court website or the relevant Court of Appeal portal.
Include case number, party names, and filing dates in your request for faster processing.
Pay applicable fees for certified copies and transcripts.

Restrictions:

Juvenile records are confidential and not accessible through ordinary public-access channels.
Grand jury records are sealed.
Sealed and expunged records are withheld from public access.
Some family court records carry additional confidentiality protections.

Vital Records in Louisiana (Birth, Death, Marriage & Divorce)

Vital records in Louisiana are split between the state Office of Public Health and parish-level offices.

Birth and death records are maintained by the Louisiana Office of Public Health (OPH), Vital Records:

Statewide birth and death records from 1914
Online ordering through authorized vendors including VitalChek

Marriage and divorce records:

Marriage licenses and most certified marriage records are issued by and obtained from the Parish Clerk of Court in the parish where the license was purchased
Louisiana Office of Public Health maintains Orleans Parish marriage records only
Divorce records and decrees are maintained by the Parish Clerk of Court in the parish where the divorce was filed

How to obtain Louisiana vital records:

For birth or death certificates, visit the Louisiana OPH Vital Records office or order online through VitalChek.
For Orleans Parish marriage records, contact Louisiana OPH Vital Records.
For marriage licenses or marriage records from other parishes, contact the Parish Clerk of Court in the parish where the license was purchased.
For divorce records and decrees, contact the Parish Clerk of Court in the parish where the divorce was filed.
Provide valid government-issued photo ID and documentation of eligibility.
Pay the applicable fee; processing times vary by method.

Access restrictions:

Certified copies are restricted to the registrant (if adult), immediate family, legal representatives, or by court order.
Louisiana birth records are classified as closed — access is limited to entitled parties.

Criminal Records in Louisiana

Criminal history information in Louisiana is maintained by the Louisiana State Police Bureau of Criminal Identification and Information (BCII), which serves as the central statewide repository for certified criminal history records and RAP sheets.

Louisiana classifies full criminal history records as closed — among the more restrictive states for public access to criminal history.

What Louisiana BCII criminal records include:

Certified criminal history (RAP sheets) with arrests, charges, dispositions, and incarceration history
Sex offender registry information (Louisiana Sex Offender and Child Predator Registry)

What is available publicly:

Sex offender registry — searchable online through the Louisiana State Police
Inmate and offender information — Louisiana Department of Corrections offender locator and LAVNS (Louisiana Victim Notification System)
Parish-level arrest and booking records — availability varies by sheriff’s office and parish

How to request criminal records in Louisiana:

For certified criminal history (RAP sheets), submit an application and fee to Louisiana State Police BCII — primarily available for authorized employment, licensing, or legal purposes.
For sex offender registry information, search the Louisiana Sex Offender and Child Predator Registry through the Louisiana State Police website.
For inmate and offender information, use the Louisiana Department of Corrections offender locator.
For parish-level arrest and booking records, contact the relevant Parish Sheriff’s office directly — availability varies.

Restrictions:

Full criminal history (RAP sheets) are restricted to authorized purposes — not available for general public inspection.
Juvenile records are confidential and not available through ordinary public-access channels.
Expunged records are withheld from public access.

Business Records in Louisiana

Business entity records in Louisiana are managed by the Louisiana Secretary of State, Commercial Division, accessible through the geauxBIZ portal.

Louisiana Secretary of State maintains:

Corporations, LLCs, limited partnerships, and other registered entities
Formation documents, annual reports, and entity status
Registered agent information and officer/director names
Amendments, dissolutions, and merger filings
Trade names and assumed name registrations

How to search business records in Louisiana:

Go to the geauxBIZ portal through the Louisiana Secretary of State website.
Search by entity name, charter number, status, or filing dates.
View entity status, registration documents, annual reports, and registered agent details — basic searches are free.
For certified copies, use the walk-in, mail, fax, or online ordering options.
For professional licenses, search the relevant Louisiana licensing board through the Louisiana Department of Health or applicable regulatory agency.

Additional Louisiana Public Records

Professional Licenses — regulated occupations searchable through individual Louisiana licensing boards and agencies.
Voter Registration Records — maintained by the Louisiana Secretary of State and parish registrars of voters.
Environmental Permits — maintained by the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality.
Vehicle Registration Records — maintained by the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV); personal identifiers are generally protected.
Inmate Records — current and released inmate information through the Louisiana Department of Corrections offender locator.
Sex Offender Registry — Louisiana Sex Offender and Child Predator Registry, maintained by Louisiana State Police; searchable online.
Louisiana State Archives and Office of State Lands — historical government records, pre-1914 vital records, land patents, and state-owned land records.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Louisiana public records free?

Inspection of records is generally free. Agencies may charge reasonable fees for copies; electronic delivery is often available at lower cost. Louisiana State Police BCII criminal history requests carry a fee. OPH vital records certified copies carry per-certificate fees. Business record searches through geauxBIZ are generally free; certified copies require payment.

Can non-residents request Louisiana public records?

Yes. Louisiana’s Public Records Act allows any person 18 or older to request public records — there is no residency requirement and no need to state a purpose. Agencies may ask for identification but cannot deny access solely based on non-residency.

How far back do Louisiana records go?

OPH holds statewide birth and death records from 1914. For marriage records, the Louisiana Office of Public Health maintains Orleans Parish marriage records; older Orleans Parish marriage records are held at the Louisiana State Archives. Marriage records for all other parishes are held by the Parish Clerk of Court in the parish where the license was issued. Earlier vital records and historical land records are also held at the Louisiana State Archives and Office of State Lands. Parish Clerk of Court records vary by parish. Business records through the Secretary of State date to the entity’s formation.

Are criminal records public in Louisiana?

Louisiana classifies full criminal history (RAP sheets) as closed records. Certified criminal history through Louisiana State Police BCII is available primarily for authorized employment, licensing, or legal purposes. The sex offender registry and Department of Corrections offender locator are publicly searchable. Parish-level arrest and booking records vary in availability by parish.

What is the LCRAA and why does it matter?

The Louisiana Clerks Remote Access Authority (LCRAA) is a statewide portal providing centralized index access to recorded land instruments — deeds, mortgages, liens — across Louisiana’s parishes. It is one of the most useful tools for Louisiana property research because it allows researchers to search across multiple parishes without contacting each Clerk of Court separately. Basic index searches are generally available; document images and certified copies may require direct contact with the parish Clerk.

Why does Louisiana use parishes instead of counties?

Louisiana is the only U.S. state that uses parishes instead of counties as its primary local government division, a legacy of French and Spanish colonial governance. For public records purposes, parishes function like counties — all local records including property, court, vital, and tax records are organized by parish.

Do all Louisiana parishes provide online record access?

Online access varies across Louisiana’s 64 parishes. The LCRAA provides centralized property record index access for participating parishes. Court records vary — larger parishes typically offer more online access. The Louisiana Supreme Court and Courts of Appeal publish opinions online. Smaller parishes may require in-person or mail requests for some records.

Find Louisiana Parish Record Portals

Most Louisiana public records are maintained at the parish level. If you know the parish where the record was created, you can directly access:

Parish Clerk of Court for property deeds, mortgages, and court records
Parish Assessor for property values and parcel data
Parish Sheriff for tax payment and delinquency records
Parish Clerk of Court for marriage licenses and divorce decrees

Louisiana’s 64 parishes maintain their own Clerk of Court, Assessor, and Sheriff offices — and finding the right portal usually starts with identifying the correct parish. PublicRecordHub organizes official portals for all 64 Louisiana parishes in one place, saving hours of searching across government websites. Available free at PublicRecordHub.