Ascension Parish, Louisiana State Court Records
In Ascension Parish, Louisiana, court records serve as official documentation of all legal matters adjudicated within the local judicial system. These records encompass the full lifecycle of a case, from the initial filing of pleadings to the issuance of final judicial decisions, decrees, or sentencing orders.
The Ascension Parish Clerk of Court is the legal custodian for these materials and oversees the maintenance of files generated by its branch of the 23rd Judicial District Court and the local Parish Court.
The creation of these records is governed by state law, specifically the Louisiana Public Records Act, which instructs court clerks to maintain a transparent account of court activities in each parish.
Ascension Parish court records mainly chronicle the activities that make up civil or criminal litigation. Civil matters include contract or property disputes, family law cases, or defamation claims. Criminal cases range from traffic violations and other infractions to misdemeanors and serious felonies.
Case documents often intersect with other local-level government records, including
- Arrest and booking records, often produced as part of criminal proceedings
- Vital records, which may be required in family law matters
- Property records, frequently used as evidence in civil disputes
Are Ascension Parish Court Records Public?
Yes. Under the Louisiana Public Records Law (La. Rev. Stat. § 44:1, et seq.), court files in Ascension Parish are considered open records. This law reinforces the public’s rights of unfettered access to government documents set out in La. Const. art. XII, § 3. As a result, anyone may freely inspect, copy, or reproduce open court records.
Even so, the Parish court clerk may deny inspection or duplication requests for case files when constrained by laws that exempt certain information from public disclosure in certain legal matters. These exceptions include
- Records and reports concerning individuals in the custody of the Office of Juvenile Justice
- Records pertaining to ongoing criminal investigations or cases
- Information that may identify the victims in certain sexual or domestic violence cases
What Information is Available in Ascension Parish Court Records?
Listed below are the typical contents of Ascension Parish court records:
Case Initiation Documents
These records include complaints, petitions, indictments, summonses, and formal notices. They are used to initiate a legal action and notify involved parties of proceedings.
Court Filings & Motions
Motions, responses, legal briefs, and other filings may be submitted by attorneys requesting that the court take certain actions.
Orders & Judgments
These include judgments, temporary orders, injunctions, decrees, sentences, and other rulings issued by a presiding judge.
Evidence
Materials, including exhibits and evidence, tendered to support a party’s claims or arguments during a case.
Administrative Information
These records include case dockets, hearing transcripts, court calendars, fee payment schedules, and related documentation.
Post-Judgment Information
These include writs of garnishment, appeal filings, probation or parole records, and other documents that reflect actions that occurred after a case is concluded.
Ascension Parish Court Records Search
Pursuant to mandates in the Public Records Law, the Ascension Parish Clerk of Courts provides several channels for the public to inspect or reproduce nonconfidential court records.
The ACCESS (Ascension Clerk of Court Electronic Search System) is the parish’s primary official portal for searching civil, criminal, traffic, marriage, and land records. Now merged with the statewide eClerk LA system, allowing for multi-parish searches, it includes both docket information and full document images for cases heard in the 23rd Judicial District and Parish courts.
To use this platform, users must create an account and purchase a subscription. Annual subscriptions cost between $500 and $600, while monthly subscriptions are $50, and day passes cost $20 for 24-hour unlimited searching and viewing. In addition, saving or printing a document image or docket entry costs $1 per page. Users can query the portal by name, date, instrument number, or book type.
Alternatively, searchers can visit the courthouse at Gonzales or Donaldsonville and use the public computer terminals to view records for free during standard business hours. The staff also provides request forms at the counter for those who wish to examine or copy specific case files, although a $20 search fee may apply for a manual search.
The parish also provides an avenue for mail requests. These must include a written request stating the full name of at least one party involved, the case number if available, and the specific documents requested. The mail must include a self-addressed stamped envelope (SASE) and a $20 search fee if no case number is stated. The court system accepts checks or money orders made payable to "Ascension Parish Clerk of Court."
The completed request and accompanying materials should be mailed to the following address:
Ascension Parish Clerk of Court
Attn: [Civil or Criminal] Records Department
P.O. Box 192
Donaldsonville, LA 70346
Fees for Court Records in Ascension Parish
General Ascension Parish fees for court and vital records issuance are as follows:
Court Record Fees
- Plain copy: $1 per page
- Certified copy: $5 per document
- Recording/land copy: $2 for a plain copy and $10 for certification
- Research fee: $20 per name or case search
- Conformed or stamped copy: $3 for a criminal case and $5 for a civil case
- Certified extract of court minutes: $15
Vital Records Fees
- Birth certificate: $34
- Birth card: $14
- Death certificate: $26
- Copy of a marriage certificate: $10
Ascension Parish Courthouse Locations
Ascension Parish is part of Louisiana’s 23rd Judicial District. The Parish is also served by the Ascension Parish Court (which has parish-wide jurisdiction), three Justice of the Peace districts, and Mayor’s Courts within its incorporated municipalities.
Individuals can find these courts using the following address and contact details:
23rd Judicial District Court
Ascension Parish Courthouse (East)
607 East Worthey Street
Gonzales, LA 70737
Phone: (225) 621-8500
Ascension Parish Courthouse (West)
300 Houmas Street
Donaldsonville, LA 70346
Phone: (225) 473-9866
Courthouse Annex (Division C & E)
828 South Irma Boulevard
Gonzales, LA 70737
Phone: (225) 621-8500
Ascension Parish Court
(handles misdemeanors and civil cases up to $20,000 for the parish)
607 East Worthey Street
3rd Floor
Gonzales, LA 70737
Phone: (225) 621-8504
Ascension Parish Justice of the Peace Districts
1st Justice of the Peace Court
711 Oak Street
Donaldsonville, LA 70346
Phone: (225) 473-4554
2nd Justice of the Peace Court
16179 State Bank Drive
Suite B
Prairieville, LA 70769
Phone: (225) 677-7850
3rd Justice of the Peace Court
12418 LA Highway 44
Gonzales, LA 70737
Phone: (225) 644-5553
Municipal & Mayor’s Courts
City of Gonzales (Municipal Proceedings)
815 East Worthey Street
Gonzales, LA 70737
Phone: (225) 647-2841
(Most Gonzales municipal cases are heard via the Ascension Parish Court.)
City of Donaldsonville Mayor’s Court
609 Railroad Avenue
Donaldsonville, LA 70346
Phone: (225) 473-4247
Town of Sorrento Mayor’s Court
8173 Main Street
Sorrento, LA 70778
Phone: (225) 675-5337
Criminal Records Access in Ascension Parish
The Louisiana State Police (LSP) Bureau of Criminal Identification and Information handles official state-level criminal history checks. Employers or volunteer organizations often require these records to verify an applicant’s status. The records aggregate data from criminal justice agencies across the state, per La. Rev. Stat. § 15:578(2)). Eligible requesters may obtain a Right to Review criminal history report by mail or email upon completing a fingerprint appointment online. The agency also provides an expedited Internet Background Check service for organizations.
The local clerk of court maintains publicly accessible criminal case records, including motions and sentencing orders. These can be searched in person at the Gonzales or Donaldsonville courthouse or online through the statewide portal. These records only reflect cases filed in Ascension Parish and are no substitute for a comprehensive criminal background check.
Ascension Parish Probate Records
Ascension Parish probate records comprise a variety of judicial documents related to managing the affairs of deceased or incapacitated individuals. In the parish, as throughout the state, probate matters are known as successions and interdictions.
Succession files represent the official estate records that document the settlement of assets and debts, while interdiction is the local term for guardianships and conservatorships that provide for the care and financial management of individuals unable to act for themselves.
The 23rd Judicial District Court maintains wills and probate filings. Inquirers may be able to access more recent documents through the statewide case search system, although older documents or detailed files may require an in-person visit to the Clerk of Court’s office.
Note that even though state law regards general probate proceedings as public affairs, interdictions and cases that involve minors or sensitive medical matters are typically sealed by the court.
Ascension Parish Family Court Records
Ascension Parish family court records include divorce, custody, and child support matters. They are primarily handled by the 23rd Judicial District Court. Many records generated under these cases are public records, but La. Child. Code. art. 1107 and similar statutes stipulate that certain matters involving minors or infants, including adoptions, are not subject to public access.
Online access to family law indices and limited document images is available through the statewide case search system, which requires a subscription for full access. Individuals can also use terminals or physical request points at the local courthouse to inspect case files not yet online or digitized.
The Clerk of Court can dispense copies of a divorce decree or custody order upon submission of a written request, in person or by mail, and payment of the applicable certification fee (typically $5 per document).
Federal Court Records in Ascension Parish
Federal cases include those that involve citizenship, constitutional questions, civil rights, and federal law. When this type of case arises in Ascension Parish, it falls under the jurisdiction of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana.
The online PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) system is the primary method for inspecting and copying federal court records. Users can search electronic case files from the Middle District Court to view dockets and download document images, although access requires a user account. The system charges 10 cents a page and up to $3 for a complete document. The fee is waived for usage that does not exceed $30 a quarter.
The federal Clerk of Court’s office has the authority to maintain and issue physical records and certified copies. It provides public computer kiosks in the courthouse for free inspection and request terminals for certified copies, subject to payment of certification and per-page fees. The federal courthouse is located at
Russell B. Long United States Courthouse
777 Florida Street
Suite 139
Baton Rouge, LA 70801
Phone: (225) 389-3500