How to get Louisiana divorce records
In Louisiana, get a certified copy of the divorce decree from the Clerk of Court of the parish where the divorce was granted.1 The state Vital Records Registry does not issue divorce decrees.1 For a certified copy, Jefferson Parish, for example, charges $12 a page plus $52 a document to certify. You can order at a local office.
On this page
Ways to order
| How | Cost per copy | Processing time | Payment |
|---|---|---|---|
| At a local office | $12 a page plus $52 a document to certify (Jefferson Parish) | – | Check, money order and card2 |
At a local office
Who can order Louisiana divorce records
The East Baton Rouge Parish Clerk of Court names these people and bodies as able to order a certified copy. Each line gives the official wording. Other offices may publish their own rules; they are not covered here.
- Anyone:
The Clerk of Court's civil, criminal, traffic, marriage license, and mortgage and conveyance records are available for public examination in the facilities in which their respective filing and research offices are housed.
3
Decree or certificate
The decree, the court's judgment with the terms of the divorce, comes from the clerk of the court that granted it. Divorce certificate vs decree explains which one an agency usually wants.
Asking the court clerk
The CDC's National Center for Health Statistics lists what a request for a divorce record should include:4
- Full names of husband and wife
- Date of divorce or annulment
- Place of divorce or annulment
- Type of final decree
- Purpose for which copy is needed
- Relationship to persons whose record is requested
- Day time telephone number with area code
Clerks charge their own copy and certification fees, and some offer an exemplified copy, a more formal certification used for out-of-state and foreign purposes.
Years held and older records
- Older records
- Clerk of Court in the parish where the divorce was granted1
Special situations
- Use abroad
- Clerk-certified court documents can be legalized by the Secretary of State without notarization.5
Sources
Every fact on this page comes from these official sources, checked on November 5, 2026. Tap a source number next to a fact to read the exact words.
- Louisiana Department of Health pageLouisiana Department of Health, Center for Vital Records and Statistics
- The Jefferson Parish Clerk of Court receives no ad valorem tax fundingJefferson Parish Clerk of Court
- A Message From the ClerkEast Baton Rouge Parish Clerk of Court
- Where to Write for Vital Records: Application GuidelinesCDC National Center for Health Statisticsdated November 6, 2015
- Apostilles authenticationsLouisiana Secretary of State