How to Search St. Tammany Parish Court Records
Court record searches in St. Tammany Parish start with two official sources. The St. Tammany Parish Clerk of Court is the records custodian for filed case documents and indexes. The 22nd Judicial District Court calendar is the best place to confirm a court date, judge, or division. If you want a filed record, start with the Clerk. If you want a hearing date, start with the court calendar.
Before you begin, gather what you know. A case number gives the cleanest result. If you do not have one, a full party name works, though common names return many matches. The Clerk also links out to the statewide re:SearchLA case system, which lets you filter to St. Tammany and the 22nd JDC.
The Clerk online services page is the launch point for most public searches and copy requests. You can reach it directly from the office homepage.
The Clerk's online services page lists eSearch, re:SearchLA, and public terminal options for St. Tammany Parish court records.
From this page you choose the tool that matches the record, then run a name or case-number search. Index information is often free, while full document images, older files, and certified copies may need an account, a fee, or an in-person visit.
- Open the Clerk online services page and pick the search tool for your record type.
- Enter an exact case number if you have one, since names can repeat or be sealed.
- If the case number is unknown, search by last name plus first name and try alternate spellings.
- Narrow the results by case type or filing date when those filters are offered.
- Open the result and confirm the court, parties, filing date, and status.
- Request a certified copy through the Clerk if you need a record for legal use.
The St. Tammany Parish Judicial System
St. Tammany Parish does not use a county-court structure. The main trial court is the state district court, the Twenty-Second Judicial District Court. It is a broad court. It handles serious crimes, civil litigation, divorce and custody, juvenile matters, successions, and protective orders. Below it sit city courts, municipal or mayor's courts, and justice of the peace courts with limited local jurisdiction. Appeals move up to the Louisiana First Circuit Court of Appeal, then to the Louisiana Supreme Court where review is allowed.
The 22nd JDC serves both St. Tammany and Washington Parishes. Because the same district covers two parishes, you should always confirm a case sits at the Covington location before appearing. The court's official site lists each division and its judge.
The 22nd Judicial District Court homepage links to the calendar, judges, divisions, and local rules for St. Tammany Parish.
That homepage is the right anchor for court dates, division assignments, and rules, while the Clerk site is the anchor for filed records and copies.
Case flow: City or Justice of the Peace Court › 22nd Judicial District Court › Louisiana First Circuit Court of Appeal › Louisiana Supreme Court
| Court | Jurisdiction | Case Types |
|---|---|---|
| Louisiana Supreme Court | Statewide, final review | Writs, discipline, death-penalty review |
| Louisiana First Circuit Court of Appeal | Regional appellate | Appeals from the 22nd JDC |
| 22nd Judicial District Court | St. Tammany and Washington Parishes | Felony, civil, family, juvenile, succession |
| City and Municipal Courts | Local, limited | Traffic, ordinance, misdemeanor |
| Justice of the Peace Courts | Ward-level, limited | Small claims, evictions, peace bonds |
St. Tammany Parish Clerk of Court Services
The St. Tammany Parish Clerk of Court is the unified parish clerk. Louisiana parishes do not split court records between a district clerk and a county clerk the way some states do. Here, one office handles district court filings, record searches, certified copies, mortgage and conveyance records, marriage licenses, elections, and passport acceptance. For most court-record needs, the Clerk is the first call.
The office keeps several record groups. Civil files cover suits, motions, judgments, and liens. Criminal files cover bills of information, minute entries, and dispositions. Family files cover divorce, custody, and support. Succession files cover estates, wills, and judgments of possession. Land records cover deeds and mortgages. A fuller breakdown sits on the St. Tammany Parish Clerk of Court page.
Types of Court Records Available in St. Tammany Parish
St. Tammany Parish court records fall into several broad groups, and the 22nd JDC produces most of them. The Clerk indexes these filings and makes the public portions searchable. Some categories carry strong privacy rules, so not every file is open to the public.
Knowing the record type helps you pick the right search tool, since a succession is filed differently than a traffic case.
- Criminal records - felony and misdemeanor filings, bonds, pleas, and sentences in district court.
- Civil records - contract disputes, injury suits, collections, and money judgments.
- Family and divorce records - divorce petitions, custody, support, and community property filings.
- Succession records - estate matters, wills, and judgments of possession under Louisiana law.
- Traffic records - citations and dispositions that may sit in district, city, or municipal court.
What St. Tammany Parish Court Records Show
A public case index in St. Tammany Parish shows the core facts of a matter without the protected details. You can usually see the case number, the court, the parties, the filing date, and the status. Docket entries list each filing, order, and hearing in date order. What you will not see online includes sealed filings, juvenile material, protected addresses, and personal identifiers like Social Security numbers.
| Field | What It Shows |
|---|---|
| Case Number | The exact district-court identifier for the matter. |
| Filing Date | The date the first pleading or charge was filed. |
| Parties | Plaintiff and defendant, or petitioner and respondent, by case type. |
| Charges / Cause | The alleged offense or the legal basis for a civil claim. |
| Disposition | The outcome, such as judgment, plea, dismissal, or transfer. |
| Sentence / Judgment | The penalty or relief ordered after the case closes. |
Public Access Laws for St. Tammany Parish Court Records
Louisiana's public records law sits in Revised Statutes Title 44. It starts from a broad right of access, then carves out many exceptions for privacy, law enforcement, and court rules. In St. Tammany Parish, the first step is to find the custodian. Court filings go to the Clerk. Jail and incident records go to the Sheriff. Prosecution files go to the District Attorney. The right office controls the deadline, the fee, and the way a denial gets reviewed.
The statute text is published on the state legislature site, and the screenshot below shows the official page for the core access right.
You can read the right-of-access provision directly on the Louisiana legislature site for La. R.S. 44:31.
That page anchors the public's right to inspect and copy ordinary government records, which is why it shows up across record-access topics on this site.
Key Statutes:
Louisiana R.S. § 44:31 - gives the public the right to inspect, copy, and obtain copies of public records.
Louisiana R.S. § 44:32 - sets the custodian's duties for office hours, copying, and fees.
Louisiana R.S. § 44:35 - lets a requester go to court when access is denied or delayed.
Records That Are Restricted or Confidential
Some St. Tammany Parish court records are not open to the public. Juvenile and adoption files are confidential under Louisiana law. A judge can seal a filing or a whole case. Expunged records leave ordinary public view but stay available to law enforcement and licensing bodies. Mental health and interdiction exhibits, grand jury material, and active investigative files also carry limits. Personal identifiers like account numbers and minors' names get redacted even on otherwise open records.
To view a sealed record, a person usually files a motion and asks the court to unseal it. Parties, their lawyers, and people with a court order have the best chance of access. The St. Tammany Parish court records page covers the request process in more detail.
Specialty Courts in St. Tammany Parish
The 22nd JDC runs several specialty courts. These are problem-solving dockets, not public search tools. They mix court supervision with treatment, drug testing, and regular review hearings. Adult Drug Court serves people in recovery who are on probation and attend counseling. Sobriety Court, also called DWI Court, helps non-violent offenders recovering from alcohol abuse. Veterans Court serves veterans with criminal cases, with entry decided by the District Attorney.
Other programs include a co-occurring track for severe mental illness, Family Preservation Court tied to child welfare, Court Intervention Services for recently arrested people, and a five-year ReEntry Court for repeat offenders returning from prison. The court's specialty court page describes each one.
St. Tammany Parish Sheriff and Jail
The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office runs the parish jail and posts the official inmate booking portal. The Sheriff is the source for custody status, booking data, visitation rules, mail and money rules, and bond instructions. Sheriff Randy Smith leads the agency. The jail, the St. Tammany Parish Correctional Center, is owned by parish government but staffed by the Sheriff's Office.
The Sheriff's Office homepage is the gateway to the corrections division and the booking portal.
Jail operations stay separate from courthouse operations, so use the Sheriff site for custody questions and the Clerk site for filed records.
For the full roster details, see the St. Tammany Parish inmate records page, and for active warrants, see the warrant records page.
Marriage, Divorce, and Succession Records
The Clerk of Court issues marriage licenses and keeps recorded marriage documents. Divorce cases are district court records filed with the Clerk in the 22nd JDC, and certified divorce judgments come from the Clerk rather than a state vital records office. Estate matters in Louisiana are called successions, and they are filed in district court too. See the marriage and divorce records page and the probate records page for the full process.
- Testator
- A person who leaves a valid will, called a testament in Louisiana.
- Executor
- The succession representative who manages an estate's debts and property.
- Judgment of possession
- A court judgment that recognizes heirs and places them in possession of property.
Fees for St. Tammany Parish Records
Fees depend on the office and the record. The Clerk of Court charges filing fees, copy fees, and certification fees that vary by case type and page count, so check the Clerk fee page before you pay. The Sheriff's Office publishes its own public-record fee schedule, which took effect August 1, 2024. The table below lists the Sheriff's posted amounts for common requests.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Criminal history / background check, not notarized | $25.00 |
| Criminal history / background check, notarized | $40.00 |
| Documents, up to 20 pages | $15.00 per record |
| Documents, pages 21 to 100 | $0.50 per page |
| Audio or video recording (not body-worn camera) | $15.00 per recording |
Court filing and certified-copy fees from the Clerk are separate and are listed on the Clerk fee schedule. Ask for an estimate when a request is broad or involves media files.
How to Interpret St. Tammany Parish Court Records
Court records use shorthand that can confuse first-time readers. A charge is only an allegation, not proof of guilt. A conviction is a finding or plea of guilt. A capias is a court order for arrest, often issued after a missed court date. A continuance pushes a hearing to a later day. A disposition is the outcome of a case. Reading the docket in date order, from the first filing to the judgment, gives the clearest picture of what happened and where the case stands now.
Accuracy and Record Limitations
Online indexes are convenient, but they lag behind the paper file at times. A new filing, a corrected entry, or a sealed order may not show right away. Private background sites can be even further behind. When a detail matters for a job, a court date, or a legal step, confirm it with the office that holds the record.
Note: Always confirm case details with the Clerk of Court or the 22nd JDC before you rely on an online record for any legal or time-sensitive purpose.
History of St. Tammany Parish Courts
St. Tammany Parish is one of Louisiana's historic Northshore parishes, with Covington as the parish seat. Its courts grew under the state's civil-law tradition, where estates are handled as successions rather than common-law probate. The Twenty-Second Judicial District Court has long served both St. Tammany and Washington Parishes, so its judges, rules, and specialty courts often apply across the district. Over time the Clerk moved from paper indexes to online search and the statewide re:SearchLA system, which is how most court-record searches happen today.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do I search St. Tammany Parish court records?
Use the St. Tammany Parish Clerk of Court for filed records and the 22nd Judicial District Court site for calendars and division information. The Clerk's online services page links to the available search tools, and the court calendar helps you confirm an upcoming hearing. Start with the Clerk for documents and the court for dates.
Is the Clerk of Court the same as a county clerk?
For court records, yes. Louisiana uses parish Clerks of Court instead of the county clerk and district clerk split found in some states. The St. Tammany Parish Clerk is the primary local custodian for district court filings, land records, and marriage licenses.
What court handles felony cases in St. Tammany Parish?
Felony prosecutions go through the Twenty-Second Judicial District Court. The District Attorney prosecutes the case, the Clerk keeps the filed record, and the Sheriff's Office handles arrest and jail functions. Appeals move to the Louisiana First Circuit Court of Appeal.
More on the St. Tammany Parish Court Records FAQ page.