Louisiana Public Records Law in St. Tammany Parish
The public records law sits in Revised Statutes Title 44. It defines public records broadly in La. R.S. 44:1 and gives the right to inspect and copy them in La. R.S. 44:31. You do not have to explain why you want a routine public record.
The custodian's duties for office hours, copying, and fees come from La. R.S. 44:32. The screenshot shows that section on the state legislature site.
That section is the practical anchor for how an office handles a request, from where you inspect a file to what a copy costs. The law also expects custodians to segregate confidential material where possible, so a record that mixes public and private content is not automatically off limits.
How to File a St. Tammany Parish Public Records Request
A clear request gets a faster answer. Identify the right office, describe the record, and ask for inspection first if cost is a concern. Louisiana law allows inspection, copying, and reproduction, though the steps vary by office and record format.
Useful identifiers help staff find the file fast. A case number, a docket number, a citation number, a booking number, an incident number, a date, an address, and party names all narrow a search. The arresting agency and the document type also help when the record is tied to a criminal matter.
- Identify the custodian that holds the record.
- Describe the record with details like case, date, or party names.
- Ask to inspect first if cost is a concern.
- Request a fee estimate for large files, video, or certified copies.
- If a request is denied, ask for the legal basis.
- Ask for the public portion with redactions if part is confidential.
St. Tammany Parish Records Request Fields
Most offices want the same core details to find a record. The more specific the request, the faster staff can respond. The table lists the fields a request usually needs.
| Field | Type | Required | Notes / Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Requester name | Text | Often | Contact for the response. |
| Mailing address / email | Text | Often | Where to send the record. |
| Record description | Text | Yes | Case, incident, date, or party names. |
| Record type | Dropdown | No | Court, jail, land, or incident record. |
| Copy format | Dropdown | No | Inspection, plain copy, or certified copy. |
Who Holds the St. Tammany Parish Record
The custodian matters because each office runs its own request process. Court filings and certified court copies come from the Clerk of Court. Jail custody status, incident reports, and crash reports come from the Sheriff. Prosecution records come from the District Attorney, though active files and work product may be restricted.
State prisoner records come from Louisiana DOC, and federal records come from PACER or the federal court clerk. The Clerk also holds land records, including deeds and mortgages, which the St. Tammany Parish Clerk of Court page describes.
Sending a request to the wrong office is the most common reason for delay. If you are unsure who holds a record, a quick call to either the Clerk or the Sheriff usually points you to the right place faster than a misdirected written request.
St. Tammany Parish Records the Clerk Maintains
The Clerk of Court keeps much more than court case files. The office records land instruments, issues marriage licenses, runs election functions, and accepts passport applications. For many residents, the Clerk is the single busiest public-records office in the parish.
Land records are a major part of that work. Deeds, mortgages, and conveyance instruments are recorded and indexed by the parish, and certified copies are used to prove ownership or clear title. Other parish and municipal offices hold their own records, so a building permit, a tax record, or a city ordinance file may sit outside the Clerk and the Sheriff.
- Court case filings and certified court copies.
- Deeds, mortgages, and conveyance records.
- Marriage licenses and recorded marriages.
- Election and candidate filings.
- Passport application acceptance.
Fees for St. Tammany Parish Public Records
Fees are set by the custodian's lawful copy charges and any statutory limits. The Sheriff's Office publishes a public-record fee schedule, effective August 1, 2024, with the amounts below. Clerk court fees are separate and appear on the Clerk fee schedule.
| Record Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| Documents, pages 101 and up | $0.25 per page |
| Audio or video recording (not body-worn camera) | $15.00 per recording |
Body-worn camera footage carries its own tiered fee. Ask for an estimate before a large or media-heavy request. A crime-lab photograph also carries a separate per-photo charge, and certified or notarized versions cost more than plain ones, so list the format you want when you ask for a price.
Denials and Enforcement
A valid denial points to a statute, a court order, or an exemption, not just a preference. If an office denies or delays a request, La. R.S. 44:35 lets a requester ask a court to review the decision. The court can decide whether the custodian followed the law.
If only part of a record is confidential, the office should produce the public portion with redactions rather than withhold the whole file. Asking for the legal basis in writing helps if the matter ever reaches a court.
Some processes have changed recently. Beginning October 1, 2025, the Sheriff's Office stopped providing printed civil sale lists and directed users to the online sales list instead. Anyone tracking foreclosures or civil sales should plan to use the online tools and print from the site when a copy is needed.
Note: A public record is not always a free certified copy, since inspection, plain copies, and certified copies can each carry different fees.
Confidential St. Tammany Parish Records
Some records are exempt. Juvenile and adoption files are confidential. Active investigative files, confidential sources, and security plans may be withheld while a case is open. Sealed and expunged records leave ordinary public view, and personal identifiers like Social Security numbers are redacted.
Law-enforcement exceptions in Title 44 are specific, so a closed arrest record, a booking record, an incident report, and an active investigative file are not all treated the same. The closure of a case can change access, but some exceptions still apply. The St. Tammany Parish arrest records page covers criminal-record access in more detail.