Civil Court and Filings

The Civil Department handles all facets of civil suits, adoptions, successions, and all matters relating thereto.  There are three sections or workgroups, each performing particular functions.

 

 

CIVIL FILINGS AND ADVANCE DEPOSITS

The Civil Filing Section is responsible for filing civil suits.  Filing includes:

·        Accepting documents and entering them into the public record

·        Indexing of suits into the computer system

·        Collecting and tracking associated costs

 

Ø  Non-attorneys may file any document in a civil action in one of the following manners.

§  Electronic filing:  Information, rules, and instructions to E-File here.

§  Paper filing:  Paper filings by non-attorneys may be made either in person, by U.S. mail, or by commercial courier such as FedEx and UPS.

Ø  Attorneys: In accordance with Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure CCP 253, beginning January 1, 2026, attorneys may file documents in a civil action in one of the following manners.   

§   Electronic filing:  Information, rules, and instructions to E-File here.

§  Paper filing:  Paper filings by attorneys may be made in person only.

§  EXCEPTIONS:  CCP 253 (B) (3) (a) – (d) provides limited exceptions for attorneys to file certain original documents in paper form either in person, by U.S. mail, or by commercial courier.

 

Ø  In accordance with LRS 13:850 and CCP 253, effective January 1, 2026 the clerk of court can no longer accept any document in a civil action that is filed by facsimile transmission.

 

Ø  In accordance with LRS 13:842, the Civil Department collects advance payment from the plaintiff for the anticipated costs that will be incurred in the processing of litigation.  In accordance with LRS 13:843, it also collects all additional accrued costs from the party incurring them including, but not limited to, the costs of a jury trial, the costs of taking depositions, and expert witness fees.

 

Ø  No civil pleadings will be filed or service perfected without an advance deposit.

 

Ø  To receive certified copies of judgments, all outstanding court costs must be paid.

 

Ø  All outstanding court costs must be paid before a suit can be dismissed.

 

 

CIVIL PROCESSING

The Civil Processing Section is responsible for the processing of civil suits, adoptions, successions, and tutorships.  Processing includes:

  • Preparing all civil summonses (subpoenas)
  • Distributing civil summonses to the appropriate Sheriff’s Office for service
  • Preparing court notices for specific actions
  • Distributing civil writs to the Sheriff’s Office for service
  • Providing forms, explaining filing procedures, and processing protective order filings

For additional information and resources regarding protective orders, you may contact one of the following agencies:

§  Southeast Advocates for Family Empowerment (SAFE) Office at

(888) 411-1333 or (985) 542-8384

§  Ethel’s Grapevine (985) 956-4350 – Emergency Hotline (985) 981-4700

§  IRIS – 24 hour crisis line (225) 389-3001 or 1-800-541-9706

   

 

CIVIL RECORDS

The Civil Records Section is responsible for maintaining the civil records in civil suits, adoptions, tutorships, and succession jacket folders for retention by the Clerk.  They also assist with searches of digital and physical civil records. 

 

Civil deputy clerks answer questions concerning the suit record.  For example, they can tell if a defendant has been served or the date a trial or rule has been scheduled.  Adoptions of minors are sealed under Louisiana law.  These records may not be accessed unless ordered by the District Court.

 

 

 

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