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The Guide to Louisiana Courts


The Louisiana trial court system consists of District Courts, Family Courts, Juvenile Courts, Parish Courts, City Courts, Municipal Courts, Traffic Courts, Justice of the Peace Courts, and Mayor’s Courts and Magistrate Courts.
 
District Courts have general jurisdiction over all civil and criminal cases, but typically only handle cases that are beyond the jurisdiction of other courts. Courts with limited jurisdiction over certain types of cases include the Family Courts, Juvenile Courts, Parish Courts, City Courts, Municipal Courts, Traffic Courts, Justice of the Peace Courts, Mayor’s Courts and Magistrate Courts.

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Please select a Louisiana parish below to view directory of all courts with links to court record resources for each court. Find Louisiana court pages by Town or Zip Code. Select a court record or online resource category below to view all resources at both the statewide and parish level. Go to the court records pages for another state.
 


 

Louisiana District Courts

District Courts have general jurisdiction over all civil and criminal cases, but generally only handle cases that are beyond the jurisdiction of other courts.

District Courts have exclusive jurisdiction over felony crimes, civil and political rights, a right to public office or public position, probate matters, most cases with the State as a defendant, and most cases involving the title to immovable property. Family Courts share jurisdiction with District Courts over cases concerning title to immovable property, when the issue is the division of community property, such as in cases of divorce or annulment.

Some District Courts may have Family or Juvenile divisions with similar jurisdiction to Family Courts and Juvenile Courts. Some District Courts may have a Domestic Relations section with more limited jurisdiction. District Courts may also have Criminal, Civil and Drug Court divisions.

District Courts share jurisdiction with City, Parish, Municipal and Traffic Courts for certain crimes related to driving while intoxicated.

Louisiana Family Courts

Family Courts have limited jurisdiction over certain types of cases, including typical “Domestic Relations” cases, such as divorce, annulment, child custody and child support, alimony, tutorship, division of community property, as well as other types of cases, including some criminal cases involving spouses or minors.

Louisiana Juvenile Courts

Juvenile Courts have limited jurisdiction over certain types of cases, and generally handle juvenile delinquency, children in need of care or supervision, adoption and termination of parental rights.

The extent of jurisdiction exercised by a Juvenile Court varies by court. Juvenile Courts share jurisdiction with a Family Court over some child support cases and some criminal cases related to desertion, nonsupport or neglect of a minor.

Other courts may also exercise jurisdiction over juvenile matters, including District Courts, Parish Courts and City Courts. Courts exercising juvenile jurisdiction generally handle most delinquency cases, children in need of care cases, juvenile traffic cases, termination of parental rights, some mental health proceedings and some criminal cases where the victim in a minor.

Louisiana Parish Courts

Parish Courts have limited jurisdiction over certain types of civil and criminal cases. The limits of jurisdiction may vary between Parish Courts.

Parish Courts share criminal jurisdiction with District Courts for certain types of criminal cases, including violations of state, parish, or municipal laws, if the crime is not punishable by a fine of more than $1000 dollars or by more than six months imprisonment.

Parish Courts share jurisdiction over some civil cases with District Courts, including general civil cases involving disputes over amounts of money or values of property within certain financial limits.

Parish Courts do not have jurisdiction over cases that involve disputes about title to immovable property, the right to public office or public position, civil or political constitutional rights, annulment, divorce, separation of property, alimony, habeas corpus, cases where the state or parish or other political subdivision is a defendant, and certain other types of cases.

Parish Courts may share jurisdiction with District Courts over some juvenile matters and cases.

Louisiana City Courts

City Courts have limited jurisdiction over certain types of civil and criminal cases. In some locations, City Courts have replaced Mayor’s Courts and Justice of the Peace Courts.

Criminal cases generally handled by City Courts include crimes not punishable by hard labor and cases that do not require a trial by jury.

Civil cases generally handled by City Courts include general civil cases with limits on the amount of money or value of property in dispute.

A City Court may have a Small Claims division for most general civil cases with less than $3000 in dispute, exclusive of interest, costs, penalties and fees, when a defendant waives the right to a jury trial and an appeal.

City Courts may also handle some juvenile matters in certain circumstances.

Louisiana Municipal Courts

Municipal Courts generally handle most violations of city ordinances and some state laws. Municipal Courts do not handle traffic cases or cases that require a trial by jury.

A Municipal Court may have a Housing and Environmental division with additional jurisdiction over certain types of cases.

Louisiana Traffic Courts

Traffic Violations Bureaus provide administrative hearings for traffic cases.

Some Traffic Courts may operate under the supervision of a local City Court.

Louisiana Justice of the Peace Courts

Justice of the Peace Courts have limited civil and criminal jurisdiction that may vary by court.

Criminal cases generally handled by Justice of the Peace Courts include preliminary hearings for most criminal cases and litter violations, and may include other types of violations and non-felony criminal cases.

Justice of the Peace Courts share limited jurisdiction over some civil cases with District Courts, including some general civil cases within financial limits.

Justice of the Peace Courts do not have jurisdiction over certain types of cases, including probate matters, cases where the State or political subdivision is a defendant, cases where title to real estate is an issue, and other types of cases as defined by law.

Louisiana Mayor’s Courts and Magistrate Courts

Mayor's Courts handle traffic and local ordinance violations.

Some Mayor's Courts and Magistrate Courts have been merged with City Courts.

Louisiana Court Notes

Louisiana has amended its constitution to allow the Legislature to begin the process of reorganizing its court system as of January 1, 2007. Some changes have occurred as of August 15, 2007, and others are set to take place by January 1, 2009.

Where to find court cases in Louisiana

The chart below gives general information on the types of cases heard in each type of court in Louisiana.
 

Most Cases = Most or all cases.     Some Cases = Some cases.

Case Type Court Type
CivilDistrict CourtsFamily CourtsJuvenile CourtsParish CourtsCity CourtsMunicipal CourtsTraffic CourtsJustice of the Peace CourtsMayor’s Courts and Magistrate Courts
General Civil - Unlimited
Most or all General Civil - Unlimited cases can be found in the District Courts
        
General Civil - Limited
Some General Civil - Limited cases can be found in the District Courts
  
Some General Civil - Limited cases can be found in the Parish Courts
Some General Civil - Limited cases can be found in the City Courts
  
Some General Civil - Limited cases can be found in the Justice of the Peace Courts
 
Small Claims   
Some Small Claims cases can be found in the Parish Courts
Some Small Claims cases can be found in the City Courts
  
Some Small Claims cases can be found in the Justice of the Peace Courts
 
Civil Equity
Most or all Civil Equity cases can be found in the District Courts
  
Some Civil Equity cases can be found in the Parish Courts
Some Civil Equity cases can be found in the City Courts
  
Some Civil Equity cases can be found in the Justice of the Peace Courts
 
Complex Commercial
Most or all Complex Commercial cases can be found in the District Courts
        
Foreclosures and Liens
Some Foreclosures and Liens cases can be found in the District Courts
  
Some Foreclosures and Liens cases can be found in the Parish Courts
Some Foreclosures and Liens cases can be found in the City Courts
  
Some Foreclosures and Liens cases can be found in the Justice of the Peace Courts
 
Real Estate Title and Boundary
Most or all Real Estate Title and Boundary cases can be found in the District Courts
Some Real Estate Title and Boundary cases can be found in the Family Courts
       
Landlord / Tenant
Some Landlord / Tenant cases can be found in the District Courts
  
Some Landlord / Tenant cases can be found in the Parish Courts
Some Landlord / Tenant cases can be found in the City Courts
  
Some Landlord / Tenant cases can be found in the Justice of the Peace Courts
 
Ordinance Violations   
Some Ordinance Violations cases can be found in the Parish Courts
Some Ordinance Violations cases can be found in the City Courts
Some Ordinance Violations cases can be found in the Municipal Courts
Some Ordinance Violations cases can be found in the Traffic Courts
Some Ordinance Violations cases can be found in the Justice of the Peace Courts
Some Ordinance Violations cases can be found in the Mayor’s Courts and Magistrate Courts
Protection, No Contact, and Restraining Orders
Some Protection, No Contact, and Restraining Orders cases can be found in the District Courts
Some Protection, No Contact, and Restraining Orders cases can be found in the Family Courts
 
Most or all Protection, No Contact, and Restraining Orders cases can be found in the Parish Courts
     
Administrative Agency Appeals
Most or all Administrative Agency Appeals cases can be found in the District Courts
        
CriminalDistrict CourtsFamily CourtsJuvenile CourtsParish CourtsCity CourtsMunicipal CourtsTraffic CourtsJustice of the Peace CourtsMayor’s Courts and Magistrate Courts
Felony
Most or all Felony cases can be found in the District Courts
        
Felony Preliminary Hearings
Some Felony Preliminary Hearings cases can be found in the District Courts
  
Some Felony Preliminary Hearings cases can be found in the Parish Courts
Some Felony Preliminary Hearings cases can be found in the City Courts
  
Some Felony Preliminary Hearings cases can be found in the Justice of the Peace Courts
 
Misdemeanors
Some Misdemeanors cases can be found in the District Courts
Some Misdemeanors cases can be found in the Family Courts
Some Misdemeanors cases can be found in the Juvenile Courts
Most or all Misdemeanors cases can be found in the Parish Courts
Some Misdemeanors cases can be found in the City Courts
Some Misdemeanors cases can be found in the Municipal Courts
Some Misdemeanors cases can be found in the Traffic Courts
Some Misdemeanors cases can be found in the Justice of the Peace Courts
 
Ordinance Violations   
Some Ordinance Violations cases can be found in the Parish Courts
Some Ordinance Violations cases can be found in the City Courts
Some Ordinance Violations cases can be found in the Municipal Courts
Some Ordinance Violations cases can be found in the Traffic Courts
Some Ordinance Violations cases can be found in the Justice of the Peace Courts
Some Ordinance Violations cases can be found in the Mayor’s Courts and Magistrate Courts
Juvenile
Some Juvenile cases can be found in the District Courts
 
Most or all Juvenile cases can be found in the Juvenile Courts
Some Juvenile cases can be found in the Parish Courts
Some Juvenile cases can be found in the City Courts
    
Traffic and Infractions   
Some Traffic and Infractions cases can be found in the Parish Courts
Some Traffic and Infractions cases can be found in the City Courts
Some Traffic and Infractions cases can be found in the Municipal Courts
Some Traffic and Infractions cases can be found in the Traffic Courts
Some Traffic and Infractions cases can be found in the Justice of the Peace Courts
Some Traffic and Infractions cases can be found in the Mayor’s Courts and Magistrate Courts
Domestic RelationsDistrict CourtsFamily CourtsJuvenile CourtsParish CourtsCity CourtsMunicipal CourtsTraffic CourtsJustice of the Peace CourtsMayor’s Courts and Magistrate Courts
Divorce
Some Divorce cases can be found in the District Courts
Most or all Divorce cases can be found in the Family Courts
       
Child Custody and Visitation
Some Child Custody and Visitation cases can be found in the District Courts
Most or all Child Custody and Visitation cases can be found in the Family Courts
Some Child Custody and Visitation cases can be found in the Juvenile Courts
Some Child Custody and Visitation cases can be found in the Parish Courts
Some Child Custody and Visitation cases can be found in the City Courts
    
Child Support
Some Child Support cases can be found in the District Courts
Most or all Child Support cases can be found in the Family Courts
Some Child Support cases can be found in the Juvenile Courts
Some Child Support cases can be found in the Parish Courts
Some Child Support cases can be found in the City Courts
    
Paternity
Some Paternity cases can be found in the District Courts
Most or all Paternity cases can be found in the Family Courts
Some Paternity cases can be found in the Juvenile Courts
Some Paternity cases can be found in the Parish Courts
Some Paternity cases can be found in the City Courts
    
Domestic Violence Protection Order
Some Domestic Violence Protection Order cases can be found in the District Courts
Some Domestic Violence Protection Order cases can be found in the Family Courts
 
Most or all Domestic Violence Protection Order cases can be found in the Parish Courts
     
JuvenileDistrict CourtsFamily CourtsJuvenile CourtsParish CourtsCity CourtsMunicipal CourtsTraffic CourtsJustice of the Peace CourtsMayor’s Courts and Magistrate Courts
Adoptions
Some Adoptions cases can be found in the District Courts
 
Some Adoptions cases can be found in the Juvenile Courts
      
Juvenile Delinquency
Some Juvenile Delinquency cases can be found in the District Courts
 
Most or all Juvenile Delinquency cases can be found in the Juvenile Courts
Some Juvenile Delinquency cases can be found in the Parish Courts
Some Juvenile Delinquency cases can be found in the City Courts
    
Child Abuse and Neglect
Some Child Abuse and Neglect cases can be found in the District Courts
 
Most or all Child Abuse and Neglect cases can be found in the Juvenile Courts
Some Child Abuse and Neglect cases can be found in the Parish Courts
Some Child Abuse and Neglect cases can be found in the City Courts
    
Termination of Parental Rights
Some Termination of Parental Rights cases can be found in the District Courts
 
Most or all Termination of Parental Rights cases can be found in the Juvenile Courts
Some Termination of Parental Rights cases can be found in the Parish Courts
Some Termination of Parental Rights cases can be found in the City Courts
    
Children in Need of Supervision
Some Children in Need of Supervision cases can be found in the District Courts
 
Most or all Children in Need of Supervision cases can be found in the Juvenile Courts
Some Children in Need of Supervision cases can be found in the Parish Courts
Some Children in Need of Supervision cases can be found in the City Courts
    
Mental HealthDistrict CourtsFamily CourtsJuvenile CourtsParish CourtsCity CourtsMunicipal CourtsTraffic CourtsJustice of the Peace CourtsMayor’s Courts and Magistrate Courts
Involuntary Commitments
Some Involuntary Commitments cases can be found in the District Courts
 
Some Involuntary Commitments cases can be found in the Juvenile Courts
      
Other Mental Health Cases
Some Other Mental Health Cases cases can be found in the District Courts
 
Some Other Mental Health Cases cases can be found in the Juvenile Courts
Some Other Mental Health Cases cases can be found in the Parish Courts
Some Other Mental Health Cases cases can be found in the City Courts
    
ProbateDistrict CourtsFamily CourtsJuvenile CourtsParish CourtsCity CourtsMunicipal CourtsTraffic CourtsJustice of the Peace CourtsMayor’s Courts and Magistrate Courts
Wills & Estates
Most or all Wills & Estates cases can be found in the District Courts
        
Name Changes
Some Name Changes cases can be found in the District Courts
Some Name Changes cases can be found in the Family Courts
Some Name Changes cases can be found in the Juvenile Courts
      
Trusts
Most or all Trusts cases can be found in the District Courts
        
Guardianships and Conservatorships
Some Guardianships and Conservatorships cases can be found in the District Courts
Some Guardianships and Conservatorships cases can be found in the Family Courts
Some Guardianships and Conservatorships cases can be found in the Juvenile Courts
Some Guardianships and Conservatorships cases can be found in the Parish Courts
Some Guardianships and Conservatorships cases can be found in the City Courts
    


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