Union Parish Public Records /Union Parish Court Records

Union County Court Records

How To Find Court Records in Union County in 2026

Members of the public seeking court records in Union Parish, Louisiana, may access publicly available case information through several official channels. UnionParishRecords.us aggregates publicly available information related to court records that may assist individuals in locating case data. Union County is known in Louisiana as Union Parish, and its court records are maintained primarily by the Union Parish Clerk of Court and the Louisiana state judiciary system.

Depending on the case type and the court involved, records may include civil filings, criminal case histories, family court matters, probate proceedings, and traffic citations. Access to specific documents may vary based on case status, sealing orders, or applicable confidentiality provisions under Louisiana law.

Members of the public may search court records through the following five methods:

1. Clerk of Court or Court Records Office The Union Parish Clerk of Court serves as the official custodian of district court records. Members of the public may visit the clerk's office in person during regular business hours to request case files, docket sheets, or certified copies. Providing a full party name, case number, or approximate filing date assists staff in locating records efficiently.

Union Parish Clerk of Court
100 East Bayou Street, Suite 105
Farmerville, LA 71241
Phone: (318) 368-3055
Union Parish Clerk of Court – Louisiana Department of Health Directory

2. Courthouse Public Access Terminals Public access computer terminals are available at the Union Parish Courthouse for on-site case searches. These terminals allow members of the public to search docket entries and case status information without charge during courthouse hours.

3. Online Court Search Louisiana's statewide judiciary portal provides online access to certain district court case information. The Louisiana Supreme Court's Case Management System and related tools allow searches by party name or case number for cases filed in participating courts.

4. State-Level Judicial Search Tools The Louisiana Supreme Court and the Louisiana Judicial Council maintain statewide resources for locating court records across parishes. Federal matters involving Union Parish residents may be accessible through the Western District of Louisiana federal court's PACER system.

5. Written or Mail Requests Members of the public who are unable to appear in person may submit written requests to the Union Parish Clerk of Court. Requests should include the full name of the parties, the approximate filing date, and the case type. Fees for copies and certified documents apply and must be submitted with the request.

Are Court Records Public In Union County

Court records in Union Parish are public records under current Louisiana law. Louisiana Revised Statute § 44:1 establishes the Public Records Law, which provides that all records maintained by public bodies, including courts, are open to inspection by any person unless a specific exemption applies. The Louisiana Constitution, Article XII, Section 3, further affirms the right of public access to public records.

The following categories of records are public and available for inspection:

Docket entries and case numbers
Party names (plaintiffs, defendants, petitioners, respondents)
Hearing dates, continuances, and scheduling orders
Filed pleadings, motions, and petitions
Court orders, judgments, and decrees
Minute entries and disposition information

The following categories may be confidential, sealed, redacted, or restricted under applicable law or court order:

Juvenile delinquency and child in need of care records
Adoption proceedings and related filings
Mental health commitment records
Expunged criminal records
Sealed filings pursuant to court order
Protected personal identifiers such as Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and dates of birth in certain filings

A distinction exists between courthouse inspection and online access. While physical inspection at the clerk's office is broadly available for public records, online access to document images may be limited depending on the court's electronic filing system and applicable privacy rules. Docket information is more widely available online than full document images.

What Are Court Records in Union County?

Court records are the official documents, filings, and entries created and maintained by a court in connection with a legal proceeding. In Union Parish, court records are generated from the moment a case is initiated through its final disposition and any subsequent appeal.

The distinction between record types is significant for access purposes:

Docket entries vs. full case files: A docket is a chronological index of all filings and proceedings in a case. A full case file includes the actual documents filed, such as complaints, answers, motions, and exhibits.
Civil vs. criminal records: Civil records involve disputes between private parties or between a party and a government entity. Criminal records document prosecutions brought by the State of Louisiana against individuals charged with offenses.
Filed pleadings vs. final judgments: Pleadings are documents submitted by parties during litigation. Final judgments are the court's official rulings resolving the case.
Public filings vs. sealed or restricted filings: Public filings are accessible to any member of the public. Sealed filings are restricted by court order and are not available for public inspection.
Trial court records vs. appellate records: Trial court records are maintained by the Union Parish Clerk of Court. Appellate records for cases appealed from Union Parish are maintained by the Louisiana Second Circuit Court of Appeal.

The Union Parish Clerk of Court maintains the official record for the First Judicial District Court, which serves Union Parish. The Louisiana state judiciary provides additional resources for locating court contacts and related agencies across the parish.

What's Included in a Union County Court Record?

A court record in Union Parish may contain a range of documents and data entries depending on the case type, the stage of proceedings, and applicable public-access rules. The following information may appear within a court record:

Case identification: Case number, court name and division, and filing date
Party information: Names of plaintiffs, defendants, petitioners, respondents, and counsel of record
Case classification: Case type (civil, criminal, family, probate, traffic) and current status
Docket entries: A chronological log of all filings, hearings, and court actions
Hearing information: Scheduled and completed hearing dates, continuances, and trial settings
Filed documents: Complaints, petitions, answers, motions, notices, briefs, and supporting exhibits where not restricted
Court orders and judgments: Interlocutory orders, final judgments, decrees, sentencing entries, custody rulings, probate orders, and appellate decisions
Outcome information: Dismissals, verdicts, pleas, convictions, acquittals, and case dispositions
Administrative and financial data: Filing fees, assessed court costs, fines, restitution amounts, and bond information where publicly reflected in the record

The following categories are commonly excluded or restricted from public access:

Sealed filings pursuant to court order
Expunged criminal records under Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure Article 893 and related provisions
Juvenile case files
Adoption records
Protected personal identifiers subject to redaction requirements
Certain exhibits containing sensitive personal or financial data

Types of Courts in Union County

Union Parish is served by a structured court system operating under the Louisiana state judiciary. The courts currently serving Union Parish include the following:

First Judicial District Court The First Judicial District Court is the court of general jurisdiction for Union Parish. It hears felony criminal cases, civil matters exceeding the jurisdictional limits of lower courts, family law proceedings, domestic relations matters, juvenile cases, and probate matters. The Union Parish Clerk of Court maintains the official record for this court.

Union Parish Clerk of Court
100 East Bayou Street, Suite 105
Farmerville, LA 71241
Phone: (318) 368-3055
Union Parish Clerk of Court – Louisiana Department of Health Directory

Justices of the Peace Courts Justices of the Peace in Union Parish exercise limited jurisdiction over minor civil disputes and certain misdemeanor matters. These courts operate at the local level and maintain their own records. Contact information for individual justices of the peace is available through the official Louisiana Union Parish directory.

Louisiana Second Circuit Court of Appeal Appeals from the First Judicial District Court are heard by the Louisiana Second Circuit Court of Appeal, located in Shreveport. Appellate records are maintained by that court's clerk.

United States District Court, Western District of Louisiana Federal matters involving Union Parish residents fall within the jurisdiction of the Western District of Louisiana, with courthouses located in Alexandria, Lafayette, Lake Charles, Monroe, and Shreveport. Federal court records are accessible through the PACER electronic filing system.

What Types of Cases Do Union County Courts Hear

The First Judicial District Court hears cases across the following categories:

Criminal: Felony prosecutions brought by the State of Louisiana, including arraignments, trials, and sentencing
Civil: Contract disputes, tort claims, property matters, and civil actions exceeding the jurisdictional threshold of limited courts
Family and domestic relations: Divorce, child custody, child support, community property, and protective orders
Juvenile: Delinquency proceedings and child in need of care matters (records are confidential under Louisiana law)
Probate and successions: Estate administration, interdictions, and tutorship proceedings
Traffic: Serious traffic offenses beyond the jurisdiction of justices of the peace

Justices of the Peace handle limited civil matters and minor offenses at the local level. The Louisiana Laws governing court structure under Title 13 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes set out the jurisdiction, composition, and authority of parish courts, including specific provisions applicable to Union Parish under RS 13:2583.3.

How to Search Union County Court Records for Free?

Members of the public may access certain Union Parish court records at no cost through the following methods:

In-person inspection: Any member of the public may inspect public court records at the Union Parish Clerk of Court's office during regular business hours without charge. No fee is assessed for viewing records on-site.
Courthouse public access terminals: Computer terminals available at the courthouse allow free searches of docket information and case status.
Free online case search tools: Louisiana's statewide judicial portal provides no-cost access to basic case information, including party names, case numbers, filing dates, and docket entries for participating courts.

The following services carry fees:

Service	Typical Cost
Paper copies of court documents	$1.00 per page (standard)
Certified copies of court records	$5.00 per document plus per-page fees
Research by clerk staff	Variable; contact clerk's office
PACER federal court access	$0.10 per page

Fee schedules for the Union Parish Clerk of Court are governed by Louisiana law and are subject to adjustment. Members of the public seeking certified copies should confirm current fees directly with the clerk's office at (318) 368-3055.

How Long Does Union County Keep Court Records?

The retention of court records in Union Parish is governed by Louisiana's judicial records retention schedules, which establish minimum retention periods by case type and record category. Retention periods vary as follows:

Felony criminal records: Retained permanently or for extended periods given the severity of the offense and potential for post-conviction proceedings
Civil judgment records: Judgments and related filings are retained for extended periods, as judgments may be enforced for up to ten years and renewed under Louisiana law
Probate and succession records: Retained permanently due to their ongoing legal significance for property and inheritance matters
Traffic and minor offense records: Subject to shorter retention schedules, which may result in destruction after a defined period
Docket books and minute records: Docket books are retained permanently as the official chronological record of court proceedings
Juvenile records: Maintained separately and subject to confidentiality and destruction provisions under Louisiana Children's Code

Paper files may be destroyed after imaging, microfilming, or transfer to archival storage, provided the retention schedule has been satisfied. Destruction of records differs from sealing or expungement: destroyed records no longer exist in any form, while sealed records remain in existence but are restricted from public access. Expunged records are removed from public view pursuant to court order under applicable Louisiana statutes.

Older records may exist in paper files, microfilm, or county and state archives. The Louisiana State Archives maintains historical judicial records transferred from parish courts. Members of the public seeking records predating electronic filing systems should inquire with the Union Parish Clerk of Court regarding the availability of archived materials.

How To Find a Court Docket in Union County

A court docket is the official chronological index of all filings, hearings, and proceedings in a specific case. It differs from a full case file in that it lists entries and dates rather than containing the actual documents filed. The docket serves as the navigational record of a case from initiation through final disposition.

In Union Parish, court dockets may be accessed through the following channels:

Clerk of Court in person: Members of the public may request a docket sheet for any public case at the Union Parish Clerk of Court. Staff can provide a printed docket upon request, subject to applicable copy fees.

Courthouse public access terminals: On-site terminals at the Union Parish Courthouse allow members of the public to search docket entries by case number or party name at no charge.

Louisiana statewide case search: Louisiana's judiciary maintains online tools that provide docket-level information for cases filed in participating district courts. Searches may be conducted by party name, case number, or attorney of record.

Federal court dockets via PACER: For cases filed in the Western District of Louisiana, dockets are accessible through the federal PACER system. Registration is required, and per-page fees apply.

A court docket in Union Parish typically contains the following:

Case number and court division
Party names and counsel of record
Filing date and case type
Chronological list of all filings with dates
Hearing dates, continuances, and scheduling entries
Minute entries summarizing court proceedings
Status updates and disposition entries

A docket does not include full document images, sealed entries, confidential attachments, or exhibits restricted from public access. Hearing calendars and daily court schedules may be separately available through the clerk's office or posted at the courthouse. The Louisiana Laws governing court administration under Title 13 provide the statutory framework for clerk duties and record-keeping obligations applicable to Union Parish courts, including provisions specific to Union Parish under § 13:2583.3.

The Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections maintains the Union Parish Detention Center, which may hold information relevant to individuals with pending or active criminal cases in the parish.

Union Parish Detention Center
707 Rodeo Circle
Farmerville, LA 71241
Phone: (318) 368-9827
Union Parish – Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections