How Courts Are Organised in Louisiana's Civil Law System

Louisiana runs on a legal tradition no other state shares. Its private law comes from French and Spanish codes rather than English common law. Judges start with written articles in the Civil Code, the Code of Civil Procedure and the Code of Criminal Procedure. Even the vocabulary differs. Louisiana has parishes instead of counties, and a deceased person's estate goes through a succession instead of probate. The URLs on this site use the word county for parishes, but the offices you will visit are parish offices.

The state court system has four levels. At the top is the Louisiana Supreme Court, which sits at 400 Royal Street in New Orleans and can be reached at 504-310-2551. Below it are five circuit courts of appeal: the First Circuit in Baton Rouge, the Second in Shreveport, the Third in Lake Charles, the Fourth in New Orleans and the Fifth in Gretna. Next come the district courts, which handle most serious matters. At the base are courts of limited jurisdiction: city courts, parish courts, mayor's courts and justice of the peace courts.

Most people never see the top two levels. A traffic ticket, a small debt, an eviction or a custody petition is almost always decided at the district, city, mayor's or justice of the peace level. Knowing which one fits your problem saves a wasted trip.

District Courts and Clerks of Court: Where Serious Louisiana Cases Begin

District courts are staffed by elected judges, and each one covers a parish or a group of parishes. East Baton Rouge District Court I, at 222 Saint Louis Street in Baton Rouge (225-389-4744), and Ouachita District Court, at 300 Saint John Street in Monroe (318-327-1444), are typical examples. These courts hear felony prosecutions, civil suits above the limits of the smaller courts, divorce, child custody, protective orders and successions. Orleans Parish is the exception, because it divides its work between a Civil District Court and a Criminal District Court.

Specialised courts sit alongside them. The Caddo Parish Juvenile Court, at 1835 North Spring Street in Shreveport (318-226-6755), deals with cases involving minors. Other parishes handle juvenile and family matters through divisions of the district court or through separate family courts.

Filing starts at the clerk of court, not in the judge's chambers. Every parish elects a clerk who keeps the records, accepts petitions, collects filing fees and arranges service on the other party. Fees vary by parish and case type, so ask the clerk's office for its current schedule before you travel.

What to Bring to a Louisiana Courthouse

Justice of the Peace, Mayor's and City Courts in Small Louisiana Towns

Justice of the peace courts are Louisiana's neighbourhood courts, and they account for a large share of the listings in our database. Justices of the peace are elected locally and do not have to be lawyers. They hear civil claims up to $5,000 and eviction suits, and constables deliver the paperwork. Examples include Bastrop Justice of Peace Court I at 10650 Pleasant Drive (318-283-3075), Quitman Justice of Peace Court I at 884 Antioch Road North (318-259-7492), Tallulah Justice of Peace Court IV at 305 Bozeman Street (318-574-1242), Rayville Justice of Peace Court at 112 Morgan Drive (318-728-0806) and Winnsboro Justice of Peace Court I at 992 Highway 135 (318-435-5960).

South Louisiana has the same system. Chalmette Justice of Peace Court III is at 2110 Pakenham Drive (504-279-3303), New Iberia Justice of Peace Court I is at 114 Migues Road (337-364-4409), and Lafayette Justice of Peace Court I is at 2877 Verot School Road (337-856-4303). Many of these courts hold sessions on set days rather than staying open all week. Call first, and confirm the hearing day and time.

Mayor's courts are a different animal. Turkey Creek Mayor's Court in Ville Platte (7711 U.S. 167, 337-461-2212), Coushatta Mayor's Court (1211 East Carrol Street, 318-932-4312) and Arnaudville Mayor's Court (107 Rue De Jausiers Avenue, 337-754-7993) deal with town ordinance violations and some traffic tickets written inside municipal limits. They do not handle felonies or civil lawsuits.

Larger towns often run a city court with a judge. Denham Springs City Court (225-665-1253) and the Glenmora Magistrate Court at 1000 7th Street (318-748-4885) are two listed examples. Calcasieu Parish Court, at 1000 Ryan Street in Lake Charles (337-437-3550), is another local layer worth knowing about.

Metro and Rural Court Access Across Louisiana Parishes

New Orleans has the most court listings of any city in the state. The Supreme Court, an appeals circuit and two district courts all operate there, so the city works as a hub for legal business. Baton Rouge, Shreveport, Lake Charles, Lafayette and Monroe play similar regional roles. In these metro areas expect security lines, busy dockets and parking costs. Arrive early, and check whether the clerk offers online case lookup before you drive in.

Rural parishes work differently. A parish with many wards can have several justice of the peace courts, and each one covers its own territory. Rapides County in central Louisiana has Alexandria Justice of Peace Court I at 516 River Road (318-563-4452) alongside smaller courts such as Glenmora. St. Landry County mixes town mayor's courts with justice of the peace offices. In Pointe Coupee County, New Roads Justice of Peace Court II is at 1006 Singletary Street (225-638-6928).

Southwest Louisiana's Calcasieu County centres on Lake Charles, while Caddo Parish County centres on Shreveport and its juvenile court. East of Baton Rouge, Livingston County includes Denham Springs City Court. Each parish page lists the offices we have on file, so you can compare options before you call.

Choosing the Right Louisiana Court for Your Problem

Start with the document in your hand. A ticket names the issuing agency and usually the court that will hear it. A lawsuit or eviction notice names the court and the parish. If you are the one filing, venue rules generally point you to the parish where the defendant lives, though some cases can be filed where the dispute happened.

Match the dollar amount and the type of case to the court. A $3,000 unpaid-repair dispute can go to a justice of the peace. A divorce, custody fight or succession belongs in district court. A town ordinance ticket goes to the mayor's or city court that issued it. If you are unsure, call the clerk of court. Clerks can explain procedure and fees, but they cannot give legal advice.

Courts in Louisiana operate under a unified state judicial system that handles everything from traffic infractions and small claims disputes to major felony trials and civil litigation. The Louisiana Supreme Court serves as the highest state court with authority over all state court matters.

Courts locations are available in 264 cities across Louisiana. They are spread across 54 counties.

Cities with the highest concentration include New Orleans, Ville Platte, Baton Rouge, reflecting areas where county seats and urban centers house multiple court divisions to handle high caseloads.

Residents of Louisiana should know which court has jurisdiction over their matter — whether it is a municipal, district, circuit, or superior court — before filing documents or appearing for a hearing.

Courts by Counties

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Residents of Louisiana who need to access court services should identify the correct court for their matter, check the court's website for filing fees, forms, and procedures, and consider using the court's self-help resources if they are not represented by an attorney.

Browse Courts by county across Louisiana to find the nearest location.

Louisiana Court Records, Fees and Help Before You File

Court business in Louisiana is local, and local habits matter. Clerks of court in each parish keep the official record, and that is where you ask for copies of judgments, filed petitions and certified documents. Justice of the peace and mayor's courts may keep their own records or send them to a parish office, so ask who holds the file. Fees, payment methods and office hours are set locally. Do not assume that what worked in Lafayette applies in Logansport or Many.

Plan around the calendar. Many small courts schedule hearings on particular days, and a judge or justice can reschedule when other duties come up. Bring your paperwork in order, dress for a formal setting and arrive early enough to clear security. If you cannot attend, call the court before the hearing date. Missing a date can lead to a default judgment in a civil case or a warrant in a criminal one.

Justice of the peace courts in Louisiana hear civil claims up to $5,000, along with eviction cases. You file a petition with the justice of the peace in the ward where the defendant lives or where the dispute arose, and a constable serves the other party. You do not need a lawyer. Courts such as Bastrop Justice of Peace Court I (318-283-3075) and Winnsboro Justice of Peace Court I (318-435-5960) are listed in this directory. Call ahead for filing costs, hearing days and the paperwork they want to see.

A mayor's court is run by a town's mayor and mainly handles violations of municipal ordinances and certain traffic offences inside that municipality. It does not decide felonies or civil suits. A city court is a regular court with a judge, and it has wider civil and criminal authority within its territory. Denham Springs City Court (225-665-1253) is a city court. Coushatta Mayor's Court (318-932-4312) and Arnaudville Mayor's Court (337-754-7993) are mayor's courts. Your citation should identify which court has your case.

Divorce and custody cases are filed with the clerk of court for the district court that covers the right parish, usually where one spouse lives or where the child lives. Some parishes route these cases to a family court division. For example, East Baton Rouge District Court I is at 222 Saint Louis Street in Baton Rouge (225-389-4744). Waiting periods and requirements depend on the type of marriage and whether children are involved, so confirm the details with the clerk or an attorney before you file.

Appeals from district courts generally go to one of five circuit courts of appeal. The First Circuit sits in Baton Rouge, the Second in Shreveport, the Third in Lake Charles, the Fourth in New Orleans and the Fifth in Gretna. Your parish determines your circuit. Further review by the Louisiana Supreme Court, at 400 Royal Street in New Orleans (504-310-2551), is mostly discretionary. Appeal deadlines are short and strict, so speak to a lawyer or the clerk of the trial court as soon as you receive a judgment.

Read the ticket first. It names the court, a court date and often a payment method. Town police usually send cases to the local mayor's or city court, such as Turkey Creek Mayor's Court in Ville Platte (337-461-2212), while state or parish citations may go to a district or parish court. Call the number on the ticket to ask about payment options and whether you can contest it. Ignoring a ticket can lead to added penalties, a warrant or a license suspension.

Yes, for people who qualify by income and case type. Legal aid groups cover the state by region, including Southeast Louisiana Legal Services, Acadiana Legal Service Corporation and Legal Services of North Louisiana. The Louisiana State Bar Association also offers lawyer referral. In criminal cases, a defendant who cannot afford a lawyer can ask the court to appoint a public defender. Clerks and justices of the peace cannot give legal advice, but they can explain forms and procedure. Bring proof of income when you apply.