How to Search Jefferson Parish Court Records
The Jefferson Parish Clerk of Court keeps the case files for every parish court. The Clerk's online portal, JeffNet, is the main tool for remote searches. It is a closed system, not an open public database. To pull records and document images from home, you buy either a $5.00 account that lasts 24 hours or a monthly subscription at $50.00 per user ID. JeffNet has run since 2004 and now holds more than 140 million images.
Know two things before you log in. First, the court that heard the case, because civil, criminal, parish court, and juvenile files are kept apart. Second, a party name or case number to search on. The JeffNet login page sets out the access options and record coverage.
This screenshot is from the official JeffNet record access page.
Follow these steps to run a search.
- Pick the court: 24th JDC for felonies, big civil suits, family, and successions; a parish court for misdemeanors, small claims, and traffic.
- Decide whether free in-person inspection works, or open JeffNet for a remote search.
- Buy a 24-hour account or a monthly subscription, then sign in.
- Choose the record category and search by name or case number.
- Open the case activity, then download a PDF at $0.75 per page or order a certified copy.
Jefferson Parish Court Records Search Fields
The full search screens only appear after you log in, so the exact rules for each field are not posted publicly. The Clerk's public page and official screenshots do confirm the categories you choose and the kinds of fields you fill in. The table lists what is known from those public pages.
| Field Label | Type | Required | Notes / Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Login / User ID | Text | Yes | Remote access is gated behind a paid account. |
| Password | Password | Yes | Set when the account opens. |
| Record category | Menu / tab | Yes | Civil, criminal, parish court, marriage, mortgage, conveyance, assessment rolls. |
| Name / party | Text | Varies | Search rules not shown without login. |
| Case number | Text | Varies | Format not published on the public page. |
| Date / range | Date | Optional | Coverage dates are posted by category. |
| Document / action | Link | No | View image, download PDF, or request a certified copy. |
The Clerk posts sample criminal case screens so you can see how a result looks before you buy access.
The image below is the official JeffNet criminal case screenshot.
A criminal case screen shows the charge, the parties, and the activity entries tied to the file.
Types of Jefferson Parish Court Records
Each court produces its own kind of record. The 24th JDC handles the heaviest matters. The two parish courts deal with smaller cases and traffic. The Juvenile Court keeps closed files. Knowing the split tells you which JeffNet category to search.
These are the main record groups the Clerk keeps.
- Civil records - petitions for damages, name changes, foreclosures, judgments, garnishments, and appeals.
- Criminal records - felony and misdemeanor charges, pleadings, bonds, dispositions, and sentence entries.
- Family records - divorce, custody, support, and domestic commissioner matters, some restricted.
- Probate and succession - successions, tutorships, and interdictions in the 24th JDC civil divisions.
- Traffic records - parish court citations heard in First and Second Parish Courts.
The Jefferson Parish court dockets page explains how case activity is listed for each of these groups.
What Jefferson Parish Court Records Show
A case file is a set of fields. The same official screenshots that show the search screens also reveal the data each record holds. Criminal files add a charge code and bond. Civil files add the claim and judgment. The Clerk does not post the case-number format on its public page, so it changes by court and record type.
| Field | What It Shows |
|---|---|
| Case Number | The court's file identifier for the matter. |
| Court / Division | 24th JDC Division A through P, a parish court, or a commissioner. |
| Filing / Activity Date | When the case opened or an entry was added. |
| Parties | Plaintiff and defendant, or the State and the accused. |
| Docket Entries | Filings, motions, orders, hearings, and judgments. |
| Charge / Cause | The crime charged or the civil claim filed. |
| Disposition | The final outcome, such as a judgment or sentence. |
| Document Images | PDFs you can download at $0.75 per page when available. |
A civil docket screen lays out these entries in date order.
The screenshot comes from the official JeffNet civil docket sample.
Note: filers must keep protected private data out of court filings under La. C.C.P. art. 253 and La. C.Cr.P. art. 14.1.
Coverage Dates for Online Court Records
JeffNet does not cover every case back to the founding of the court. Each record group has its own start date for activity, and image coverage can reach back much farther. Check the dates before you decide an old case is missing. The statewide LCRAA index can also help locate index entries across Louisiana clerks.
| Record group | Online activity | Image notes |
|---|---|---|
| 24th JDC civil | From Jan. 1, 1986 | Document images 1825 to present |
| 24th JDC criminal | From Apr. 28, 1994 | Document images 1840 to present |
| First Parish Court civil | From 1983 | Folder images from 2001 |
| Second Parish Court civil | From 1986 | Folder images from 2001 |
| Parish courts criminal / traffic | From 1990 | Folder images vary by case status |
| Mortgage / conveyance | Indices from 1967 | Document images 1825 to present |
The statewide index portal is shown below, from the official LCRAA site.
The Louisiana Clerks' Remote Access Authority offers free index data and points users to each parish clerk for image access.
Public Access Framework for Jefferson Parish Court Records
Louisiana law presumes records are open. The Public Records Law, found in Title 44 of the Revised Statutes, gives any person 18 or older the right to inspect and copy records held by a public office. The Clerk lets the public inspect open court records for free during weekday hours, and charges only for copies. The starting point is Louisiana R.S. 44:1, which defines a public record, and Louisiana R.S. 44:31, which sets the right of access.
A custodian must respond under Louisiana R.S. 44:32, which spells out the duty to produce records or give a written reason for any denial. The 24th JDC handles its own records through a written request to the Judicial Administrator and reports status within three days.
Note: Inspection of open Clerk records is free during business hours, and you pay only for the copies you ask the office to make.
Records That Are Sealed or Confidential in Jefferson Parish
Some records never reach the public search. Juvenile Court files are closed, and you must petition that court to view one. Adoption records stay confidential. Sealed and expunged criminal records drop out of ordinary search, though specified criminal-justice and licensing bodies may still receive them. Records tied to an active investigation can be withheld under Louisiana R.S. 44:4.1, which lists the exceptions to access.
To view a sealed record, you generally file a motion in the court that holds the file and state a legal basis. Marriage license images from 1950 forward are kept offline as well, even though the index entries are searchable. The Jefferson Parish arrest records page covers expungement in more detail.
In-Person Court Record Requests
You do not need an account to inspect open records in person. Visit the right Clerk desk during weekday hours, with no appointment needed. Criminal records sit in Suite 1100 of the Donelon Building, and civil records are in Suite 2400. The Clerk's orders and forms page lists the documents you may need for a filing or request.
The official 24th JDC orders and forms page is shown below.
Jefferson Parish Clerk of Court
200 Derbigny Street, Suite 5600
Gretna, LA 70053
504-364-2900
Mon-Fri 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Copy and Certification Fees
Looking at open records is free. Copies and certified documents cost money, and remote JeffNet access has its own fees. The table lists the common charges.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| JeffNet 24-hour access | $5.00 |
| Document PDF download | $0.75 per page |
| Certified court copy | $0.75 per page plus $5.00 certification |
| Public records copy | $1.00 per page |
| Photocopy, civil | $1.00 per page |
| Certified copy, civil | $5.00 per copy plus copy cost |
The full schedule, including filing deposits, is on the Clerk of Court page.
Federal Court Records for Jefferson Parish
Federal cases do not appear in JeffNet. Jefferson Parish sits in the Eastern District of Louisiana, so federal civil, criminal, and bankruptcy matters run through the federal courts instead. Search those dockets through PACER, the official federal record system, or visit the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana. Bankruptcy filings go through the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the same district, and appeals reach the Fifth Circuit.
The official PACER federal court records system is shown below.
The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana is the federal trial court that hears Jefferson Parish federal matters.
The official U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana site is shown below.
