Lafayette County Public Records

What Are Public Records in Lafayette County?

Public records in Lafayette Parish (commonly referred to as Lafayette County) are defined under the Louisiana Public Records Law, specifically Louisiana Revised Statutes § 44:1-41. According to this statute, public records include all books, records, writings, accounts, letters, maps, drawings, photographs, cards, tapes, recordings, memoranda, and papers prepared, possessed, or retained for use in the conduct of public business by any public body, office, or official.

The Lafayette Consolidated Government maintains various categories of public records that are accessible to citizens. These records include:

Court records (civil, criminal, probate, family)
Property records (deeds, mortgages, liens, assessments)
Vital records (birth, death, marriage, divorce certificates)
Business records (licenses, permits, fictitious names)
Tax records (property tax, assessment records)
Voting and election records
Meeting minutes and agendas (parish council, boards)
Budget and financial documents
Law enforcement records (arrest logs, incident reports - where allowed)
Land use and zoning records

Different departments within the Lafayette Parish government maintain specific record types. The Lafayette Parish Clerk of Court maintains court records, property records, and marriage licenses. The Lafayette Parish Assessor's Office maintains property assessment records. The Lafayette Consolidated Government maintains records related to city services, permits, and local ordinances.

Is Lafayette County an Open Records County?

Lafayette Parish fully adheres to the Louisiana Public Records Law as established in Louisiana Revised Statutes § 44:1-41. This comprehensive legislation guarantees the public's right to access government records with certain limited exceptions.

Under § 44:31, the law explicitly states that "any person of the age of majority may inspect, copy, or reproduce any public record" and "any person may obtain a copy or reproduction of any public record." This provision establishes a presumption of openness and accessibility for government records in Lafayette Parish.

The Lafayette Consolidated Government has implemented specific procedures to comply with these state requirements. According to the official public records policy, the parish is committed to transparency and ensuring public access to records while balancing privacy concerns and legal exemptions.

Lafayette Parish also complies with Louisiana's Open Meetings Law (§ 42:11-28), often referred to as the "Sunshine Law," which requires that meetings of public bodies be open to the public with proper notice given.

How to Find Public Records in Lafayette County in 2026

Members of the public seeking records from Lafayette Parish may follow these procedures to obtain the information they need:

Identify the specific records needed and the department likely to maintain them.
Submit a formal public records request to the appropriate agency. The Lafayette Consolidated Government accepts requests through multiple channels:
- Online through the official public records request portal
- In person at the appropriate department
- By mail to the custodian of records for the relevant department
- By email to the designated records custodian
Complete the official public records request form, which requires:
- Requestor's name and contact information
- Detailed description of records sought
- Preferred format for receiving records (electronic or paper)
For court records, contact the Lafayette Parish Clerk of Court directly:

Lafayette Parish Clerk of Court
800 South Buchanan Street
Lafayette, LA 70501
(337) 291-6400
Lafayette Parish Clerk of Court

For property assessment records, contact:

Lafayette Parish Assessor's Office
1010 Lafayette Street, Suite 402
Lafayette, LA 70501
(337) 291-7080
Lafayette Parish Assessor

Under Louisiana law, agencies must respond to requests promptly. If the record is currently in use, the custodian must certify this in writing and set a time within three working days when the record will be available.

How Much Does It Cost to Get Public Records in Lafayette County?

The Lafayette Consolidated Government charges fees for public records in accordance with Louisiana Revised Statutes § 44:32, which permits reasonable fees for copying public records. Current fee structures for obtaining public records in Lafayette Parish are as follows:

Standard paper copies: $0.25 per page
Certified copies: $1.00 per page plus certification fee
Electronic records: Variable fees based on storage medium and staff time
Large format documents (maps, plans): $5.00-$25.00 depending on size

Additional fees may apply for:

Research and retrieval time: $25.00 per hour after the first hour (which is free)
Specialized document reproduction: Actual cost of reproduction
Postage: Actual cost if documents are mailed

The Lafayette Parish Clerk of Court maintains a separate fee schedule for court records:

Regular copies: $1.00 per page
Certified copies: $2.00 per page
Complete case file copies: Variable based on page count

Payment methods accepted by most Lafayette Parish offices include:

Cash (in-person requests only)
Check or money order
Credit/debit cards (in some departments)

Louisiana law provides that if the records request is deemed excessive, the actual cost of the labor may be charged. However, examination of records must be free of charge and shall take place during regular office hours.

Does Lafayette County Have Free Public Records?

Lafayette Parish provides free inspection of public records in accordance with Louisiana Revised Statutes § 44:32, which states that "the custodian shall present any public record to any person of the age of majority who so requests." No fees may be charged for the inspection of records during regular business hours.

The following free public record resources are available:

In-person inspection of any non-exempt public record during regular business hours
Online access to certain records through the Lafayette Consolidated Government website
Public access computers at the Lafayette Parish Courthouse and Lafayette Public Library branches for searching certain records

Specific free online resources include:

Parish Council meeting agendas and minutes
Parish ordinances and codes
Property tax assessment information (basic search)
Voter registration verification
Building permit status

The Louisiana Secretary of State's office also provides free access to certain records that pertain to Lafayette Parish, including:

Business entity filings
Election results
Notary information
Uniform Commercial Code filings

While inspection is free, reproduction costs as outlined in the previous section still apply when copies are requested.

Who Can Request Public Records in Lafayette County?

Under Louisiana Revised Statutes § 44:31, "any person of the age of majority" may request public records in Lafayette Parish. This broad eligibility means:

Requestors do not need to be residents of Lafayette Parish or Louisiana
Citizenship status is not a factor in eligibility to request records
No statement of purpose is generally required for most records
Identification is typically not required for standard public records

However, certain restrictions apply to specific record types:

Vital records (birth, death certificates) require proof of relationship or legal interest
Juvenile court records are restricted to parties involved in the case
Medical records require proper authorization
Records containing personal identifying information may require verification of identity

For requests involving one's own records, identification is typically required to verify identity and prevent unauthorized disclosure of personal information. The Western District of Louisiana federal court maintains separate requirements for accessing federal court records pertaining to Lafayette Parish.

Commercial requestors have the same rights of access as individuals, though some departments may prioritize non-commercial requests. Government agencies, including the Lafayette Consolidated Government, may not inquire about the intended use of the records except in limited circumstances where specific statutory exemptions apply.

What Records Are Confidential in Lafayette County?

While Lafayette Parish operates under Louisiana's public records law, certain records are exempt from disclosure pursuant to Louisiana Revised Statutes § 44:4 and other applicable statutes. The following records are generally considered confidential:

Records pertaining to pending criminal litigation or investigations
Juvenile court records and juvenile law enforcement records
Medical and mental health records protected under HIPAA
Personal information including Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and dates of birth
Personnel records containing private information (though employment history, salary, and disciplinary records may be accessible)
Records containing trade secrets or proprietary business information
Attorney-client privileged communications
Records related to security procedures and emergency response plans
Adoption records and child welfare case files
Sexual assault victim identities and related information
Records specifically exempted by other state or federal laws

Louisiana law employs a balancing test in some cases, weighing the public's right to know against individual privacy interests. Under § 44:3.1, when a record contains both public and confidential information, the custodian must separate the confidential portions and make the remainder available for inspection.

The Lafayette Consolidated Government may redact exempt information from records rather than withholding them entirely. When records are withheld or redacted, the custodian must provide written reasons citing the specific legal authority for the denial.

Lafayette County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

Lafayette Parish Clerk of Court
800 South Buchanan Street
Lafayette, LA 70501
(337) 291-6400
Lafayette Parish Clerk of Court

Hours of Operation:
Monday - Friday: 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Closed on weekends and state holidays

Recording Division Services:

Property records recording
Marriage licenses
Notarial archives
Mortgage certificates
Uniform Commercial Code filings

Lafayette Consolidated Government
705 West University Avenue
Lafayette, LA 70506
(337) 291-8200
Lafayette Consolidated Government

Hours of Operation:
Monday - Friday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Closed on weekends and state holidays

Lafayette Parish Assessor's Office
1010 Lafayette Street, Suite 402
Lafayette, LA 70501
(337) 291-7080
Lafayette Parish Assessor

Hours of Operation:
Monday - Friday: 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Closed on weekends and state holidays

Lookup Public Records in Lafayette County

Public Records Request

Lafayette Consolidated Government

Lafayette Parish - The official website of Louisiana

Louisiana Secretary of State

Western District of Louisiana | United States District Court