The Calcasieu Parish Clerk of Court's Office is located in the Historic Calcasieu Courthouse in downtown Lake Charles at 1000 Ryan Street. With a staff of approximately 120 employees, our team of Clerks is one of the largest in the state.

 

On the average day, we will have hundreds of walk-in customers who have very diverse needs. In a typical year, our website may receive 2 million page views and over 5 million total hits.

 

The Clerk of Court is the central location in Calcasieu Parish for a multitude of public records including marriage licenses, passports, protective orders, property sales, adoptions, criminal records, military discharge records, lawsuit filings, recording of deeds & mortgages, mortgage cancellations, property research, elections, court minutes, expungements, and much more.

 

The Clerk of Court is 100% funded by fees and court costs we collect from customers who utilize our services. Like other government agencies, we are answerable to the Louisiana State Legislative Auditor. But unlike other government agencies, we do not receive any federal, state, or local funding. We also do not have the option of seeking voter’s financial support through special elections. For this reason, one of the Clerk’s responsibilities is to manage the finances of the office just as any business owner must do - balancing customers’ needs, employee benefits, and the rapid changes in technology.

 

Our current location, the Historic Calcasieu Courthouse, is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places. Built in 1912, it is managed and maintained by the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury. The Courthouse houses our office, as well as the Registrar of Voters, and the Civil Sheriffs office. The Judicial Center, which adjoins the Courthouse, was built in 1994 and is the current location of all civil and criminal hearings.

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There are some who believe that the Courthouse is haunted by the ghost of Toni Jo Henry, who was electrocuted in 1942 after being convicted of murder. The Courthouse has often been visited by paranormal enthusiasts, and is listed on the state's list of "Haunted Places to visit in Louisiana."

 

Reflecting our long-standing commitment to providing you with exceptional service and continuous improvement, we welcome your feedback.