Find Records in Ascension Parish

Ascension Parish genealogy records stretch back to 1763, making this one of the richest parishes in Louisiana for deep family history research. Marriage records, land grants, probate filings, and court documents held by the Clerk of Court in Donaldsonville span over 260 years and can help you trace family lines in this historically significant parish along the Mississippi River.

Ascension Parish Clerk of Court

Bridget Hanna serves as Clerk of Court for Ascension Parish. The office maintains two locations: the main courthouse in Donaldsonville and a branch office in Gonzales. Both serve the 23rd Judicial District. The Clerk holds genealogy records going back to the colonial era, with marriage records from 1763 and land records from as early as 1770. Researchers will find public access computers at the courthouse during business hours.

One thing to know before you visit: the Clerk's office does not do research for you. Staff will assist you in finding the right materials and indexes, but you must conduct the search yourself. This is standard practice in Louisiana. Plan to spend time at the terminals, bring a list of names and dates you are looking for, and ask staff for help navigating the index system if you are not sure where to start.

The Gonzales office is a convenient option for researchers coming from the Baton Rouge area, as it sits closer to the eastern part of the parish.

The Ascension Parish Clerk website provides access to eClerks LA and lists services available at both office locations.

The Ascension Parish Clerk's website links to online record portals and provides contact details for both office locations.

Search Ascension Parish Genealogy Records Online

Ascension Parish participates fully in eClerks LA, the free statewide index portal. You can search conveyance indices, mortgage indices, civil indices, and marriage license indices at no cost after creating a free account. The process is simple: go to eclerksla.com, select "Parish Search," choose Ascension Parish, and sign up. Index results are free; document images require a paid subscription. E-recording and e-filing through eClerks LA are also available for those who need to submit documents electronically.

The Ascension Parish Clerk's website at ascensionclerk.com links directly to the eClerks LA portal. Subscription pricing for full document image access varies by access level, with options for daily, monthly, and annual accounts. If you only need to verify a record exists, the free index is usually enough to get started. For full document copies, you'll either subscribe or visit the courthouse to get paper copies at standard rates.

For certified birth or death certificates, use VitalChek online or visit the Louisiana Vital Records Registry at ldh.la.gov/vital-records.

eClerks LA gives free index access to Ascension Parish conveyance, mortgage, marriage, and civil records online.

Genealogy Records Available in Ascension Parish

Few Louisiana parishes can match Ascension Parish for the depth of its genealogy records. Marriage records start in 1763, making them useful for tracing families through the Spanish and French colonial periods. Land records go back to 1770. Probate records begin around 1800, and general court records start in 1800 as well. Divorce records and additional court filings from 1868 onward round out the collection. All of these records are housed at the Clerk of Court in Donaldsonville.

Birth and death records for the modern statewide system begin in 1914, when Louisiana established mandatory registration. Earlier vital events may appear in church records or plantation records rather than in the Clerk's holdings. Under Louisiana RS 40:41, birth records are confidential for 100 years and death records for 50 years. Only eligible family members or legal representatives can access restricted vital records. Once the restriction period passes, records become available through the Louisiana State Archives.

Note: For research before 1800, check colonial-era church records through FamilySearch or the Louisiana State Archives, as those may predate the Clerk's holdings.

Louisiana State Archives and Ascension Parish Records

The Louisiana State Archives at 3851 Essen Lane in Baton Rouge holds older vital records that have passed the restriction periods set by RS 40:41. Birth records become accessible to the public after 100 years, and death records after 50 years. The Archives offers an Online Public Vital Records Index where you can search older records by name from any location. This is a good first step before making a trip to Baton Rouge. Given that Ascension Parish records extend back to the colonial era, the Archives may also hold supplemental historical materials that complement what the Clerk's office keeps.

How to Request Ascension Parish Records

In-person access is available at the Donaldsonville courthouse at 300 Houmas Street or at the Gonzales office at 825 E. Worthy Street. Public computers are available during regular hours. Bring ID and a list of what you need. Staff will point you to the right place, but the research is yours to do.

For mail requests, write to Ascension Parish Clerk of Court, 300 Houmas Street, Suite 100, Donaldsonville, LA 70346. Include the names involved, the type of record, the approximate date, a self-addressed stamped envelope, and payment. Marriage record copies run $5.00. Court record copies cost $1.00 per page, and certified copies add another $5.00 to the base fee. Birth and death certificates are $34 and $26 respectively. The Clerk's website has a request form you can download.

Online, use eClerks LA for free index searching and subscriptions for document images. VitalChek handles online orders for birth and death certificates. Most record requests are fulfilled within a few days to a couple of weeks, depending on the method and the age of the record.

What Ascension Parish Genealogy Records Contain

Marriage records in Ascension Parish from the post-1800s period include the full names of both parties, their ages, birthplaces, parents' names, previous marital status, the date and place of the ceremony, the names of witnesses, and the officiant who performed the marriage. These records link two family lines in a single document and are among the most useful tools in family history research. Land records list grantor and grantee names, the legal description of property, the price paid, the date of the transaction, and the notary and witnesses present. Chains of land records for a single parcel can trace a family's ownership across generations.

Probate and succession records list heirs, debts, and assets of an estate. Court records capture disputes, legal proceedings, and sometimes contain testimony that reveals personal details not found in other record types. Under Louisiana RS 44:1, most court and land records in the Clerk's possession are public records open for inspection during business hours at no charge. Older death certificates include name, age, date of death, cause of death, birthplace, and parents' information. Taken together, Ascension Parish's genealogy records offer a remarkably deep pool of data for anyone tracing a family line in southeast Louisiana.

Cities in Ascension Parish

Gonzales and Donaldsonville are the two main cities in Ascension Parish.

Nearby Parishes