Search LaSalle Parish Genealogy Records

LaSalle Parish genealogy records are kept by the Clerk of Court in Jena, Louisiana, and include marriage licenses, land conveyances, succession records, and civil and criminal court filings dating back to 1910 when the parish was created. Because LaSalle has no online records portal, most research requires a direct visit to the courthouse or a mail request to the clerk's office.

LaSalle Parish Clerk of Court

Hon. Steve Andrews serves as Clerk of Court for LaSalle Parish. The office is at the LaSalle Parish Courthouse in Jena. Unlike many Louisiana parishes, LaSalle does not have a dedicated online records search portal. All public records must be accessed in person during business hours, by mail, or by phone.

Staff at the clerk's office can help you locate records by name, date, and type. A research area is available for public use during business hours. Photo ID is typically required for record access. Call ahead if you're traveling a distance, as staff can confirm whether specific records exist before you make the trip.

The image below shows the eClerks LA statewide portal, a resource that works alongside many parish clerk offices even where local online search portals are limited.

Visit eClerks LA for statewide e-filing information and to check if LaSalle Parish adds online access in the future.

eClerks LA serves as the Louisiana statewide electronic filing and records alert system, and some parishes have expanded access through this platform over time.

Search LaSalle Parish Genealogy Records Online

LaSalle Parish does not currently have its own online records search portal. Records must be requested directly from the Clerk of Court office in Jena. However, several statewide resources can supplement your research.

The Louisiana Online Public Vital Records Index, maintained by the Secretary of State, provides a searchable index of birth and death records that have passed the confidentiality window. This free index is a good place to check before making a paid request. You can search by name, year, and parish.

For marriage, land, and court records that predate online systems, the Louisiana State Archives at 3851 Essen Lane in Baton Rouge may hold microfilm or digitized copies. The Archives is worth checking when the Clerk's office lacks older records or when you need to cross-reference records from before parish record registration became consistent.

Note: Because LaSalle Parish was created in 1910 from parts of Catahoula and Winn parishes, genealogists researching families before 1910 may need to check records in those neighboring parishes. The Jena clerk's office can advise on which older records they hold versus what remains in the originating parish files.

Genealogy Records in LaSalle Parish

LaSalle Parish records begin in 1910, the year the parish was established. The Clerk of Court in Jena holds most of the main record types researchers need. Birth and death certificates for years within the confidentiality window are not available at the parish level and must be requested from the Louisiana Vital Records Registry.

Records held at the LaSalle Clerk of Court and their approximate start dates:

• Marriage records: 1910 to present
• Land and property records (conveyances, mortgages, plats): 1910 to present
• Succession and probate records: 1910 to present
• Civil and criminal court records: 1910 to present

For births and deaths, contact the Louisiana Vital Records Registry. Statewide registration of births and deaths began in 1914. Records older than 100 years (births) or 50 years (deaths) are accessible to the public under RS 40:41. Certified copies can be ordered through VitalChek.

Copy fees at the LaSalle Clerk's office are approximately $1.00 per page for standard copies and $5.00 to $10.00 per document for certified copies. Search fees may apply for extensive staff research. Contact the office at (318) 992-2158 to confirm current rates before submitting a mail request.

Louisiana State Archives and LaSalle Parish

The Louisiana State Archives holds records that complement what the LaSalle Clerk of Court maintains locally. For LaSalle Parish, the Archives is especially useful for records that document families who lived in Catahoula or Winn parishes before the 1910 split that created LaSalle.

The Louisiana State Archives website describes the collections available for research. The reading room at 3851 Essen Lane in Baton Rouge is open to the public, and staff can help identify relevant collections. Some LaSalle-area records have been microfilmed and may be accessible through the Archives or through partner libraries.

FamilySearch also maintains a free research guide for LaSalle Parish at familysearch.org. That guide lists published and digitized resources for the parish, including census records, church records, and land grant indexes that can fill gaps when courthouse records are thin for certain time periods.

How to Request LaSalle Parish Records

In person is the most reliable method for LaSalle Parish records. Visit the courthouse at 1050 Courthouse Street in Jena during business hours, Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Bring a photo ID. Staff will assist you in locating records, and a research area is available if you need to browse indexes yourself.

For mail requests, write a letter that includes the full names of all parties involved, approximate dates, and the specific type of record you need. Be as precise as possible. Vague requests take longer and may result in a no-match response. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope and prepayment in the form of a check or money order made out to the LaSalle Parish Clerk of Court. Mail to P.O. Box 1316, Jena, LA 71342-1316.

Phone inquiries are welcome. Call (318) 992-2158, and staff can confirm whether a record exists and advise on the best way to request it. This can save time before committing to a mail request or a long drive to Jena.

The image below shows the LAGenWeb LaSalle Parish page, a free genealogy resource with additional links and indexes for this parish.

Browse the Louisiana Genealogy Web Project for supplementary LaSalle Parish research resources.

LAGenWeb provides free access to transcribed records, family trees submitted by researchers, and links to external databases covering many Louisiana parishes including LaSalle.

What LaSalle Parish Records Contain

Marriage records in LaSalle Parish include the full names of both parties, the marriage date, the location of the ceremony, and commonly the names of witnesses and parents. They were recorded at the Clerk's office and represent one of the most useful sources for identifying family connections in the parish.

Land conveyance records show property transfers between named parties. They include legal descriptions of the land, the price paid, and the date of the transaction. Mortgage records show loans secured against property. Over time, a sequence of conveyance and mortgage records can trace where a family lived and how their financial situation changed.

Succession records open a window into a family's life at the time of a death. A full succession file may include a petition listing the heirs, an inventory of property and debts, and final distribution of assets. Wills are often filed with successions. Civil court records cover a wide range of disputes and arrangements, from lawsuits to adoption proceedings to guardianships. Criminal records document charges and outcomes and may reference family members as witnesses or co-defendants.

Birth certificates list the child's name, date and place of birth, and the names of both parents. Death certificates name the deceased, the date and place of death, the cause, and often the name and relationship of the informant. That informant detail can be genealogically significant because it usually names a close relative.

Cities in LaSalle Parish

Jena is the parish seat and the location of the LaSalle Parish Courthouse where all records are kept. Other communities in LaSalle Parish include Olla, Tullos, Urania, and Jena. The nearest cities for regional resources are Alexandria in Rapides Parish and Monroe in Ouachita Parish.

For regional court resources, see Alexandria or Monroe.

Nearby Parishes

LaSalle Parish borders Catahoula, Winn, Grant, Caldwell, and Rapides parishes. Families that lived near the parish boundaries often have records in more than one of these courthouses, especially before 1910 when LaSalle was carved out of Catahoula and Winn.