Access St. Landry Parish Genealogy Records

St. Landry Parish genealogy records are held by the Clerk of Court in Opelousas, with an Archives Department in the courthouse basement offering one of the richest collections in south Louisiana. Records span from colonial documents in the 1760s through present-day filings, covering marriage, land, probate, immigration, court records, and more.

St. Landry Parish Clerk of Court

The Clerk of Court for St. Landry Parish is Hon. Charles Jagneaux. The Opelousas courthouse holds one of the most extensive archives collections among Louisiana parishes. The Archives Department in Room 11, basement level, is the center for genealogy research and holds documents going back to 1764.

The Archives Department offers self-service research with knowledgeable staff assistance. Genealogical publications are available in the archives for reference. Self-service research is free; copy fees apply per page. Certification of copies costs an additional fee.

The St. Landry Parish Clerk of Court in Opelousas houses one of the most complete archives collections in Louisiana.

Search St. Landry Parish Genealogy Records Online

The St. Landry Parish Clerk Archives page provides information about the in-person archives collection. While the archives themselves are accessed in person, the clerk's website at stlandry.org offers a starting point for planning your research visit.

For online index searches, the Louisiana State Archives Online Vital Records Index covers older birth, death, and marriage records from across the state. eClerks LA and ClerkConnect are statewide platforms that may have some St. Landry entries indexed for online access. The FamilySearch wiki for St. Landry Parish lists microfilm holdings and available record collections that can be searched before visiting in person.

The St. Landry Parish Archives Department in the courthouse basement is one of the most comprehensive local genealogy archives in Louisiana.

Genealogy Records in St. Landry Parish

St. Landry Parish holds a remarkable range of genealogy records spanning over two centuries. The Archives Department in the Opelousas courthouse is the main repository, and it also covers records for several parishes that were part of St. Landry before they were created as separate jurisdictions.

The archives hold records for the following parishes before the mid-1800s: Acadia, Evangeline, Jefferson Davis, Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, and Cameron. This means that if your ancestors lived in any of those areas before those parishes existed, St. Landry Parish is where their earliest records will be found. The Opelousas Post colonial documents from 1764 to 1805 are on microfilm and have been transferred to the State Archives, but staff can assist with access.

Key holdings by record type and date include: marriage licenses from 1807 to present; civil district suits from 1813 to present; probates from 1807 to present; land conveyances from 1805 to present; immigration papers from 1820 to 1920; notary books from 1818 to 1850; voter registration from 1895 to 1898; donations from 1826; bonds from 1847; coroner inquest records from 1876 to 1965; and livestock brands from 1855 to 1970. The breadth of this collection is unusual and makes St. Landry one of the premier genealogy destinations in Louisiana.

Louisiana State Archives and St. Landry Parish

The Louisiana State Archives complements the St. Landry Parish Clerk's holdings, particularly for colonial-era records. The Opelousas Post microfilm, covering 1764 to 1805, has been transferred to the State Archives and is available for research there.

The State Archives' online vital records index provides free name searches for birth, death, and marriage entries. Some St. Landry Parish records from the 1800s and early 1900s may appear in this index. The Archives also maintains microfilm collections covering the broader Attakapas Territory, which included the St. Landry area during the French and Spanish periods. Birth and death certificates from the modern era go through the Louisiana Vital Records Registry under the confidentiality rules of RS 40:41.

How to Request St. Landry Parish Records

St. Landry Parish genealogy records are available in person at the Opelousas courthouse archives or by mail request. The Archives Department is designed to accommodate genealogy researchers, so an in-person visit is highly recommended.

For an in-person visit, go to the courthouse at 118 South Court St., Opelousas and head to the basement, Room 11. The Archives Department staff are knowledgeable about the collection and can assist with searches. Self-service research is free. Bring full names, approximate dates, and the record type you need. Copies are available for a fee per page, with an additional charge for certified copies.

Mail requests should be addressed to the Clerk of Court at 118 South Court St., Opelousas, LA 70570. Describe the record clearly and include the subject's full name, a date range, and ask about current fees. Under RS 44:1, Louisiana's Public Records Act, the documents held at the clerk's office are presumed open and must be provided upon request unless a specific exemption applies.

What St. Landry Parish Records Contain

The St. Landry Parish Archives holds a broader range of record types than most Louisiana parishes. Each category provides different genealogical information.

Marriage records from 1807 include both spouses' names, the date, and sometimes parents' names and witnesses. Immigration papers from 1820 to 1920 document individuals who arrived in the Opelousas area and can be extremely valuable for tracing immigrant family lines. Notary books from 1818 to 1850 record a wide range of legal transactions, including property sales, contracts, and personal agreements that name participants and witnesses. These records are often overlooked but can be rich in genealogical detail.

Probate records from 1807 document estate settlements for the parish and several surrounding areas that were once part of St. Landry. They name heirs, describe property, and often reveal family relationships not documented elsewhere. Livestock brand records from 1855 to 1970 can trace farming families across generations. Civil suits from 1813 document legal disputes that name parties, witnesses, and sometimes family members. Under RS 44:20, copy fees for public records are governed by state law.

Cities in St. Landry Parish

St. Opelousas is the parish seat and the center for all records access.

Nearby Parishes

St. Landry Parish is a large central Louisiana parish that borders many other jurisdictions. Because it formerly covered a much larger area, records for neighboring parishes may actually be found in the St. Landry archives for early periods.