Find Records in St. Martin Parish

St. Martin Parish genealogy records are maintained by the Clerk of Court in St. Martinville, with marriage records dating to 1756 and land and probate documents going back to the 1760s. This Attakapas Territory parish holds some of the oldest French and Spanish colonial records in Louisiana.

St. Martin Parish Clerk of Court

The Clerk of Court office in St. Martinville is the official repository for all civil records, land documents, marriage filings, and court records in St. Martin Parish. The office includes a Research Department that assists with genealogy requests by mail or in person.

St. Martin Parish has limited online access to records. Most research is conducted in person or through the Research Department by mail. Copy fees are $1.00 per page for standard copies and $5.00 per document for certified copies. Contact the office for details on current online access options.

Search St. Martin Parish Genealogy Records Online

Online access to St. Martin Parish records is limited. The best starting point for online research is the Louisiana State Archives Online Vital Records Index, which covers older birth, death, and marriage entries from across the state and may include St. Martin Parish documents.

Statewide platforms like eClerks LA and ClerkConnect aggregate records from multiple Louisiana clerks. Coverage for St. Martin Parish may be limited, but these platforms are worth checking for indexed civil and property records. Contact the clerk's office directly at (337) 394-2210 to ask about any current online access options that may have been added.

The FamilySearch wiki for St. Martin Parish lists available microfilm collections and research guides specific to this parish, which can help you plan your research before contacting the clerk or visiting in person.

Genealogy Records in St. Martin Parish

St. Martin Parish holds some of the oldest genealogy records in Louisiana, reflecting its origins as part of the Attakapas Territory under French and Spanish colonial rule. Marriage records date to 1756, making them among the earliest in the state. Land records begin in the 1760s, and probate documents go back to the 1700s.

The French and Spanish colonial records from St. Martin Parish are particularly valuable for researchers tracing Acadian (Cajun) families who came to Louisiana after the 1755 Grand Derangement expulsion from Nova Scotia. St. Martinville was a major destination for Acadian refugees, and the parish clerk holds records documenting their settlement in the Attakapas region. Marriage records from this period often include the names of parties, witnesses, and parents, providing rich genealogical detail.

Land records from the 1760s include both French and Spanish colonial land grants, which can trace family landholdings across generations. Probate records from the 1700s are especially valuable because they document estate settlements during the colonial period, naming heirs and describing property. Court records from the 16th Judicial District add another layer of documentation for family researchers.

Louisiana State Archives and St. Martin Parish

The Louisiana State Archives holds colonial-era records from the Attakapas Territory that complement what the St. Martin Parish Clerk maintains locally. For records before the formal creation of St. Martin Parish in 1811, the State Archives is often the best resource.

The Archives' online vital records index is a free tool for searching older birth, death, and marriage entries. Some St. Martin Parish records from the 1800s appear in this database. Researchers tracing Acadian families in particular will find the Archives useful because colonial church and civil records from the Attakapas region were sometimes centrally held. Staff at the Archives can direct you to specific collections relevant to St. Martin Parish and the surrounding area.

Note: VitalChek at vitalchek.com is an official partner for ordering certified copies of vital records in Louisiana, which are issued by the Vital Records Registry rather than the parish clerk.

How to Request St. Martin Parish Records

Records from St. Martin Parish can be requested in person, by mail through the Research Department, or through limited online access. Mail requests to the Research Department are a convenient option for researchers outside the area.

In-person visits to the St. Martinville courthouse allow direct access to records with staff assistance. Bring the subject's full name, the type of record, and an approximate date range. The Research Department specializes in genealogy assistance and can help locate documents in the historical collection. The office is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.

For mail requests, address your letter to: St. Martin Parish Clerk of Court, ATTN: Research Department, P.O. Box 308, St. Martinville, LA 70582. Include the subject's full name, date range, and record type. Copy fees are $1.00 per page and $5.00 per certified document. Under RS 44:1, Louisiana's Public Records Act, most genealogy records are public and must be provided upon request.

What St. Martin Parish Records Contain

St. Martin Parish records span more than two and a half centuries and contain a rich range of genealogical information. Colonial-era records in particular offer details not available in most other Louisiana parishes.

Marriage records from 1756 typically include both parties' names, the date, and the names of witnesses. Colonial-era marriage records often name parents and the officiating clergy, providing additional family details. Land records from the 1760s include French and Spanish colonial land grants with tract sizes, locations, and the names of original grantees. These are essential for tracing families to their earliest presence in the Attakapas region.

Probate records from the 1700s document estate settlements naming heirs and describing personal and real property. In the antebellum period, these records may also name enslaved individuals, making them significant for African American genealogy in St. Martin Parish. Court records from the 16th Judicial District cover civil disputes, guardianship proceedings, and other legal matters that name family members. Modern vital records go through the Louisiana Vital Records Registry, not the parish clerk, under the access rules of RS 40:41.

Cities in St. Martin Parish

The parish seat is St. Martinville, which is the center for all courthouse records and research access.

Nearby Parishes

St. Martin Parish borders several south-central Louisiana parishes. Families in the Attakapas region often had connections across parish lines.