La. Rev. Stat. § 44:32 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 44 / Section 32
Duty to permit examination; prevention of alteration; payment for overtime; copies provided; fees
Status: in_force

A.(1) The custodian shall present any public record to any person of the age of majority who so requests. The custodian shall make no inquiry of any person who applies for a public record, except an inquiry as to the age and identification of the person and may require the person to sign a register and shall not review, examine, or scrutinize any copy, photograph, or memoranda in the possession of any such person; and shall extend to the person all reasonable comfort and facility for the full exercise of the right granted by this Chapter; provided that nothing herein contained shall prevent the custodian from maintaining such vigilance as is required to prevent alteration of any record while it is being examined; and provided further, that examinations of records under the authority of this Section must be conducted during regular office or working hours, unless the custodian shall authorize examination of records in other than regular office or working hours. In this event the persons designated to represent the custodian during such examination shall be entitled to reasonable compensation to be paid to them by the public body having custody of such record, out of funds provided in advance by the person examining such record in other than regular office or working hours. The custodian shall be permitted to make an inquiry regarding the specificity of the records sought by the applicant if, after review of the initial request, the custodian is unable to ascertain what records are being requested.

(2) If the custodian reasonably determines that the request would substantially disrupt required government operations, the custodian may deny access only after reasonable attempts to narrow or specify the request with the requestor.

B. If any record contains material which is not a public record, the custodian may separate the nonpublic record and make the public record available for examination.

C.(1)(a) For all public records, except public records of state agencies, it shall be the duty of the custodian of the public records to provide copies to persons so requesting, unless the requestor fails to pay the applicable copying fees after being notified of the amount in advance of production or the requestor has an outstanding balance from a prior request. The custodian may establish and collect reasonable fees for making copies of public records, which may include the transmission of electronic copies of public records. Any custodian who elects to establish and collect such fees shall establish a reasonable fee schedule and post the schedule where it can be readily accessed by the public. The custodian may request payment of fees in advance of production. Copies of records may be furnished without charge or at a reduced charge to indigent citizens of this state.

(b) For all public records in the custody of a clerk of court, the clerk may also establish reasonable uniform written procedures for the reproduction of any such public record. Additionally, in the parish of Orleans, the recorder of mortgages, the register of conveyances, and the custodian of notarial records may each establish reasonable uniform procedures for the reproduction of public records.

(c) The use or placement of mechanical reproduction, microphotographic reproduction, or any other such imaging, reproduction, or photocopying equipment within the offices of the clerk of court by any person described in R.S. 44:31 is prohibited unless ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction.

(d) Any person, as provided for in R.S. 44:31, may request a copy or reproduction of any public record and it shall be the duty of the custodian to provide such copy or reproduction to the person so requesting.

(2)(a) For all public records of state agencies, it shall be the duty of the custodian of such records to provide copies to persons so requesting, unless the requestor fails to pay the applicable copying fees after being notified of the amount in advance of production or the requestor has an outstanding balance from a prior request. Fees for such copies shall be charged according to the uniform fee schedule adopted by the commissioner of administration as provided by R.S. 39:241 or as otherwise fixed or provided by law. Copies of records may be furnished without charge or at a reduced charge to indigent citizens of this state or the persons whose use of such copies, as determined by the custodian, will be limited to a public purpose, including but not limited to use in a hearing before any governmental regulatory commission.

(b) Copies of records held by a public postsecondary education institution shall be furnished without charge to any student-produced media outlet that is affiliated with the institution and that is funded in whole or in part by fees levied by the institution or by students enrolled at the institution.

(3) No fee shall be charged to any person to examine or review any public records, except as provided in this Section, and no fee shall be charged for examination or review to determine if a record is subject to disclosure, except as may be determined by a court of competent jurisdiction.

D. In any case in which a record is requested and a question is raised by the custodian of the record as to whether it is a public record, such custodian shall within five days, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays, and legal public holidays, of the receipt of the request, in writing for such record, notify in writing the person making such request of his determination and the reasons therefor. Such written notification shall contain a reference to the basis under law which the custodian has determined exempts a record, or any part thereof, from inspection, copying, or reproduction.

Amended by Acts 1968, No. 473, §1; Acts 1978, No. 686, §1; Acts 1981, No. 933, §2; Acts 1989, No. 404, §1, eff. June 30, 1989; Acts 1995, No. 372, §2, eff. July 1, 1995; Acts 1999, No. 1154, §1; Acts 2004, No. 759, §1; Acts 2005, No. 193, §2; Acts 2016, No. 525, §1; Acts 2022, No. 337, §1, eff. June 10, 2022; Acts 2022, No. 770, §1; Acts 2023, No. 247, §1; Acts 2024, No. 411, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 44:327 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 44 / Section 327
Effect of recording certified copies of reestablished records
Status: in_force

The recordation of any certified copy of any deed, bond, mortgage, judgment or other instrument of writing, shall have the same force and effect as the recording of the original deed, bond, mortgage, judgment or other instrument of writing which was destroyed.
La. Rev. Stat. § 44:367 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 44 / Section 367
Certified copies of re-established archives prima facie evidence
Status: in_force

Certified copies from re-established archives shall be received as prima facie proof of all that they recite, that properly belongs to the originals of such instruments, and also of the date of filing and recordation of the original instruments, under the same rules as the recorded copies of the same would have been received had they not been destroyed.
La. Rev. Stat. § 44:182.11 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 44 / Section 182.11
Annual budget; submission to enumerated entities
Status: in_force

A. The clerk of court as the parish recorder shall prepare a detailed annual budget of the office of the clerk of court at the end of its fiscal year and submit a copy of that budget to the legislative auditor pursuant to R.S. 24:513 et seq., and to the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget and shall publish a copy, at his own expense, in the official journal of the parish of Orleans, commencing January 1, 2009.

B. The clerk of court shall include in the annual budget adequate provisions to ensure that there is systematic rebinding, page repair, and microfilming of those notarial records created before July 29, 1970, and that the office can provide professional supervision of the use of all volumes created before the year 1900. The clerk of court shall allocate sufficient funds for the stabilization, preservation, and repair of plat plans, surveys, architectural drawings, and other visual materials housed at the office, whether presently attached to notarial acts or housed separately from notarial volumes.

Acts 2006, No. 621, §5, eff. June 23, 2006.
La. Rev. Stat. § 44:231.1 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 44 / Section 231.1
Repealed by Acts 2006, No. 621, §20(B), eff. Jan. 1, 2009.
Status: repealed

NOTE: See Acts 2008, No. 618, providing that no special election be held to fill vacancy in office of recorder of mortgages and providing that any proclamation calling any such election shall be null, void, and of no effect.
La. Rev. Stat. § 44:3.2 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 44 / Section 3.2
Proprietary and trade secret information
Status: in_force

A. Nothing in this Chapter shall be construed to require the disclosure of proprietary or trade secret information pertaining to any code, pattern, formula, design, device, method, or process which is proprietary or trade secret information which has been submitted to a public body by the developer, owner, or manufacturer of a code, pattern, formula, design, device, method, or process in order to obtain or retain approval of such code, pattern, formula, design, device, method, or process for sale or use in this state.

B. Nothing in this Chapter shall be construed to require the disclosure of proprietary or trade secret information pertaining to any code, pattern, formula, design, device, method, or process which has been submitted to a public body in order to facilitate the further research, development, or commercialization of such code, pattern, formula, design, device, method, or process.

C. Nothing in this Chapter shall be construed to require the disclosure of proprietary or trade secret information which has been submitted to Louisiana Economic Development for economic development purposes.

D.(1) All records containing proprietary or trade secret information submitted by a developer, owner, or manufacturer to a public body pursuant to Subsection A, B, or C of this Section shall contain a cover sheet that provides in bold type "DOCUMENT CONTAINS CONFIDENTIAL PROPRIETARY OR TRADE SECRET INFORMATION". The developer, owner, or manufacturer shall clearly mark each instance of information which is, in his opinion, proprietary or trade secret information. However, the determination of whether such information is in fact proprietary or trade secret information shall be made by the custodian within thirty days of a submission; however, if a custodian receives a public records request during the period of thirty days, the determination shall be made within the time period provided in R.S. 44:32(D) and 33(B).

(2) A custodian who receives a request pursuant to this Chapter for any information which has been marked by the developer, owner, or manufacturer as proprietary or trade secret information shall, prior to the disclosure of the information, immediately notify such developer, owner, or manufacturer of the request and of the custodian's determination of whether or not the information so requested is subject to disclosure.

E. General information relating to the identity of the developer, owner, or manufacturer and any agreement or contract that such person or legal entity has entered into with the public body shall be subject to public review.

F. Nothing in this Section shall be construed in a manner as to prevent the public examination or reproduction of any record or part of a record which is not proprietary or trade secret information.

G. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the office of state fire marshal shall provide electronic access to its information management system to the State Board of Architectural Examiners and the Louisiana Professional Engineering and Land Surveying Board for the examination and reproduction of plans, drawings, and specifications submitted to the office of state fire marshal. The State Board of Architectural Examiners and the Louisiana Professional Engineering and Land Surveying Board shall not allow for examination or release of any documents obtained from the office of state fire marshal’s information system to the public or other third party, including other state agencies. The office of state fire marshal shall not be held responsible or liable for any release of confidential, proprietary, or trade secret information by the State Board of Architectural Examiners or the Louisiana Professional Engineering and Land Surveying Board.

Acts 2004, No. 832, §1, eff. July 12, 2004; Acts 2012, No. 57, §1, eff. May 11, 2012; Acts 2018, No. 357, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 44:3.1 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 44 / Section 3.1
Certain records pertaining to security-related activity
Status: in_force

A. Nothing in this Chapter shall be construed to require disclosure of records containing security procedures, criminal intelligence information pertaining to terrorist-related activity, or threat or vulnerability assessments created, collected, or obtained in the prevention of terrorist-related activity, including but not limited to physical security information, proprietary information, operational plans, and the analysis of such information, or internal security information.

B. Nothing in the Chapter shall be construed to require the disclosure of school crisis management and response plans.

C. Nothing in this Chapter shall be construed to require disclosure of a blueprint or floor plan of the interior of a public school building or facility, except as required as part of the public bid process. Any blueprint or floor plan of the interior of a school building or facility provided as part of the public bid process shall be deemed confidential and shall not be disclosed to persons other than those responsible for the bidding or construction of the project.

Acts 2003, No. 413, §1, eff. June 18, 2003; Acts 2020, No. 211, §2, eff. June 11, 2020.
La. Rev. Stat. § 44:39 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 44 / Section 39
Microfilm and electronic digitized records; use as evidence
Status: in_force

A. All persons and public bodies having custody or control of any public records of the state of Louisiana or any of its subdivisions may utilize any appropriate form of the microphotographic process, or an electronic digitizing process capable of reproducing an unalterable and accessible image of the original source document, for the recordation, filing, and preservation of all existing public records, provided that the use of such microphotographic or electronic digitizing processes is not otherwise prohibited by law.

B.(1) All agencies, as defined in R.S. 44:402, shall comply with all document conversion standards established by the division of archives, records management, and history of the Department of State in accordance with the provisions of R.S. 44:415.

(2) All agencies shall be required to maintain the original source document or microfilm thereof when such document has been preserved utilizing electronic digitizing except:

(a) Public safety services within the Department of Public Safety and Corrections.

(b) All public retirement systems, plans, and funds.

(c) Any other agency with approval in writing by the state archivist.

C. Any microfilm or electronically digitized copy, when satisfactorily identified, shall be considered to be an original itself, and shall be admissible in evidence in all courts or administrative proceedings in any agency, whether the original document is in existence or not, and an enlargement or facsimile of a reproduction is likewise admissible in evidence, if the original reproduction is in existence and available for inspection under direction of the court or the administrative agency. Original records shall remain subject to subpoena.

Amended by Acts 1950, No. 134, §1; Acts 1978, No. 364, §1; Acts 1986, No. 1075, §1; Acts 1987, No. 621, §1; Acts 1997, No. 373, §1; Acts 1998, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 73, §1, eff. May 1, 1998; Acts 1999, No. 301, §1, eff. July 1, 1999; Acts 2021, No. 213, §1, eff. June 11, 2021.
La. Rev. Stat. § 44:55 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 44 / Section 55
Secretary of state; use of substitute address; exceptions
Status: in_force

The secretary of state shall not make any records in a program participant's file available for inspection or copying, other than the substitute address designated by the secretary of state, except under any of the following circumstances:

(1) If requested of the secretary of state by the chief commanding officer of a law enforcement agency or the officer's designee in the manner provided for by rules adopted and promulgated by the secretary of state in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act.

(2) To a person identified in a court order upon the receipt by the secretary of state of that court order which specifically orders the disclosure of a particular program participant's address and the reasons stated therefor.

(3) To verify the participation of a specific program participant, in which case the secretary of state may only confirm or deny information supplied by the requestor.

Acts 2006, No. 613, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 44:403 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 44 / Section 403
Counsel
Status: in_force

Legal services for the division shall be provided by the secretary or the attorney general and the various district attorneys in their various districts.

Acts 1985, No. 238, §1, eff. July 6, 1985.
La. Rev. Stat. § 44:73 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 44 / Section 73
Location of office
Status: in_force

The recorders shall maintain their offices at the parish seat where the permanent records of the office shall be maintained. The recorders may also establish branch or ancillary offices in the parish to accept documents and to provide those services that the recorders may from time to time find convenient or useful.

Acts 2005, No. 169, §6, eff. July 1, 2006; Acts 2005, 1 st Ex. Sess., No. 13, §1, eff. Nov. 29, 2005.
La. Rev. Stat. § 44:10 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 44 / Section 10
Confidential nature of documents and proceedings of judiciary commission
Status: in_force

All documents filed with, and evidence and proceedings before the judiciary commission are confidential. The record filed by the commission with the supreme court and proceedings before the supreme court are not confidential.

Added by Acts 1975, No. 55, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 44:53 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 44 / Section 53
Cancellation of certification
Status: in_force

A.(1) If a program participant or the minor or incapacitated person on whose behalf the application is made legally changes his name, he shall notify the secretary of state's office within seven days of the approval of the name change and provide documentation of the legal name change. If the applicant fails to timely notify the secretary of state's office or cannot provide documentation of the legal name change, the secretary of state may cancel his certification as a program participant.

(2) If a program participant or the minor or incapacitated person on whose behalf the application is made changes any of his physical addresses, he shall notify the secretary of state's office within seven days of the change. If the applicant fails to timely notify the secretary of state's office of the address change, the secretary of state may cancel his certification as a program participant.

(3) The secretary of state may cancel certification of a program participant if mail forwarded to the program participant's physical address is returned as undeliverable.

(4) The secretary of state shall cancel the certification of a program participant who makes a false attestation or provides false information on his or her application.

(5) The secretary of state shall cancel the certification of a program participant if such participant qualifies as a candidate for an office pursuant to the provisions of R.S. 18:461.

B. Prior to cancelling the certification of a program participant, the secretary of state shall attempt to notify the program participant in writing of such action.

Acts 2006, No. 613, §1; Acts 2007, No. 199, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 44:77 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 44 / Section 77
Recorder as proper party; payment of judgments and compromises; obligation to maintain insurance
Status: in_force

A.(1) A judicial or administrative action or other proceeding shall be brought by or instituted against the recorder in his official capacity.

(2) A judgment or order shall be rendered in favor of or against the recorder in such capacity.

B. The recorder may pay a judgment or compromise out of the salary funds of the office.

C. Each recorder may keep in effect insurance insuring the recorder, his deputies, and employees against liability arising out of his failure to perform properly the duties and obligations of his office.

Acts 2005, No. 169, §6, eff. July 1, 2006; Acts 2005, 1 st Ex. Sess., No. 13, §1, eff. Nov. 29, 2005.
La. Rev. Stat. § 44:80 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 44 / Section 80
Fees
Status: in_force

The recorder may charge and collect such fees as are permitted or prescribed by law.

Acts 2005, No. 169, §6, eff. July 1, 2006; Acts 2005, 1 st Ex. Sess., No. 13, §1, eff. Nov. 29, 2005.
La. Rev. Stat. § 44:183 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 44 / Section 183
Microfilm records; use; separate location; preservation of records
Status: in_force

A. The clerk of court as the parish recorder may record acts by methods of reproduction as provided in R.S. 44:115.

B. The original master negative of such microfilm or other photographic reproduction may be used for preparing digital images which can be utilized in lieu of the original document or record. Such microfilm or other photographic reproduction shall be kept in safe and secure storage at a separate location from the original records and documents filed with the clerk of court. The clerk of court as the parish recorder may have working copies made of any of the master negatives or other photographic reproductions and keep the working copies on the premises of his offices to be used at his discretion in connection with the preservation of fragile volumes. The clerk of court may substitute the working copies for daily use of original volumes, so long as the original volumes remain in the collection and are easily available for examination in cases where the working copies are difficult to decipher.

C. The clerk of court as the parish recorder may make all such reasonable rules and regulations relative to the use and preservation of documents and volumes in the office as he deems necessary, but nothing in this Section shall be construed to mean that the public will not have free access to either original records or facsimiles thereof during all regular office hours, not including extended office hours. The clerk of court, with the advice of the archivist, shall make provisions for the preservation, management, repair, and rehabilitation of any or all records in his custody, if he deems it necessary to protect old, fragile, or damaged records from further damage or loss.

D. Such microfilm copy or other photographic reproduction shall be deemed to be an original record for all purposes and shall be admissible in evidence in all courts or administrative agencies. A facsimile, exemplification, or certified copy thereof shall for all purposes be deemed to be a transcript, exemplification, or certified copy of the original.

E. Nothing in this Chapter shall in any manner be construed to permit the destruction of any records presently in the possession of, or which may hereafter come into the possession of the office of the clerk of court as the parish recorder.

F. The clerk of court shall dedicate a specific portion of fees assessed and collected by the parish recorder to microfilming, restoration, repair, and preservation of records and deposit those fees in the Consolidated Judicial Expense Fund or the Clerk's Salary Fund.

Acts 2006, No. 621, §5, eff. June 23, 2006; Acts 2008, No. 868, §3.
La. Rev. Stat. § 44:417 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 44 / Section 417
Deposit of records of historical value; transfer of deposited records to public or educational institutions; disposition of abandoned property
Status: in_force

A. The records and associated historical materials of any governor of the state of Louisiana, or any other official of the state, shall be transferred to the custody of the state archivist and deposited with the state archives program within the division when the governor, or other official of the state, leaves office. This Section shall not affect the confidentiality of such records as established by law, nor require the transfer of any document certified by the governor, governor elect, or other official of the state, to be essential for the continued efficient operation of the relevant governmental office; nor shall the provisions of this Section be construed to apply to demonstrably personal and private papers.

B. The state archivist is authorized:

(1) To accept for deposit in the state archives those records of any state or local agency or of the legislature that are determined by the director to have sufficient historical or other value to warrant their continued preservation by the state government of Louisiana.

(2) To direct and effect the transfer to the state archives of any records that have been in existence for more than fifty years and that are determined by the state archivist to have sufficient historical or other value to warrant their continued preservation by the state, unless the head of the state or local agency having custody of the records shall certify in writing to the state archivist that those records must be retained in agency custody because they are essential in the conducting of the regular current business of the said agency.

C. The state archivist is also authorized:

(1) To direct and effect, in accordance with law, with the policies of the division, and with any restrictions or stipulations agreed upon between the division and the head of the originating agency, or its successor, if any, the transfer of records deposited or approved for deposit in the state archives or the records center to public or educational institutions for special research or exhibit purposes. It is prescribed and provided that title to such records shall remain vested in the state of Louisiana unless otherwise authorized by law or, in the absence of legal provision, through policies established by the division. It is further provided that such records may be recalled after reasonable notice in writing.

(2) To direct and effect the transfer to the division from private sources of materials which the state archivist is authorized to receive, and to hold in the custody of the division under the provisions of R.S. 44:406 and R.S. 44:420.

D. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, any property deposited with the state archives and held for more than ten years, excluding agency storage collections, to which no person has made a claim shall be considered abandoned and shall become property of the state archives, provided all of the following provisions are met:

(1) At least once a week for two consecutive weeks, the state archivist shall publish a notice and listing of the property in at least one newspaper of general circulation in the parish of the last known address of the owner or depositor. If no record exists of the address of the last known owner or depositor, the notice shall be published in the official journal of the state. The notice shall contain:

(a) The name and last known address, if any, of the last known owner or depositor of the property.

(b) A description of the property.

(c) A statement that if proof of claim is not presented to the state archivist and if the claimant's right to receive the property is not established to the satisfaction of the state archivist not later than sixty-five days after the publication date of the second notice, the property shall be considered abandoned and shall become the property of the state archives.

(2) If no claim to the property is satisfactorily established within the sixty-five-day period, title to the property shall vest in the state archives free from all claims of ownership.

Acts 1956, No. 337, §17; Acts 1985, No. 238, §1, eff. July 6, 1985; Acts 2021, No. 87, §1, eff. June 4, 2021.
La. Rev. Stat. § 44:366 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 44 / Section 366
Compensation for district attorney
Status: in_force

The district attorney shall be paid for services rendered under the provisions of this Part. The compensation, or fee, shall be fixed by the court and payment shall be made by the parish governing authority.
La. Rev. Stat. § 44:362 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 44 / Section 362
Parishes may purchase or expropriate abstractors' records
Status: in_force

A. In order to make the abstracts, photographs and rectigraphs available for the restoration of destroyed records, parish governing authorities may purchase the abstracts, photographs and rectigraphs; or may purchase the right to have true copies made of said abstracts, photographs and rectigraphs; or, in their discretion, may purchase true copies of them. The purchase may be upon such reasonable terms and conditions as may be agreed upon with the owner.

B. The parish governing authority may, in the event of a failure to agree upon a price, expropriate under existing laws the right to copy the abstracts, photographs and rectigraphs for the restoration of the public records.
La. Rev. Stat. § 44:79 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 44 / Section 79
Recorder not required to pay costs or give security in judicial proceedings
Status: in_force

The recorder is not required to advance or pay the costs of the court, the fees of the sheriff or other officers, or any other charges in any suit or other judicial proceeding instituted either by or against him in his official capacity. Neither shall he be required to provide security, whether for appeal or otherwise as a consequence of the proceeding.

Acts 2005, No. 169, §6, eff. July 1, 2006; Acts 2005, 1 st Ex. Sess., No. 13, §1, eff. Nov. 29, 2005.
La. Rev. Stat. § 44:11.2 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 44 / Section 11.2
Limited access to personal information for protected individuals
Status: in_force

A. As used in this Section, the term "protected individual" shall mean:

(1) A current or retired justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court or a current or retired judge of an appellate, district, family, juvenile, parish, city, or municipal court established under the Constitution of Louisiana.

(2) A current or retired justice or judge of a federal court, including a United States Bankruptcy Court, domiciled in the state.

(3) A current or retired magistrate appointed by a court of the state.

(4) A current or retired United States magistrate judge domiciled in the state.

(5) A current or retired commissioner or hearing officer of any district court in the state.

(6) A current or retired district attorney, assistant district attorney, or district attorney investigator.

(7) A current member of the legislature.

(8) A current statewide elected official.

(9) A current member of the public service commission.

B. As used in this Section, the term "personal information" shall mean:

(1) Home address.

(2) Home telephone number.

(3) Mobile telephone number.

(4) Personal email address.

(5) Social security number.

(6) Driver's license number.

(7) Federal tax identification number.

(8) Bank account number, including checking and savings accounts.

(9) Credit or debit card number.

(10) License plate number or unique identifier of a vehicle.

(11) Marital record.

(12) Date of birth.

(13) School or daycare of a child.

(14) Place of worship.

(15) Employment location of a spouse, child, or dependent.

C. As used in this Section, the term "publish" shall mean to publicly post or publicly display on the internet personal information of a protected individual who submits a request pursuant to Subsection E of this Section.

D. Repealed by Acts 2025, No. 303, §2, eff. Feb. 1, 2026.

E.(1) A protected individual, or the judicial administrator's office on behalf of a protected individual identified in Paragraphs (A)(1) through (5) of this Section or the Louisiana District Attorneys Association on behalf of a protected individual identified in Paragraph (A)(6) of this Section, may request that a public body or third party:

(a) Not publish the protected individual's personal information.

(b) Remove the protected individual's personal information from any existing publication.

(2) A request made under this Section shall:

(a) Be in writing and contain the document type, description of the location on the public body's website, date of filing, registry or docket number, and an electronic mail address for correspondence.

(b) Be sent by certified mail or by electronic mail address.

(c) Provide sufficient information to confirm that the requester is a protected individual, and that a request made by the judicial administrator's office or Louisiana District Attorneys Association certifies that a requester is a protected individual, and no further information may be required to confirm that the requester is a protected individual.

(d) Identify the document, posting, or other publication containing the personal information.

(3) A request made under this Section may include the personal information of a person who resides in the same household of the protected individual who is the spouse, child, or dependent of the protected individual.

(4) The protected individual shall be responsible for confirming receipt of the request.

F.(1) Not later than ten days after receiving a request as provided by Subsection E of this Section, a public body shall acknowledge receipt of the request in writing by certified mail or by email and take steps reasonably necessary to ensure that the personal information is not published.

(2) If the personal information is already published, provide for the removal of the personal information within fifteen days after acknowledgment of receipt of the request or provide a reason in writing why the request has not been fulfilled.

G. On receipt of a request under Subsection E of this Section, a third party to whom a request is made shall:

(1) Provide for the removal of the personal information within seventy-two hours after receipt of the request.

(2) Notify the protected individual or the judicial administrator's office by certified mail or by email of the removal.

H. A protected individual, the judicial administrator's office, or the Louisiana District Attorneys Association may bring an action for mandamus due to a violation of this Section against a public body or third party for:

(1) Declaratory relief.

(2) Injunctive relief.

(3)(a) Reasonable attorney fees.

(b) For a third party, an action for a violation of this Section may also be brought for damages incurred as a result of a violation of this Section.

I. A person who violates this Section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding ninety days or a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars, or both. Neither this provision nor any other penalty provision shall apply to a public body.

J. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section, an individual who is recognized as a protected individual shall not be exempt from publication or removal of his personal information from records publicly posted by the office of the secretary of state.

Acts 2024, No. 628, §1, eff. Feb. 1, 2025; Acts 2025, No. 303, §§1, 2, eff. Feb. 1, 2026.
La. Rev. Stat. § 44:181.1 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 44 / Section 181.1
Official seal
Status: in_force

The parish recorder shall have an official seal, which shall be attached to all acts, certificates, and other instruments, executed or granted by the clerk of court.

Acts 2006, No. 621, §5, eff. June 23, 2006.
La. Rev. Stat. § 44:364 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 44 / Section 364
Recordation of evidence adduced at trial
Status: in_force

The evidence adduced upon the trial referred to in R.S. 44:363 shall be reduced to writing and shall be recorded, together with the pleadings and judgment of the court, in the judicial records and in the conveyance records of the parish.
La. Rev. Stat. § 44:361 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 44 / Section 361
Use of abstractors' records authorized
Status: in_force

Whenever the public records or any part of the archives of the office of the clerk of court and ex-officio recorder, of any parish in this state, have been destroyed by fire, or may hereafter be destroyed by fire, in addition to the means already provided by law for their restoration, they may be restored by using abstracts of the records made by competent abstractors of sound integrity, and also by using photographic and rectigraphic copies of the records, made by competent artisans and abstractors of integrity, provided the abstracts, photographs and rectigraphs were made in the ordinary course of business to be used in furnishing abstracts of title to property or to be used in furnishing copies, or abstracts of the contents of the records.
La. Rev. Stat. § 44:56 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 44 / Section 56
Program participants; application assistance
Status: in_force

The secretary of state shall designate state and local agencies and nonprofit organizations which may assist victims of abuse, sexual assault, or stalking in making application to the secretary of state's office for certification as program participants.

Acts 2006, No. 613, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 44:426 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 44 / Section 426
Transfer of inactive legislative records to archives
Status: in_force

A. The secretary of the Senate and the clerk of the House of Representatives shall, unless otherwise directed by the Senate or House of Representatives, obtain at the close of each session of the legislature all of the inactive records of the legislature and of each committee thereof and transfer them to the custody of the division for preservation or other appropriate disposition.

B. Upon request, the state archivist shall assist and advise in the establishment of records management programs in the legislative and judicial branches of state government and may, if those branches desire, provide program services similar to those available to the executive branch of state government.

Acts 1956, No. 337, §26; Acts 1985, No. 238, §1, eff. July 6, 1985.
La. Rev. Stat. § 44:116 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 44 / Section 116
Photostatic, photographic, microfilm, or other photographic or electronic copies of records; indexes of conveyance and mortgage records; disposition; evidentiary status; preservation
Status: in_force

A. In all cases where the clerks of court and recorders of the various parishes throughout the state, Orleans Parish excepted, are required by law to make records of filings, documents, pleadings, and all other written instruments, including indexes, and registers of the same, such records may be made by any method of photorecording, photocopying, microfilming, or other photographic method of reproduction or electronically on non-rewritable magnetic, optical, or laser-type storage media, including but not limited to CD-ROM. However, the film stock used in making photographic or microphotographic copies and the processing of the copies shall comply with the standards of the American National Standards Institute for permanent record photographic microcopying film and the electronic media used shall comply with the standards of the International Standards Organization for electronic storage of records.

B. Whenever recordation by means of photorecording, photocopying, microfilming, or other photographic method of reproduction is used or when electronic recordation on non-rewritable magnetic, optical, or laser-type storage media is used, any requirement expressed or implied in law for the above-mentioned records, including indexes and registers of the same, to be maintained in a book or bound volume shall be satisfied by the appropriate storage unit of microfilm or other photographic method employed, or tape or disk; however, if a clerk of court elects to record by means of microfilming or other photographic method of reproduction, or electronically, he shall have copies of the films, tapes, or disks available for inspection, examination, and copying under the provisions of R.S. 44:31 et seq., and other applicable laws.

C. Notwithstanding the provisions of Subsections A and B of this Section or any other provision of law to the contrary, clerks of court and recorders may make indexes of conveyance and mortgage records by any method of photorecording, photocopying, microfilming, or other photographic method of reproduction or electronically on non-rewritable magnetic, optical, or laser type storage media, including but not limited to CD-ROM; however, the standards described in Subsection A of this Section shall apply.

D. Notwithstanding the provisions of Subsection B of this Section or any other provision of law to the contrary, for any record filed on or after January 1, 2005, with the exception of records of a graphic nature, including but not limited to plats, maps, and photographs as related to the work of a Professional Land Surveyor engaged in the "Practice of Land Surveying", as defined in R.S. 37:682, a clerk of court may reproduce the record as provided in this Section and shall return the original record to the indicated person and to the address shown on the first page of the record, or if no such person and address is indicated, to any vendee or other transferee whose name and address are stated in the instrument. The clerk of court shall verify that the copy of the record is complete and legible prior to the return or disposal of the original record.

E.(1) Notwithstanding the provisions of Subsection B of this Section or any other provision of law to the contrary, with the exception of instruments filed in the conveyance records, a clerk of court shall not be required to maintain an original record filed on or prior to December 31, 2004, provided that:

(a) The record has been preserved using one of the methods contained in this Section.

(b) The original of the record has been transferred to the state archivist pursuant to the provisions of R.S. 44:406 or R.S. 44:427.

(c) The original of the record is not of a graphic nature including but not limited to plats, maps and photographs as related to the work of a Professional Land Surveyor engaged in the "Practice of Land Surveying", as defined in R.S. 37:682.

(2)(a) With the exception of instruments filed in the conveyance records on or prior to December 31, 2004, a clerk of court may destroy any record provided for in this Subsection or return it to the person who is indicated and to the address shown on the first page of the record, or if no such person and address is indicated, to the person who presented the record after the clerk of court has done all of the following:

(i) Received certification from the state archivist that the records are not subject to R.S. 44:406 or 411.

(ii) Preserved the record as provided in this Section.

(iii) Verified that the copy of the record is complete and legible.

(b) No cause of action for any claim shall exist against a clerk of court for any damage or loss resulting from the return or destruction of an original record in accordance with this Paragraph after receipt of the certification and proper preservation of the record.

(3) The Department of State shall not make or authenticate a copy or reproduction of any original record it receives from a clerk of court pursuant to R.S. 44:406. Upon receipt of any request for service or any inquiry relating to such a record, it shall forward the request or inquiry to the appropriate clerk of court who shall render the necessary service and charge the appropriate fee, as provided for by R.S. 13:841 or R.S. 13:844.

F. When a clerk of court certifies that a copy of a record preserved by him using a method provided for in this Section is true and correct, the certified copy of the record shall be received in evidence, if relevant, by any court or administrative agency as prima facie proof of its contents.

G. All rules adopted by the Department of State relative to retention and storage of records of public bodies shall apply to all records provided for in Subsections D and E of this Section. In addition, each clerk of court shall maintain a locally available backup copy of any record destroyed pursuant to Subsection E of this Section.

H. For purposes of Subsections D, E, F, and G of this Section the term "clerk of court" shall mean any parish clerk of court, and the register of conveyances, recorder of mortgages, and custodian of notarial records in the parish of Orleans.

Acts 1983, No. 180, §1; Acts 1995, No. 1119, §2; Acts 2004, No. 679, §2, eff. Jan. 1, 2005; Acts 2017, No. 173, §3; Acts 2024, No. 501, §4.
La. Rev. Stat. § 44:57 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 44 / Section 57
Service of process
Status: in_force

A. Service of citation or other process on a program participant shall be made on the secretary of state. If a person makes service of citation or other process on a program participant at the program participant's physical address or personally on the program participant, knowing that he is a program participant, such service of citation or other process shall be invalid and shall have no effect.

B. All legal delays for service of citation or other process on a program participant shall be extended ten days.

Acts 2007, No. 199, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 44:118 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 44 / Section 118
Electronic copies of records; Lafayette Parish
Status: in_force

Subject to the provisions of R.S. 44:116, in addition to the methods authorized for recording filings, documents, pleadings, and all other written instruments and for indexing conveyance and mortgage records, the clerk of court of Lafayette Parish may electronically record filings, documents, pleadings, and all other written instruments and make indexes of conveyance and mortgage records on non-rewritable magnetic, optical, or laser type storage media, including but not limited to CD-ROM. However, the media shall comply with the standards of the American National Standard Institute or the International Standards Organization for electronic storage of records.

Acts 1995, No. 417, §2; Acts 2024, No. 501, §5.

NOTE: Former R.S. 44:117 redesignated as R.S. 44:118 by Acts 2024, No. 501, §5.
La. Rev. Stat. § 44:3.3 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 44 / Section 3.3
Public power authority; commercially sensitive information
Status: in_force

A. Nothing in this Chapter shall require the disclosure of commercially sensitive information in the custody or control of a public power authority.

B. For purposes of this Section, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

(1) "Commercially sensitive information" means information regarding a utility matter that is directly related to the public power authority's competitive activity which would, if disclosed, give an advantage to competitors or prospective competitors and includes the following:

(a) Portfolio and generation unit specific fixed, variable, and related costs.

(b) Fuel and purchased power costs and costs of related activities.

(c) Risk management information and strategies.

(d) Power pricing information, system load characteristics, marketing analyses and strategies, and customer billing, contract, and usage information.

(2)(a) "Public power authority" means a political subdivision of the state created by the governing authority of a municipality pursuant to R.S. 33:4172 for the purpose of the construction, acquisition, improvement, operation, or management of a public power project or improvement.

(b) "Public power authority" also means a utility division for the city of Alexandria. However, the governing authority of the city of Alexandria shall have access to commercially sensitive information in the custody and control of the utility division.

C. The provisions of Subsection A of this Section shall not apply to general information relating to the identity of the parties to any agreement or contract with a public power authority, and such information shall be subject to inspection, examination, copying, and reproduction.

D. Nothing in this Section shall be construed in a manner as to prevent the inspection, examination, copying, or reproduction of any record or part of a record that does not contain commercially sensitive information.

Acts 2014, No. 269, §1, eff. May 28, 2014; Acts 2025, No. 31, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 44:182.1 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 44 / Section 182.1
Retention of powers
Status: in_force

The clerk of court as the parish recorder shall be the successor to and shall exercise all powers, duties, functions, and responsibilities of the offices of the custodian of notarial records, the register of conveyances, and the recorder of mortgages, consistent with the provisions of this Chapter.

Acts 2006, No. 621, §5, eff. June 23, 2006.
La. Rev. Stat. § 44:401 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 44 / Section 401
Division of archives, records management, and history
Status: in_force

The division of archives, records management, and history is hereby created and established as a division of the Department of State to perform all duties, functions, and responsibilities and to exercise all authority or authorities heretofore assigned to the Louisiana State Archives and Records Service by providing for a statewide system of managing and preserving government records which will meet informational requirements and serve the rights and interests of government and its citizens, and specifically to:

(1) Provide that these records are created and managed efficiently, economically, and in a manner to insure their integrity and availability.

(2) Preserve for use, by the government and citizens, those records which, because of their intrinsic, historical, or evidentiary values become a part of the legacy government leaves for the state.

Acts 1985, No. 238, §1, eff. July 6, 1985; Acts 2024, No. 508, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 44:12.1 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 44 / Section 12.1
Records of applicants for public positions; prohibitions
Status: in_force

A. The name of each applicant for a public position of authority or a public position with policymaking duties, the qualifications of such an applicant related to such position, and any relevant employment history or experience of such an applicant shall be available for public inspection, examination, copying, or reproduction as provided in Part II of this Chapter.

B.(1) No public body or agent acting on behalf of such a public body shall utilize only oral contacts and interviews of applicants considered when filling vacancies in public positions of authority or public positions with policymaking duties or use any other means to circumvent the provisions of this Section.

(2)(a) Nothing in this Section shall prohibit oral contact prior to a person becoming an applicant or shall prohibit oral contact which may result in written documents.

(b) Nothing in this Paragraph shall require a particular method or procedure for filling vacancies as long as not exclusively by use of oral contact.

(3) Any person who violates the provisions of this Section shall be subject to all applicable penalties for violations of this Chapter.

Acts 2006, No. 746, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 44:34 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 44 / Section 34
Absence of records
Status: in_force

If any public record applied for by any authorized person is not in the custody or control of the person to whom the application is made, such person shall promptly certify this in writing to the applicant, and shall in the certificate state in detail to the best of his knowledge and belief, the reason for the absence of the record from his custody or control, its location, what person then has custody of the record and the manner and method in which, and the exact time at which it was taken from his custody or control. He shall include in the certificate ample and detailed answers to inquiries of the applicant which may facilitate the exercise of the right granted by this Chapter.

Amended by Acts 1978, No. 686, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 44:13 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 44 / Section 13
Registration records and other records of use maintained by libraries
Status: in_force

A. Notwithstanding any provisions of this Chapter or any other law to the contrary, records of any library which is in whole or in part supported by public funds, including the records of public, academic, school, and special libraries, and the State Library of Louisiana, indicating which of its documents or other materials, regardless of format, have been loaned to or used by an identifiable individual or group of individuals may not be disclosed except to a parent or custodian of a minor child seeking access to that child's records, to persons acting within the scope of their duties in the administration of the library, to persons authorized in writing by the individual or group of individuals to inspect such records, or by order of a court of law.

B. Notwithstanding any provisions of this Chapter or any other law to the contrary, records of any such library which are maintained for purposes of registration or for determining eligibility for the use of library services may not be disclosed except as provided in Subsection A of this Section.

C. No provision of this Section shall be so construed as to prohibit or hinder any library or any business office operating jointly with a library from collecting overdue books, documents, films, or other items and/or materials owned or otherwise belonging to such library, nor shall any provision of this Section be so construed as to prohibit or hinder any such library or business office from collecting fines on such overdue books, documents, films, or other items and/or materials.

D. No provision of this Section shall be so construed as to prohibit or hinder any library or librarian from providing information to appropriate law enforcement officers investigating criminal activity in the library witnessed by an employee or patron of the library and reported by the administrative librarian to the appropriate law enforcement officials.

(1) The term "criminal activity in the library", as used in this Subsection, shall mean an activity which constitutes a crime, or otherwise constitutes an offense or violation of any law or ordinance, occurring:

(a) Within any library building,

(b) Upon any library property, or

(c) Near a library and the proximity of such activity to a library or library property constitutes an element of the offense.

(2) The term "information", as used in this Subsection shall include but not be limited to electronic data files, security surveillance video tapes, or other records or materials which may constitute evidence which would assist law enforcement officers in identifying the individual or group of individuals who may have committed criminal activity in the library.

Added by Acts 1983, No. 523, §1; Acts 1991, No. 938, §4; Acts 2001, No. 528, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 44:325 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 44 / Section 325
Parol evidence may be used
Status: in_force

The provisions of this Subpart shall not prevent the establishment of any judgment or any other instrument of writing, by parol evidence, where the original record has been destroyed by the burning of the courthouse or any other place of deposit of public records, or destroyed in any other way in the parish.
La. Rev. Stat. § 44:51 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 44 / Section 51
Definitions
Status: in_force

As used in this Part, the following terms shall have the meanings hereinafter ascribed to each, unless the context clearly indicates another meaning:

(1) "Abuse" means causing or attempting to cause physical harm, placing another person in fear of physical harm, or causing another person to engage involuntarily in sexual activity by force, threat of force, or duress, when committed by any of the following:

(a) A person against such person's spouse.

(b) A person against such person's former spouse.

(c) A person residing with the victim if such person and the victim are or were in a dating relationship.

(d) A person who formerly resided with the victim if such person and the victim are or were in a dating relationship.

(e) A person against a parent of such person's child, whether or not such person and the victim have been married or resided together at any time.

(f) A person against a person with whom such person is in a dating relationship.

(g) A person against a person with whom such person formerly was in a dating relationship.

(h) A person related to the victim by consanguinity or affinity.

(2) "Dating relationship" means an intimate or sexual relationship.

(3) "Physical address" means a residential street address, school address, or work address of a program participant.

(4) "Program participant" means a person currently certified as a program participant under R.S. 44:52.

(5) "Sexual assault" means any of the acts defined as crimes in R.S. 14:41, 42, 42.1, 43, 43.1, 43.2, 43.3, and 43.5.

(6) "Stalking" means the acts defined as crimes in R.S. 14:40.2.

(7) "Substitute address" means an address designated to a program participant by the secretary of state.

Acts 2006, No. 613, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 44:8 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 44 / Section 8
Louisiana office building corporation, special provisions
Status: in_force

A. The private, nonprofit corporation known as the Louisiana Office Building Corporation, incorporated in the parish of East Baton Rouge on June 30, 1965, is hereby declared to be a quasi-public corporation. All papers, documents, contracts, legal agreements, correspondence, minutes of meetings and any other record whatsoever of said corporation are hereby declared to be matters of public record, and shall be open to inspection by state officials and employees, members of the Legislature and legislative staff personnel and the general public. The officers, members of the board of directors, agents and employees of said corporation are hereby authorized and directed to grant access to any record of said corporation upon request. The procedure for access to records under the authority of this Section shall be in keeping with the general provisions for access to public records contained in Chapter I of this Title.

B. All officers, directors and employees of the Louisiana Office Building Corporation who are also elected officials of the State of Louisiana shall be subject to the provisions of the code of ethics for state elected officials contained in R.S. 42:1141 through 1148 with reference to actions taken in their capacities as such officers, directors or employees of the said corporation. All other officers, directors and employees of the corporation shall be subject to the provisions of the code of ethics for state employees contained in R.S. 42:1111 through 1123 to the same extent as any state employees.

C. All books and records of the Louisiana Office Building Corporation shall be subject to audit and review by the Legislative Auditor to the same extent as all other state departments or agencies.

Added by Acts 1966, No. 429, §§1 to 3.
La. Rev. Stat. § 44:23.1 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 44 / Section 23.1
Department of Transportation and Development; Sabine River Authority; exception for certain sensitive security information or critical infrastructure information
Status: in_force

A. Except as otherwise provided in Subsection B of this Section, nothing in this Chapter shall be construed to require disclosure of records of the Department of Transportation and Development or the Sabine River Authority, state of Louisiana, containing sensitive security information or critical infrastructure information.

B. The provisions of Subsection A of this Section shall not be construed, interpreted, or enforced in any manner to prohibit a member of the legislature in the performance of his official duties from inspecting or examining any record in the custody of the Department of Transportation and Development.

C. For purposes of this Section, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

(1) "Critical infrastructure" shall mean a transportation facility or asset that is so vital to the state of Louisiana that the incapacity or destruction of the facility or asset would have a debilitating impact on the security, economy, public health, or public safety of the state.

(2) "Sensitive security information" shall mean security procedures, criminal intelligence information pertaining to terrorist-related activity, or threat or vulnerability assessments created, collected, or obtained in the prevention of terrorist-related activity, including but not limited to physical security information or critical infrastructure information, proprietary information, operational plans, and the analysis of such information, or internal security information.

Acts 2008, No. 693, §1, eff. July 1, 2008; Acts 2010, No. 762, §2, eff. June 30, 2010.
La. Rev. Stat. § 44:321 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 44 / Section 321
Petition and service
Status: in_force

Any person may re-establish and revive any deed, bond, mortgage, judgment, contract, or any other instrument or writing, of any kind or nature whatsoever, which was of record, or deposited in any public office, or held in any courthouse or in any other office or building, for the purpose of recordation in the proper office in the parish, and which was destroyed by fire or any other way, by following the procedure set forth as follows:

(1) He must apply to the district court of the parish by petition under oath, in which he shall describe the instrument or document sought to be revived with as much certainty as possible.

(2) If defendant is a resident, the petition, with a citation, shall be served on him as having an interest adverse to the plaintiff in the matter of the suit, or in the original document sought to be revived.

(3) If the defendant is an absentee, this fact shall be set forth in the petition, under oath, and the judge shall appoint a curator ad hoc to represent the absentee, upon whom service shall be made.

(4) In case of the death of the vendor, mortgagor, obligor, debtor, or other original party in interest in or connected with, the original document sought to be revived, service shall be made on his heirs and legal representatives.

In all cases in which service of petition and citation is required under this Section, it will be sufficient to cause service to be made on the defendant either in person or by publication of the notice in any newspaper published in the parish, at the option of the plaintiff, which notice shall be in the form of a citation to the defendant and shall contain a brief and clear statement of the object and intent of the demand, the name of the party having an adverse interest in the instrument of writing sought to be revived, or who held title to any realty claimed at any time anterior to the party applying, as far as known; and the delay in which the party made defendant shall be required to answer; provided that in case the service is made in person, the delay to answer shall be the same as now prescribed by law in ordinary civil action. If service is made by publication it shall be published in any newspaper of the parish at least once a week for two consecutive weeks and the last publication shall be at least six weeks before the case is heard. If there is no newspaper published in the parish in which the action is filed the publication of the notice as above required shall be made in any newspaper in any adjoining parish.
La. Rev. Stat. § 44:302 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 44 / Section 302
Judgments; execution on certified copies
Status: in_force

Upon the production of a certified copy of any original judgment of any court of record, or certified copies of the judgment from the record of judicial mortgages, the clerk of the court of the parish where the destruction has taken place may issue execution thereon. Where no copy exists, the owner of the judgment, or his attorney, may obtain execution thereon upon presenting to the clerk of the court a statement, under oath, of the amount of the judgment or the balance due thereon. This Section shall not be construed to prevent the judgment from being established as other records in the manner provided for in Part II, Subpart A of this Chapter.
La. Rev. Stat. § 44:329 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 44 / Section 329
Certified copies admissible in evidence
Status: in_force

Certified copies from the record of any deed, bond, mortgage, or other instrument of writing shall be admissible as evidence, and shall have the same force and effect as certified copies of the original.
La. Rev. Stat. § 44:12 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 44 / Section 12
Medical records of persons covered by the Office of Group Benefits programs
Status: in_force

A. All medical records, claim forms, life insurance applications, requests for the payment of benefits, and all other health records of employees and dependents enrolled in the Office of Group Benefits programs pursuant to the provisions of R.S. 42:821 or R.S. 42:851, or an employee benefit plan or program of a political subdivision, which are in the custody or control of the Office of Group Benefits, the board of trustees of a program of a political subdivision, a plan administrator, or any duly appointed representative are exempt from the provisions of this Chapter.

B. All other records pertaining to such programs in the custody or control of the Office of Group Benefits, the board of trustees of a program of a political subdivision, a plan administrator, or a duly appointed representative of the Office of Group Benefits or a program of a political subdivision are subject to the provisions of this Chapter.

C. All books and records of the Office of Group Benefits shall be subject to audit and review by the legislative auditor to the same extent as all other state departments or agencies.

Added by Acts 1982, No. 102, §1. Acts 1986, No. 866, §1; Acts 2001, No. 1178, §6, eff. June 29, 2001.
La. Rev. Stat. § 44:2 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 44 / Section 2
Records involved in legislative investigations
Status: in_force

A.(1) The provisions of this Chapter shall not apply to any records, writings, accounts, letters, letter books, photographs or copies thereof, in the custody or control of the legislature, or either house or any committee or officer thereof, and which concern or hold relation to any case, cause, charge or investigation being conducted by or through the legislature, or either house or any committee or officer thereof, until after the case, cause, charge or investigation has been finally disposed of.

(2) All records, files, documents, and communications, and information contained therein, obtained or developed pursuant to Paragraph (1) of this Subsection that pertain to or impart the identity of any confidential source of information shall be privileged, and no court shall order the disclosure of same except on grounds of due process or constitutional law. No member, officer, or employee of the legislature shall disclose or produce such privileged records, files, documents, communications, or information except on a court order.

(3) Except as otherwise provided in Paragraph (2) of this Subsection, after final disposition, the records, writings, accounts, letters, letter books, photographs or copies thereof, are public records and subject to the provisions of this Chapter.

B.(1) The provisions of this Chapter shall not apply to any privileged or confidential data or records in the custody of the legislature or either house thereof which are obtained or used for the purpose of considering the election, confirmation or approval of any nomination or appointment for which election, confirmation, or approval by the legislature or either house thereof is required.

(2) Nothing in this Subsection shall prohibit the disclosure of any information relevant to the education, employment history, or work experience of an appointee or nominee.

Acts 2012, No. 850, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 44:181 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 44 / Section 181
Clerk of court as recorder; duties
Status: in_force

A. The clerk of court shall be the parish recorder of conveyances, mortgages, and other acts, as provided by law, for and throughout the parish of Orleans.

B. For purposes of this Chapter, the term "clerk of court" shall mean the clerk of court of the Civil District Court for the Parish of Orleans.

Acts 2006, No. 621, §5, eff. June 23, 2006; Acts 2012, No. 474, §3.
La. Rev. Stat. § 44:75 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 44 / Section 75
Deputies
Status: in_force

Except in the parish of Orleans, the recorder may appoint deputies whose duties shall be the same as those of the recorder. Before entering upon the duties of his office the deputy shall take the oath that the law prescribes for the recorder.

Acts 2005, No. 169, §6, eff. July 1, 2006; Acts 2005, 1 st Ex. Sess., No. 13, §1, eff. Nov. 29, 2005.
La. Rev. Stat. § 44:11.1 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 44 / Section 11.1
Limited access to domiciliary address information for judges
Status: in_force

A. Any judge of a court of record may request to have his name removed from information concerning his domiciliary address on a publicly accessible website containing the property assessment rolls of a parish property tax assessor or collector. The request shall be a written request submitted each year to the parish property tax assessor or collector, and the judge shall provide proof of the current holding of judicial office with the written request.

B. A person wishing to access personal ownership information of property which has been removed pursuant to Subsection A of this Section may request the records at the office of or by submitting a written request by mail or electronic mail to the parish property tax assessor or collector.

C. The provisions of this Section shall not be construed to restrict public access to records concerning immovable property in the parish.

Acts 2022, No. 394, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 44:181.7 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 44 / Section 181.7
Notarial archives records; fees
Status: in_force

A. The clerk of court, as ex officio recorder, shall charge the following for notarial archives records:

(1) The sum of twenty dollars for each act, contract, or other instrument filed.

(2) The sum of thirty dollars for each sketch, blueprint, or survey.

B. Five dollars from each fee collected is to be dedicated to microfilm or other imaging projects with the remainder to be deposited for the notarial archives division of the clerk's office to be used only for the expenses and maintenance of the office.

Acts 2009, No. 118, §1, eff. June 23, 2009.
La. Rev. Stat. § 44:182 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 44 / Section 182
General powers
Status: in_force

The clerk of court as the parish recorder shall have the same general powers as provided in R.S. 44:101 for recorders throughout the state.

Acts 2006, No. 621, §5, eff. June 23, 2006.
La. Rev. Stat. § 44:181.3 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 44 / Section 181.3
Archivist
Status: in_force

A. The clerk of court as the parish recorder shall employ a full-time professional archivist to assist the clerk of court with the responsibilities of the office and to ensure the adequate preservation of records and documents.

B. The archivist shall possess a baccalaureate degree in either history, political science, philosophy, anthropology, historical geography, archeology, French, Spanish, or fine arts, and have either:

(1) At least two years of professional level experience in historical research or college level teaching in the above academic fields; or

(2) At least two years of experience in archival operations, records management, records preservation, or other work involving locating, selecting, acquiring, and preserving documents or other valuable papers and materials.

Acts 2006, No. 621, §5, eff. June 23, 2006.
La. Rev. Stat. § 44:409 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 44 / Section 409
Appointment of advisory groups
Status: in_force

The secretary may from time to time appoint advisory groups to more effectively obtain the best professional thinking of groups including but not limited to the bar, historians, political scientists, accountants, genealogists, patriotic groups, associations of public officials, et cetera, concerning the steps to be taken with regard to any particular group or type of records. Advisory group members shall receive no salary.

Acts 1956, No. 337, §9; Acts 1985, No. 238, §1, eff. July 6, 1985.
La. Rev. Stat. § 44:5.1 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 44 / Section 5.1
Records of the office of a statewide elected official
Status: in_force

A. Any record of the office of a statewide elected official that pertains to the schedule of the official or of an employee of the office and that contains security details that, if made public, may impair the safety of the official may be held confidential for a period of seven days following a scheduled event. However, nothing in this Section shall be interpreted or construed in a manner to make confidential all records concerning the schedule of the official or of an employee of the office nor alter any legal deadlines contained in this Chapter.

B. For purposes of this Section, "statewide elected official" means the lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney general, treasurer, commissioner of agriculture, and commissioner of insurance.

Acts 2024, No. 638, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 44:1.1 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 44 / Section 1.1
Short title
Status: in_force

This Chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Public Records Law".

Acts 2010, No. 861, §19.
La. Rev. Stat. § 44:161 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 44 / Section 161
Double index; form and contents
Status: in_force

Recorders shall keep indexes, both direct and inverse, to all acts filed for record in their respective offices which indexes shall contain, in alphabetical order, references to the names of the parties to the acts, to the file number assigned on recordation to the day, month, and year in which they are recorded, and to the book and page in which they are recorded. In addition to these requirements, all recorders shall adopt and adhere to any indexing standards that have been promulgated by the Louisiana Clerks' Remote Access Authority, as provided for in R.S. 13:754.

Acts 2017, No. 173, §3.
La. Rev. Stat. § 44:72 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 44 / Section 72
Seal
Status: in_force

Each recorder shall have an official seal, which he shall attach to all acts, certificates, and other instruments, executed or granted by him. Failure to affix the seal does not affect the validity or effect of the instruments.

Acts 2005, No. 169, §6, eff. July 1, 2006; Acts 2005, 1 st Ex. Sess., No. 13, §1, eff. Nov. 29, 2005.
La. Rev. Stat. § 44:324 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 44 / Section 324
Answer; judgment
Status: in_force

The party defendant in any application for the re-establishment of any deed, mortgage or other instrument shall have the same delay as in other writs, and his answer, which shall be under oath, must either admit of the facts as stated in the petition, or deny the same wholly or partially; whereupon the judge shall proceed to trial, and after hearing evidence shall render judgment establishing or not establishing the deed, bond, mortgage, judgment, or other instrument of writing, as the evidence proves to have existed. No other issue is to be tried but the existence or non-existence of the document sought to be established; and when so established, it shall be executory and shall have the same force and effect as the original.
La. Rev. Stat. § 44:40 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 44 / Section 40
Additional copies of records; purchase of equipment; funds available for payment; copies of suit records
Status: in_force

A. The several clerks of court and ex officio recorders and registers of conveyances and recorders of mortgages, throughout the state, are hereby authorized at their option to make additional copies*, by any means authorized by R.S. 44:116, of every nature and kind in their custody by virtue of their various official capacities as such clerks of court and ex officio recorders and registers of conveyances and recorders of mortgages, filed or recorded in their offices prior to July 29, 1964, and subsequent thereto.

B. Such clerks of court and ex officio recorders and registers are hereby authorized to purchase the necessary equipment for photorecording, photocopying, microfilming, or electronic imaging, to lease such equipment or to contract with competent independent contractors, or both, according to the discretion of the clerks of court and ex officio recorders and registers, to cause the records described in this Section to be copied and reproduced.

C. Each such clerk of court and ex officio recorder and register is hereby authorized to defray the cost of copying, reproducing, and retrieving the records described in this Section out of any funds available in the clerk's salary fund.

D. In the parish of Orleans the judges of the civil district court and the criminal district court, and in the remainder of the state the respective police juries or other governing authorities of the several parishes, are authorized to provide the necessary funds, when such funds are not already available, to enable said clerk of courts and ex officio recorders and registers to carry out the provisions of this section.

E. Notwithstanding the provisions of Subsection A of this Section or any other provision of law to the contrary, prior to destroying the original criminal records and any other records of every nature and kind that are deemed permanent under a record retention and disposal schedule adopted by the secretary of state and the clerks of court in accordance with R.S. 44:410 and 411, the destruction of which is authorized by R.S. 13:917, the several clerks of court, including the clerks of the Criminal or Civil District Courts for the parish of Orleans, shall make and retain in their custody a copy of such records electronically on nonrewritable magnetic, optical, or laser-type storage media, including but not limited to CD-ROM. No cause of action for any claim shall exist against a clerk of court for any damage or loss resulting from the destruction of an original record after proper preservation of the record in accordance herewith. However, all records in suits affecting records relating to immovable property, or adoption, interdiction, successions, trusts, or emancipation created prior to 1922 shall be retained in their original form.

F. Repealed by Acts 2012, No. 101, §3, eff. May 11, 2012.

Acts 1958, No. 350, §§1 to 4. Amended by Acts 1964, No. 415, §1; Acts 1972, No. 498, §§1, 2; Acts 1978, No. 365, §1; Acts 1978, No. 396, §1; Acts 2012, No. 101, §§2, 3, eff. May 11, 2012; Acts 2017, No. 173, §3.

*As appears in enrolled bill.
La. Rev. Stat. § 44:404 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 44 / Section 404
State archivist
Status: in_force

The secretary will appoint a professionally qualified state archivist and director of the division of archives, records management, and history who shall have administrative responsibility for the division and shall serve as the archivist of the state of Louisiana. All administrative duties and functions of this Chapter shall be exercised by the state archivist acting under the direction and supervision of the secretary.

Acts 1956, No. 337, §4; Acts 1985, No. 238, §1, eff. July 6, 1985.
La. Rev. Stat. § 44:16 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 44 / Section 16
Personal data records for certain members of public retirement systems, plans, or funds
Status: in_force

A. All records of retired members of public retirement systems, plans, or funds or of members who are participating in or who have participated in the Deferred Retirement Option Plan are exempt from the provisions of this Chapter except for the amount of the retired member's retirement allowance, final average compensation, and years of creditable service, and the names of the agencies with which he was employed and the dates of such employment.

B. The exemption for records of retired members of the public retirement systems, plans, or funds or members who are participating in or who have participated in the Deferred Retirement Option Plan provided in Subsection A of this Section shall not apply to requests for such records by members of the Louisiana Legislature, by any state agency or employer reporting information to the public retirement systems, plans, or funds, or by any association of individuals receiving a retirement allowance or benefit from the public retirement systems, plans, or funds.

Acts 1991, No. 365, §1; Acts 1992, No. 945, §1; Acts 1995, No. 271, §1, eff. July 1, 1995.
La. Rev. Stat. § 44:67.1 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 44 / Section 67.1
Acceptance of collective bargaining agreement
Status: in_force

A. No collective bargaining agreement to which a public employer is a party shall be accepted or ratified by the public employer or its representative until the collective bargaining agreement has been made available to the public via the Internet website of the public employer for at least five business days. The public employer shall issue a written public notice in the manner provided in R.S. 42:19(A)(2) informing the public of how such agreement may be accessed and the date, time, and place of the meeting at which the agreement will be considered by the public employer for acceptance or ratification.

B. For purposes of this Part, "public employer" means the state or a political subdivision thereof, or a department, agency, office, institution, or other organizational unit of state or local government that employs one or more individuals in any capacity.

Acts 2012, No. 168, §1.