Search Terrebonne Parish Probate Court Records

Terrebonne Parish probate court records cover all succession cases filed through the Clerk of Court in Houma, with the collection dating back to 1820 and covering over two centuries of estate filings processed through the 32nd Judicial District Court. The Civil Department handles all succession matters, and the office offers both in-person access and a Public Records Search Portal for remote searching. This guide explains how to find records, what fees apply, what a probate file contains, and how Louisiana succession law shapes estate cases in Terrebonne Parish.

Terrebonne Parish Clerk of Court

Hon. Theresa Robichaux serves as Terrebonne Parish Clerk of Court. The main office is at 7856 Main Street in Houma. All succession and probate matters go through the Civil Department. The main phone numbers are (985) 868-5660 and (985) 868-6802. For questions about specific cases or filing procedures, Civil Department staff are your best point of contact. Note that the City Court of Houma is a separate court at 8046 Main Street and handles different matters. Succession cases go to the Clerk's main office, not the City Court.

Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. The office closes on state and federal holidays. If you plan to visit Houma for records research, call ahead to check on file availability, especially for 19th-century records that may need extra retrieval time from storage. Older files have been microfilmed or archived and may take additional time to locate and pull.

How to Search Terrebonne Parish Probate Court Records

Terrebonne Parish Clerk of Court offers a Public Records Search Portal for remote access to court records. Contact the office at (985) 868-5660 for current instructions on how to access the portal and which record types are available online. The Civil Department can confirm whether succession indexes and case files are included in the portal and how to search by name, case number, or document type.

For in-person access, visit the Main Street office in Houma. Public search terminals let you look up case information before ordering copies. Staff can assist if you are not sure how to navigate the index. Once you find a case, request specific documents from staff at the counter. This is the most direct way to access older records that may not yet appear in the online system.

Mail requests go to P.O. Box 1569, Houma, LA 70361. Include the full name of the deceased, the approximate year of death or filing, and a clear description of what you need. The office will confirm whether a file exists and give you a total cost before processing. Do not send payment until that confirmation is received.

Under Louisiana R.S. 44:1, probate court records are public documents. Access cannot be denied based on your identity or reason for the request. Any member of the public can request to view or copy a succession file held by the Terrebonne Parish Clerk of Court.

Fees for Terrebonne Parish Probate Records

The Terrebonne Parish Clerk of Court charges the following fees for record access. Civil record searches cost $15. Criminal record searches cost $20. Certified copies cost $5 plus $1 per page. Regular copies cost $1 per page. These rates apply to probate records and most other civil documents held by the office.

Certified copies carry the clerk's official seal and are often required when submitting estate documents to banks, title companies, real estate agents, or other courts. Regular copies are sufficient for research. If you are not sure which type of copy you need, ask Civil Department staff when you call or visit.

For mail requests, contact the office first to get an exact quote. Confirm the current fee schedule before sending payment, since rates can change. The office will provide a cost estimate before processing and will not require payment until the amount is confirmed. Allow enough time for the mail request process, especially for older files that may require extra steps to retrieve.

What Terrebonne Parish Probate Court Records Contain

A succession file in Terrebonne Parish begins with a petition to open the succession. That petition names the deceased, identifies the heirs or legatees, and describes the estate property. As the case moves through the 32nd JDC, additional documents are filed. These typically include a property inventory, an accounting of debts and assets, court orders appointing a succession representative, and a final judgment of possession that transfers property to the heirs and closes the case.

Wills filed in Terrebonne Parish are part of the court record once succession is opened. Louisiana recognizes olographic wills, written entirely by hand and signed by the testator, and notarial wills, prepared and signed before a notary and two witnesses. Both types become public record when a succession proceeds through court. If a will was deposited with the Clerk before death, there may be a separate will index entry apart from the succession case file. Ask Civil Department staff to check both indexes when you search.

Terrebonne Parish records go back to 1820, making the Clerk's collection one of the deepest in south Louisiana. Marriage records, land records, court records, and probate files all date from that year. For genealogical research, this depth of historical records makes Houma a rich destination. Very old files may be in microfilm or physical archive storage and can take additional time to pull. Call ahead if you are researching cases from the 1800s.

Other record types at the Clerk's office can also connect to a succession. Civil judgments may show debts the deceased owed at death. Property conveyances document land transfers that could affect estate assets. Marriage and divorce records establish family relationships and help determine heir status. Ask staff to help you identify which record types are most useful for your specific research question.

Louisiana Succession Law and the 32nd JDC

All succession cases in Terrebonne Parish are heard by the 32nd Judicial District Court in Houma. Civil Code Art. 871 provides that a succession opens at the moment of death. There is no waiting period. Civil Code Art. 873 requires the succession to be filed in the parish of the deceased person's domicile. For Terrebonne Parish residents, that means filing at the Clerk's office on Main Street in Houma.

Louisiana's forced heirship rule is one of the most significant features of state succession law. Under Civil Code Art. 1493, children under 24 years old, and children of any age who are permanently incapacitated, are entitled to a forced share of the estate regardless of what a will says. This share is called the legitime. A will that tries to exclude a forced heir can be challenged in the 32nd JDC. Contested forced heirship cases can add considerable time and filings to a succession record.

Community property rules govern how marital assets are divided when a Terrebonne Parish resident dies. Louisiana is a community property state. Under Civil Code Art. 876, assets acquired during a marriage belong equally to both spouses. When one spouse dies, their half of the community passes through succession while the surviving spouse retains their own half outside the court process. Separate property, such as assets owned before the marriage or received by gift or inheritance, follows different succession rules.

Smaller estates may qualify for a simplified process. Under R.S. 9:1555, heirs can use a small succession affidavit when the net estate value is $125,000 or less and at least 90 days have passed since the death. A notary typically prepares the affidavit. Louisiana also permits a simplified procedure for estates where the deceased has been dead for 20 or more years. Contact the Terrebonne Parish Clerk's office to confirm the current requirements and fees for these simplified options before proceeding.

Historical Records and the State Archives

Terrebonne Parish was created on March 22, 1822, and the Clerk's records date back to 1820. This is a substantial historical archive covering over two centuries of succession, land, marriage, and court records from south Louisiana. Very old files may be in microfilm or physical archive storage. Call the office before visiting if you are researching cases from the 1800s, so staff can prepare for retrieval.

For records not available through the Terrebonne Parish Clerk or for supplementary historical materials, the Louisiana State Archives in Baton Rouge is an important resource. The Archives holds microfilmed court records and vital records from parishes across the state. Researchers tracing Terrebonne Parish families often combine visits to the local Clerk's office and the State Archives to build a complete picture of estate and inheritance history in the region.

Additional Resources

The Louisiana Supreme Court website provides general information about the state court system and includes self-help guides on the succession and probate process. These resources can help you understand what to expect before you contact the Clerk's office or consult an attorney. The Louisiana Clerks of Court Association also publishes contact information for all 64 parish clerks and general guides on how record access works statewide.

Legal aid organizations serve Terrebonne Parish and the broader south Louisiana region. If you need help with a succession and cannot afford a private attorney, contact local or regional legal aid to ask about eligibility and available services. For complex estates with large assets, contested wills, or forced heirship disputes, working with a Louisiana succession attorney is strongly recommended.

The eClerks LA platform covers electronic filing and access options across Louisiana parishes. If you work with court records in multiple parishes, this statewide platform is worth reviewing alongside the Terrebonne Parish Clerk's own website at terrebonneclerk.org.

Nearby Parishes

These parishes border Terrebonne and each maintain probate and succession records through their own clerks of court.