Find Union Parish Succession Records

Union Parish probate court records cover all succession cases filed in Farmerville going back to 1839. The Clerk of Court maintains these records and gives the public access both in person at the courthouse and through the online portal at upclerk.com. If you need to find an estate file, a will, or a succession judgment tied to Union Parish, this guide explains how the system works, what fees to expect, and how to get copies of the documents you need.

Union Parish Clerk of Court

The Union Parish Clerk of Court is Hon. Dodi Dodd Eubanks. Her office is the official keeper of all court records in the parish, including probate and succession files. The Civil Department handles all probate filings. The main office is located at 100 E. Bayou St., Suite 105, Farmerville, LA 71241. Note that the Civil Department, along with Probate and Juvenile divisions, is temporarily housed at 207 East Bayou Street, Farmerville, LA 71241. Call ahead to confirm the current location before you visit.

The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. It closes on state and federal holidays. If you plan to drive to Farmerville, call first to verify which building currently houses the Civil Department and confirm that the file you need does not require extra retrieval time. Older files from the 1800s may be in off-site storage.

How to Search Union Parish Probate Court Records

You can search Union Parish probate court records three ways: in person at the courthouse, by mail, or online through the clerk's portal at upclerk.com. Each method gives access to the same underlying records, though the online system requires an account and may have subscription or per-search fees. Contact the office at (318) 368-3055 to ask about current online pricing before you register.

In person, you can use public terminals to search by the name of the deceased, the name of the succession representative, a case number, or a filing date. Filtering by case type helps narrow results quickly. The Civil Department staff can point you toward the right index if you are unsure where to start. Searching in person is free. Copies cost extra, and the clerk can give you a price before you commit.

For mail requests, write to the office at 100 E. Bayou St., Suite 105, Farmerville, LA 71241. Include the full name of the person whose estate you are researching, the approximate year of death, and the type of records you need. The office will respond with confirmation of whether a record exists and what the copy fee will be. Allow extra time for mail requests, especially for older files.

Union Parish records go back to 1839, which is notably early. The parish has probate, marriage, divorce, court, and land records all starting from that year. Not all 1800s files may be digitized, so in-person access or a direct mail request is often the best path for very old cases.

Online Access at upclerk.com

The Union Parish Clerk of Court runs an online portal at upclerk.com that gives 24/7 access to court records, documents, and images. You need to create an account to use the system. Once registered, you can search probate and succession records, view document images where available, and download what you need without visiting the courthouse. This is helpful for attorneys or family members who live far from Farmerville.

The portal provides access to court records and documents with images and indices. Subscription or per-search fees apply. Contact the office directly at (318) 368-3055 for current pricing. The online system is one of the more complete remote-access options in northern Louisiana, covering multiple record types including civil, probate, land, and more. For technical issues with the portal, the clerk's office is your best point of contact.

What Union Parish Probate Court Records Contain

A probate file in Union Parish starts when someone petitions the court to open a succession after a death. The petition names the deceased, identifies the heirs, and describes the assets. From there, the file builds as the case moves forward.

Most files include a petition to open succession, an inventory of estate assets, an accounting of debts, court orders issued during the case, and a final judgment of possession. That last document formally transfers ownership of the estate's property to the heirs. Wills are also filed with the clerk and become part of the public record. Louisiana recognizes olographic wills, which are handwritten and signed by the testator with no witness required, and notarial wills, which are signed before a notary and two witnesses. Both types are kept in the clerk's file once a succession is opened.

Under Louisiana R.S. 44:1, probate records are public. You do not need to be an heir or an attorney to request a file. Any member of the public can view or copy these records, subject to standard copy fees. The only exception would be sealed portions of a file, which require a court order to access.

Beyond probate, the Union Parish Clerk also holds marriage records from 1839, land records from 1839, civil court records, criminal records, and divorce filings. These can be useful when building a full picture of an estate, especially if property transfers or prior legal disputes are involved.

Louisiana Succession Law in Union Parish

Louisiana uses a civil law system rooted in French and Spanish legal traditions. This makes it different from every other state. Understanding a few key rules helps when you are working with Union Parish probate court records.

Under Civil Code Art. 871, a succession opens the moment a person dies. There is no waiting period. The estate is then administered in the parish where the deceased was domiciled. Civil Code Art. 873 sets out where a succession must be filed. For most Union Parish residents, that means filing in Farmerville with the 3rd JDC.

Louisiana's forced heirship rules under Civil Code Art. 1493 protect certain children from being fully cut out of an estate. Children under 24 years old, and children of any age who are permanently incapacitated, are entitled to a set share called the legitime. A will cannot override this right. If a testator tries to exclude a forced heir, that heir can challenge the will in court. This adds complexity to some succession files, and it is worth knowing when reviewing older wills.

Community property rules under Civil Code Art. 876 also shape how estates work. Louisiana married couples generally share equally in property acquired during the marriage. When one spouse dies, only their half passes through succession. The surviving spouse keeps their half outright. Separate property follows different rules and depends on when and how it was acquired.

For small estates, R.S. 9:1555 allows an affidavit procedure if the net estate value is $125,000 or less and at least 90 days have passed since the death. This avoids a full court proceeding and saves time. Not every estate qualifies, so it is worth checking with a notary or attorney before choosing that path.

Copy Fees and Payment

The Union Parish Clerk of Court charges fees for copies of probate records. Contact the office at (318) 368-3055 for the current fee schedule, as rates can vary. For online access through the portal, subscription or per-search fees apply as well.

In person, you can usually pay by cash or check. For mail requests, confirm the accepted payment method with the office before sending anything. Getting a cost estimate first avoids delays. Fees are set by Louisiana law and can be updated, so always verify the current schedule rather than relying on older information.

Historical Records and State Archives

Union Parish has some of the oldest courthouse records in northern Louisiana. Probate, marriage, court, land, and divorce records all go back to 1839. That is a deep archive by any measure. Some of the oldest files may exist only as paper or microfilm, and not all of them have been scanned into the digital system.

For records that predate the clerk's collection, or for related historical documents from across the state, the Louisiana State Archives in Baton Rouge is a key resource. The Archives holds historical court records, vital records, and other state documents. It is especially useful for genealogical research into families who moved between parishes or whose records were lost.

Additional Resources

The Louisiana Supreme Court website has general information about the state court system and self-help tools for people navigating the probate process. If you need a broader search across multiple parishes, the eClerks LA platform provides information on electronic filing and record access statewide.

Legal aid organizations in northern Louisiana may be able to help if you cannot afford an attorney but need advice about opening a succession or responding to a dispute. The clerk's office staff can point you toward local resources, though they cannot give legal advice themselves.

Nearby Parishes

These parishes border Union and also maintain probate court records through their clerks of court.