Louisiana's Justice of the Peace Courts (justice courts) handle small claims and traffic cases, and tort and contract cases worth less than $5,000. There are also Louisiana Mayor's Courts that only handle traffic violations. There are 52 City and Parish Courts in Louisiana, and these handle traffic, paternity, and small claims cases, and tort/contract cases up to $50,000 in value. Louisiana has separate Juvenile Courts (that handle mental health, child support, and juvenile matters,) and Family Courts (which handle domestic relations, and domestic violence cases, as well as mental health and juvenile cases.) Louisiana's trial courts are its District Courts, which fall within each of its 64 parishes. Louisiana District Courts hear a wide variety of cases including tort, property, probate/estate, general civil, domestic relations, felony, and misdemeanor cases. Louisiana's appellate courts include its Court of Appeals and the Louisiana Supreme Court.

Most Louisiana court public records can be obtained through the Clerk of Court in the parish where the court is located. A list of all Louisiana clerk of courts can be found at http://www.laclerksofcourt.org/clerksofcourt.htm.) Some parishes provide online access to case records, while at others, you'll need to send in a written request or visit the courthouse.