St. Martin County Public Records

What Are Public Records in St. Martin County?

Public records in St. Martin Parish, Louisiana, are defined under La. R.S. § 44:1 as all books, records, writings, accounts, letters, maps, photographs, films, and other documentary materials prepared, owned, used, or retained by any public body in the conduct of its official business. The parish seat is St. Martinville, and the official Louisiana parish profile provides a statistical overview of the jurisdiction and its governmental structure.

Members of the public may inspect or obtain copies of the following categories of records maintained by St. Martin Parish agencies:

Court records — Civil, criminal, probate, and family court records are maintained by the Clerk of Court for the 16th Judicial District Court.
Property records — Deeds, mortgages, liens, and conveyance records are filed with the Clerk of Court; assessment records are maintained by the St. Martin Parish Assessor's Office.
Vital records — Birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates are issued through the Louisiana Center for Vital Records and Statistics, administered by the Louisiana Department of Health.
Business records — Occupational licenses, permits, and fictitious business name registrations are maintained by the St. Martin Parish Government and the Louisiana Secretary of State.
Tax records — Property tax assessments and payment records are held by the St. Martin Parish Assessor and the Sheriff's Office (which serves as the tax collector).
Voting and election records — Voter registration data and election results are maintained by the St. Martin Parish Registrar of Voters.
Meeting minutes and agendas — Records of the Parish Council, planning boards, and other public bodies are available through the St. Martin Parish Government.
Budget and financial documents — Annual budgets, audit reports, and expenditure records are public documents maintained by the Parish Government's finance office.
Law enforcement records — Arrest logs and incident reports, where permitted by law, are available through the St. Martin Parish Sheriff's Office. The Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections maintains additional correctional and supervision records for the parish.
Land use and zoning records — Zoning maps, permits, and variance applications are maintained by the St. Martin Parish Planning and Zoning Department.

Is St. Martin County an Open Records County?

St. Martin Parish fully operates under Louisiana's statewide public records framework, which mandates broad access to governmental documents. Under La. R.S. § 44:31, every person of the age of majority has the right to inspect, copy, or reproduce any public record, and no public body may adopt rules or policies that are inconsistent with this right. Louisiana's Public Records Law is among the strongest in the nation, establishing a presumption of openness for all records not specifically exempted by statute.

The Louisiana Division of Administration provides a standardized process for submitting a public records request to state-level agencies, and parish-level offices are bound by the same statutory obligations. St. Martin Parish does not maintain a separate county-level open records ordinance; instead, all custodians of public records within the parish are required to comply with the provisions of La. R.S. Title 44. Louisiana's Open Meetings Law, codified at La. R.S. § 42:11 et seq., further requires that all meetings of public bodies be open to the public and that agendas and minutes be made available upon request.

All state and local government agencies in Louisiana must also adhere to the recordkeeping standards established by the Louisiana Secretary of State, as outlined in the records management forms and guidance published by that office.

How to Find Public Records in St. Martin County in 2026

Members of the public may obtain St. Martin Parish public records through several official channels. The following steps outline the standard process:

Identify the custodial office. Determine which agency holds the record sought — for example, the Clerk of Court for court and property records, the Sheriff's Office for law enforcement records, or the Registrar of Voters for election records.
Submit a written request. Although Louisiana law does not require requests to be in writing, submitting a written request — in person, by mail, or by email — creates a clear record of the inquiry and the date of submission.
Use official request portals. State agency requests may be submitted through the Louisiana Division of Administration's public records request portal, which accepts requests by email, fax at (225) 342-1057, or U.S. mail.
Visit the office in person. Members of the public may inspect records during regular business hours at the relevant parish office without prior appointment in most cases.
Request vital records separately. Birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates must be requested through the Louisiana Department of Health's vital records office, not through the parish clerk.
Access historical records. Genealogical and historical records may be researched through the Louisiana Secretary of State's historical records research portal, which provides access to archival materials statewide.
Allow statutory response time. Under La. R.S. § 44:32, custodians must respond to requests within three business days, either by producing the records, denying the request in writing with legal justification, or notifying the requester that additional time is needed.

How Much Does It Cost to Get Public Records in St. Martin County?

Current fees for public records in St. Martin Parish are governed by La. R.S. § 44:32, which authorizes custodians to charge reasonable fees for copies but prohibits fees for the inspection of records. Standard fees applicable across parish offices include:

Paper copies: Typically $0.25 per page for standard letter- or legal-size documents, though individual offices may set their own schedules within statutory limits.
Certified copies: Fees for certified copies of court documents, deeds, and vital records vary by record type; the Clerk of Court generally charges $1.00 to $5.00 per certified page depending on the document.
Vital records: The Louisiana Department of Health charges a standard fee for certified copies of birth and death certificates; current fee schedules are published on the Center for Vital Records and Statistics website.
Electronic records: Where records are provided in electronic format, fees may reflect the actual cost of reproduction, including staff time for retrieval and formatting.
Accepted payment methods: Most parish offices accept cash, money order, and personal check; some offices accept credit or debit cards. Requesters are advised to confirm accepted payment methods with the specific custodial office prior to submission.
Fee waivers: Louisiana law does not mandate a blanket fee waiver provision, but individual custodians retain discretion to waive fees in cases of demonstrated public interest or indigency.

Does St. Martin County Have Free Public Records?

Louisiana law expressly guarantees the right to inspect public records at no charge. Members of the public may examine records in person at the custodial office without incurring any fee; charges apply only when copies are requested. The following government resources provide free access to certain St. Martin Parish records:

St. Martin Parish Clerk of Court — In-person inspection of court records, conveyances, mortgages, and related instruments is available at no cost during public counter hours.
St. Martin Parish Assessor's Office — Property assessment records and tax rolls are available for free inspection at the assessor's office.
Louisiana Secretary of State — Historical and genealogical records may be researched at no cost through the historical records research library.
Louisiana Department of Health — General public health data and certain statistical records are available without charge through the St. Martin Parish health office.
Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services — General program information and non-confidential records related to public assistance programs are accessible through the St. Martin Parish Child Welfare office.

Who Can Request Public Records in St. Martin County?

Under La. R.S. § 44:31, any person of the age of majority is entitled to request and inspect public records maintained by St. Martin Parish agencies. The law does not restrict access based on residency, citizenship, or stated purpose. Specifically:

Residency is not required. Non-residents of Louisiana and non-residents of St. Martin Parish possess the same rights of access as parish residents.
Identification is generally not required. Custodians may not, as a condition of access, require requesters to identify themselves or state the purpose of their request, except in limited circumstances prescribed by statute.
Purpose need not be disclosed. Members of the public are not obligated to explain why they are seeking a particular record.
Restrictions for specific record types apply. Certain records — such as juvenile records, sealed court files, and records containing protected personal information — are subject to access restrictions regardless of the requester's identity.
Requesting one's own records. Individuals seeking records pertaining to themselves may be required to provide proof of identity to ensure that protected personal information is released only to the appropriate party.
Legal representatives and entities. Attorneys, corporations, and other legal entities may submit requests on behalf of clients or principals, subject to the same statutory framework applicable to individual requesters.

What Records Are Confidential in St. Martin County?

Not all government records in St. Martin Parish are subject to public disclosure. Louisiana law enumerates specific categories of exempt records, and custodians are required to withhold such materials from public inspection. Under La. R.S. § 44:4 and related provisions, the following categories are currently exempt from disclosure:

Sealed court records — Records sealed by judicial order are not available for public inspection.
Juvenile records — Records pertaining to minors involved in delinquency or child in need of care proceedings are confidential under La. Ch.C. Art. 412.
Ongoing investigation records — Law enforcement records related to active criminal investigations are exempt to the extent that disclosure would compromise the investigation.
Personal identifying information — Social Security numbers, financial account data, and similar identifiers are redacted from publicly released documents.
Medical records — Patient health information is protected under both state law and the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
Adoption records — Records pertaining to adoption proceedings are sealed by statute and accessible only under court order.
Child welfare and protective services records — Case records maintained by the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services are confidential; the St. Martin Parish Child Welfare office does not release individual case information to the general public.
Personnel records — Employee records are exempt from disclosure except for information relating to compensation, job title, and dates of employment.
Trade secrets and proprietary business information — Commercially sensitive information submitted to government agencies in the course of licensing or permitting may be withheld.
Security plans and critical infrastructure details — Records that could compromise public safety or security infrastructure are exempt from disclosure.

Where a custodian denies a request in whole or in part, the denial must be made in writing and must cite the specific statutory exemption upon which the denial is based, as required by La. R.S. § 44:32.

St. Martin County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

The Clerk of Court for the 16th Judicial District serves as the principal recorder of official documents in St. Martin Parish, maintaining conveyance, mortgage, and court records.

St. Martin Parish Clerk of Court 415 S. Main Street, St. Martinville, LA 70582 (337) 394-2210 St. Martin Parish Clerk of Court Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

St. Martin Parish Sheriff's Office (Tax Collector) 114 Courthouse Square, St. Martinville, LA 70582 (337) 394-3071 St. Martin Parish Sheriff's Office Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

St. Martin Parish Assessor's Office 415 S. Main Street, Suite 100, St. Martinville, LA 70582 (337) 394-2208 St. Martin Parish Assessor Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

St. Martin Parish Government (Parish Council) 301 W. Port Street, St. Martinville, LA 70582 (337) 394-2522 St. Martin Parish Government Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Louisiana Department of Health – St. Martin Parish Office 301 Champagne Street, Breaux Bridge, LA 70517 (337) 332-4158 St. Martin Parish – Louisiana Department of Health Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.