The Louisiana Purchase of 1803 more than doubled the size of the United States, and less than a decade later, Louisiana became the 18th state, joining the Union on April 30, 1812. Located in the southern United States, Louisiana spans approximately 43,560 square miles and has a population of about 4.5 million residents. New Orleans is the state’s largest city by population, while Baton Rouge serves as the state capital.
Uniquely, Louisiana is divided into 64 parishes—rather than counties—each functioning as a local unit of government. On the national level, Louisiana is represented in Congress by 2 U.S. Senators and 7 House Representatives. The Port of South Louisiana ranks among the world's largest, handling the fourth-highest shipping volume globally.
Like all U.S. states, Louisiana has established its own open records law—the Louisiana Public Records Act, commonly known as the Louisiana Sunshine Law. This statute ensures that government operations remain transparent, giving the public the right to access most records held by state and local agencies. Requests may be made without stating a reason, and there are no restrictions on how public records can be used.
Unlike some states with centralized records offices, Louisiana does not have a primary custodian of public records. Instead, you must contact the specific agency or office that maintains the records you seek.
PublicRecordCenter offers a comprehensive and well-organized directory to help individuals and businesses access Louisiana’s public records quickly and easily. Through direct links to official agency websites, users can:
Request official documents
Learn about service fees
Follow step-by-step instructions for retrieving records
Each listing provides up-to-date information directly from the organization responsible for maintaining the data.
Criminal history information in Louisiana is maintained by the Louisiana State Police, Bureau of Criminal Identification and Information. Individuals may request criminal background checks using an authorization form available on the State Police website. The site also includes full instructions and service fee details.
For more localized searches, PublicRecordCenter links to individual parish sheriff’s offices, which may provide additional arrest and incident report data.
The Louisiana Secretary of State hosts an online searchable database for business and corporate entity information. This database includes records related to:
Business formation
Registered agents
Status and filings
Verification of professional licenses granted by various state boards is also available, often through dedicated online portals. For financial records, UCC filings are maintained by each parish and can be accessed via the local Clerk of Court. In addition, the Louisiana State Treasurer provides an online search for unclaimed property, which includes forgotten bank accounts, insurance payouts, and other assets.
Louisiana’s judicial records are maintained by individual courts at various levels, including:
District and appellate courts
Parish and city courts
Family and bankruptcy courts
Louisiana Supreme Court
Each court typically offers public access to case files, dockets, judgments, and trial information. Most court documents are considered public records and can be obtained by contacting the appropriate court directly or visiting their online portals.
Whether you’re performing a background check, researching legal records, locating property or business assets, or simply searching for vital records, PublicRecordCenter is your trusted resource. It provides:
Organized directories of Louisiana public agencies
Clear instructions on how to access specific records
Direct links to official sites and forms
Tools for both basic and in-depth research
Let PublicRecordCenter simplify your search for Louisiana public records with accurate, current, and easy-to-navigate information.
