Houma, Louisiana Public Records

The 32nd Judicial District Court for Terrebonne Parish, with offices at the Terrebonne Parish Government Tower, 7856 Main Street, Houma, LA 70360 (phone: 985-868-5660), serves as the primary trial court handling all felony criminal cases, civil matters exceeding small claims limits, family law matters including divorce and child custody, successions (probate), interdictions, and juvenile cases. The Clerk of Court for the 32nd Judicial District maintains all court records and can be reached at the same Main Street address. Louisiana does not have a Justice Court system; instead, district courts handle most matters. Court records can be searched online through the Terrebonne Parish Clerk of Court's website at https://www.tpcg.org/departments/32nd-judicial-district-court-clerk-of-court, which provides access to civil and criminal dockets, case information, and judgment records. The Louisiana Supreme Court also maintains a statewide case search portal at https://www.lasc.org for appellate cases. Fees for certified copies of court documents are $5 for the first page and $1 for each additional page as established by Louisiana statute. The Clerk of Court charges additional fees for exemplified copies ($10) and search fees may apply for extensive record requests. Traffic fines and municipal court fees vary depending on the offense but are established by city ordinance and state law.

The Assessor's online database at https://qpublic.schneidercorp.com/Application.aspx?AppID=1027&LayerID=20439&PageTypeID=4 allows free public searches by owner name, address, or parcel number, displaying current assessed values, property characteristics, ownership history, tax exemptions, and parcel maps. The system provides detailed information including square footage, year built, sales history, and millage rates. The Terrebonne Parish Clerk of Court's Conveyance Department, situated at 7856 Main Street, Houma, LA 70360 (phone: 985-868-5660), serves as the official recorder of deeds and maintains the permanent record of all property conveyances, mortgages, liens, easements, judgments, UCC filings, and other documents affecting real property titles in Terrebonne Parish. These records are indexed by grantor, grantee, and legal description. The Clerk of Court offers online access to recorded documents through a subscription-based service at https://www.tpcg.org/departments/32nd-judicial-district-court-clerk-of-court, with varying fee structures for document retrieval. The Terrebonne Parish GIS Department provides a comprehensive parcel viewer at https://www.tpcg.org/departments/planning-and-zoning/geographic-information-systems that integrates property boundaries, aerial imagery, zoning districts, flood zones, and infrastructure data. This free tool allows users to search by address, owner name, or parcel identification number and download parcel reports. To conduct a complete property title search, researchers should examine both the Assessor's records for current ownership and the Clerk of Court's conveyance records for the full chain of title and any encumbrances.

Other significant energy-sector employers include Danos, Halliburton, Schlumberger, and numerous smaller fabrication yards and service companies clustered along the bayous. The commercial fishing and seafood processing industry remains vital to the regional economy, with Terrebonne Parish consistently ranking among Louisiana's top parishes for seafood production, particularly shrimp, oysters, crab, and finfish. Healthcare represents another major employment sector, anchored by Terrebonne General Health System, one of the region's largest employers with over 2,000 employees. The Terrebonne Parish School System and local government agencies also provide substantial employment. According to recent economic data, the median household income in Houma is approximately $43,000-47,000, slightly below Louisiana's state average, reflecting the boom-and-bust cycles inherent to energy-dependent economies. Recent economic development efforts have focused on diversifying beyond petroleum dependency, promoting technology sector growth, and investing in coastal restoration projects that support both environmental and economic sustainability. Fletcher Technical Community College plays a crucial role in workforce development, offering petroleum technology, marine services, welding, and healthcare training programs aligned with regional employer needs. The Port of Terrebonne provides critical infrastructure supporting energy, fishing, and maritime industries. Hurricane recovery and coastal restoration projects have created significant construction employment, though the region faces ongoing challenges from coastal land loss, hurricane risk, and energy market volatility that directly impact employment stability.

The Houma Police Department, located at 600 Park Avenue, Houma, LA 70360 (phone: 985-873-6371, website: http://www.houmapolice.com), provides law enforcement services within Houma city limits and maintains records of incidents, arrests, and police reports. Citizens can request copies of police reports by visiting the department in person during business hours or submitting written requests; fees apply for copies. The department handles investigations of crimes occurring within city boundaries and maintains incident logs that are public record under Louisiana law. The Terrebonne Parish Sheriff's Office, headquartered at 2295 Tiger Drive, Houma, LA 70364 (phone: 985-876-2500, website: https://www.tpso.net), provides law enforcement services to unincorporated areas of Terrebonne Parish and operates the Terrebonne Parish Criminal Justice Complex. The Sheriff's Office maintains broader jurisdiction throughout the parish and handles civil process, court security, and detention operations. To search for current arrests and jail bookings, the public can access the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff's Office inmate roster online at https://www.tpso.net/inmates, which displays inmate names, booking photos, charges, bond amounts, booking dates, and projected release dates. The online system is updated regularly and allows searches by name or booking number. Louisiana's Public Records Law, codified in Louisiana Revised Statutes Title 44, Chapter 1 (La. R.S. 44:1-44:41), guarantees public access to government records with limited exceptions. Under this statute, law enforcement agencies must provide access to most arrest records, incident reports, and booking logs within a reasonable time. Requesters should submit written requests specifying the records sought, and agencies may charge reasonable fees for copying and research time. Response times vary but agencies generally must respond within three business days regarding availability of requested records.

The state offers online ordering through VitalChek at https://www.vitalchek.com with additional processing fees; orders typically process within 7-10 business days for mail delivery or 2-3 business days for expedited service. Walk-in service is available at the New Orleans office or at authorized vital records offices throughout Louisiana. Death certificates are also maintained by the Louisiana Vital Records Registry with the same fee structure ($15 for first copy, $7 for additional copies). Louisiana restricts access to birth records for 100 years and death records for 50 years; only authorized individuals including the registrant, immediate family members, legal representatives, or those with court orders may obtain certified copies. Marriage licenses are issued by the Terrebonne Parish Clerk of Court, 7856 Main Street, Houma, LA 70360 (phone: 985-868-5660). The fee for a marriage license is $27.50 for Louisiana residents who participate in premarital counseling or $35 without counseling. Both parties must appear in person with valid government-issued photo identification, Social Security numbers, and if applicable, proof of divorce or death certificates from previous marriages. There is a 24-hour waiting period before the ceremony can be performed, and licenses are valid for 30 days. Marriage records are public and maintained permanently by the Clerk of Court. Divorce records are court records filed with the 32nd Judicial District Clerk of Court, available to the parties or by court order, with certified copies costing $5 for the first page and $1 for each additional page.

The city maintains a database of licensed businesses, though comprehensive online search capabilities may be limited; contact the Finance Department directly for verification of existing licenses. Terrebonne Parish also requires occupational licenses for businesses operating in unincorporated areas; these are administered by the Terrebonne Parish Finance Department at 8026 Main Street, Houma, LA 70360 (phone: 985-868-5050). Fictitious name registrations (doing business as/DBA) for businesses in Terrebonne Parish must be filed with the Terrebonne Parish Clerk of Court, 7856 Main Street, Houma, LA 70360, with fees typically around $30-40; these filings are public record and indexed in the Clerk's general records. For formal business entity formation including corporations, limited liability companies (LLCs), partnerships, and nonprofit organizations, registration is handled exclusively by the Louisiana Secretary of State, Commercial Division, P.O. Box 94125, Baton Rouge, LA 70804 (phone: 225-925-4704, website: https://www.sos.la.gov/BusinessServices). The Secretary of State maintains a free online business entity search at https://coraweb.sos.la.gov/CommercialSearch/CommercialSearch.aspx where users can search by business name, charter number, or registered agent to verify entity status, view officers and directors, check registration dates, and confirm registered agent information. UCC (Uniform Commercial Code) financing statements, which establish secured interests in personal property and business assets, are also filed with the Louisiana Secretary of State and searchable through their UCC search portal. Business owners should also check property tax obligations through the Terrebonne Parish Assessor's Office at 8364 Main Street, Houma, LA 70360 (phone: 985-876-6660), where commercial property assessments are public record and searchable online at the parish's property search website. Specific industries may require additional state licenses through Louisiana regulatory agencies such as the Louisiana Department of Revenue for sales tax registration.

Houma voters are served by the Terrebonne Parish Registrar of Voters, located at 8026 Main Street, Suite 200, Houma, LA 70360 (phone: 985-868-5055, website: https://www.sos.la.gov/ElectionsAndVoting/Pages/default.aspx). This office administers all federal, state, parish, and municipal elections for Houma residents, maintains voter registration rolls, manages early voting locations, and provides election information. Louisiana residents can register to vote online through the Louisiana Secretary of State's GeauxVote system at https://voterportal.sos.la.gov, by mail, or in person at the Registrar's office. The registration deadline is 30 days before any election (20 days for online registration). Louisiana requires voters to provide their Louisiana driver's license or special ID card number when registering online; those without can register by mail or in person with proof of residency. Houma operates under a Mayor-Council form of government, with the Mayor and five City Council members elected to four-year terms. Municipal elections in Houma are typically held in conjunction with state election cycles; the next Houma municipal primary election is scheduled for October 2026, with a general election in November 2026 if runoffs are required. Houma residents can locate their assigned polling place by using the Louisiana Secretary of State's polling place lookup tool at https://voterportal.sos.la.gov or by contacting the Terrebonne Parish Registrar of Voters directly. Under Louisiana public records law, voter registration lists are public information available for purchase for political purposes; campaign finance reports are accessible through the Louisiana Ethics Administration Program at https://www.ethics.la.gov; candidate qualifying documents are maintained by the Secretary of State and local registrars; and precinct-level election results are published by the Secretary of State at https://www.sos.la.gov/ElectionsAndVoting/Pages/default.aspx. In the November 2024 presidential election, Terrebonne Parish reported approximately 38,000-42,000 voters participated, representing roughly 55-60% turnout of registered voters, with strong support for Republican candidates consistent with regional voting patterns. The November 3, 2026 general election will include several critical races for Houma and Terrebonne Parish voters: Louisiana does not have a U.S. Senate seat up in 2026 (next Senate race is 2026 for the Cassidy seat), but voters will decide numerous state legislative seats including Louisiana House District 54 and District 55 which serve Terrebonne Parish, along with Louisiana Senate District 20. Parish-level races on the 2026 ballot will include Terrebonne Parish President, Parish Council seats representing Houma districts, Sheriff, Clerk of Court, Assessor, and potentially school board positions depending on term schedules. The Louisiana Governor's race will NOT be on the 2026 ballot (Louisiana governors serve four-year terms with the next gubernatorial election in 2027). Judicial races for the 32nd Judicial District Court may also appear if seats are up for election. Louisiana uses a "jungle primary" system where all candidates regardless of party compete in the primary election; if no candidate receives over 50%, the top two advance to the general election runoff. Absentee voting (called "early voting" in Louisiana) is available to all registered voters without requiring an excuse; early voting typically begins 14 days before election day and continues through 7 days before at designated locations announced by the Registrar of Voters. Louisiana also allows mail-in absentee ballots for voters who are 65 or older, permanently disabled, absent from the parish during early voting and election day, hospitalized, incarcerated but still eligible to vote, or ministers, priests, or rabbis. Absentee ballot applications must be submitted to the Terrebonne Parish Registrar of Voters with specific deadlines; applications are available at https://www.sos.la.gov/ElectionsAndVoting/Vote/VoteByMail/Pages/default.aspx.