Bienville Parish Court Docket

The Bienville Parish court docket is kept by the Clerk of Court at the courthouse in Arcadia, Louisiana. Civil suits, criminal cases, land records, and other official filings for the 2nd Judicial District are on file here. You can search the Bienville Parish court docket in person, by mail, or through online tools available through the state system. This page explains each option and gives you the contact details you need to get started.

Bienville Parish Clerk of Court

Hon. William "Eddie" Holmes serves as Clerk of Court for Bienville Parish. Chief Deputy Sandy Settle assists at the Arcadia courthouse. The office is located at 100 Courthouse Drive, Suite 1100, in Arcadia. This is where all official Bienville Parish court docket records are filed and stored. The clerk's office is the only location for civil and criminal case records in the parish.

The fax number is (318) 263-7426. For questions about court docket records or filing procedures, call the office during business hours. The Bienville Parish Clerk of Court website provides office contact information and may include links to available online services. The 2nd Judicial District covers Bienville, Claiborne, and Jackson parishes.

The image below is from the Louisiana Law Help website, which provides a plain-language explanation of the role of a clerk of court and how to access Bienville Parish court docket records through the clerk's office.

Louisiana Law Help covers how to request records, what the clerk keeps on file, and what you can expect when visiting any parish courthouse, including Arcadia.

Searching Bienville Parish Court Dockets

Online index searches for Bienville Parish court docket records are available through the eClerks LA portal. This statewide tool covers civil case indexes, land records, marriage licenses, and probate filings. Index-level access is free; full document images require a subscription. Use Chrome, Firefox, or Edge for the best experience with the portal.

In-person access is available at Suite 1100, 100 Courthouse Drive, Arcadia, from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM on weekdays. Bring photo ID. Records from older years that are not digitized can only be reviewed in person. Staff can assist you with searches by name, case number, or record type.

Mail requests go to 100 Courthouse Drive, Suite 1100, Arcadia, LA 71001-0746. Include the party names, record type, and the date range you need. Send a self-addressed stamped envelope and call (318) 263-2123 for copy fee information before sending payment.

Note: Bienville Parish is one of the smaller parishes in Louisiana. Some records may not appear online, and in-person searches are often needed for older or specialized documents.

Bienville Parish Court Docket Record Types

The Bienville Parish Clerk of Court maintains civil and criminal case records for the 2nd Judicial District. Civil docket records include lawsuits, property disputes, custody matters, and judgments. Criminal records cover felony and misdemeanor cases prosecuted in Bienville Parish. These records are part of the official court docket and are subject to Louisiana's public records law.

Land records are another major category. Conveyances, mortgages, and liens are filed with the clerk and can be searched by property owner name or description. Marriage licenses issued in Bienville Parish are on file here. Probate and succession files, along with UCC filings, complete the main categories the clerk maintains.

• Civil and criminal court dockets (2nd Judicial District)
• Conveyances, mortgages, and liens
• Marriage licenses
• Probate and succession records
• UCC filings

Bienville Parish Docket Access and Public Records Law

Louisiana's public records statute, La. R.S. § 44:32, gives any adult the right to inspect public court records from the Bienville Parish Clerk of Court. No reason is needed. Inspection is free during business hours. Copy fees apply for printed or digital reproductions, typically $0.50 to $1.00 per page.

Some records cannot be released. Juvenile court files are sealed under Louisiana Children's Code Art. 412. Sealed civil cases, adoption records, grand jury materials, and mental health records are not public. If you are not sure whether a particular Bienville Parish court docket record is public, call the clerk's office and ask before making the trip to Arcadia.

Note: You do not need to tell the clerk why you want a record. Louisiana law says the custodian must provide access to public documents on request, without requiring the requester to state a purpose.

Legal Help for Bienville Parish Residents

Louisiana Law Help is a good free resource for understanding how the clerk's office works and what rights you have when requesting court docket records. If you need an attorney in the Arcadia area, the Louisiana State Bar Association can refer you to a licensed lawyer. For federal court matters, use PACER. The 2nd Circuit Court of Appeal in Shreveport handles appeals from the 2nd Judicial District, and the Louisiana Supreme Court is the highest court in the state.

Cities in Bienville Parish

Arcadia is the parish seat and is where all Bienville Parish court filings are handled. Other communities in the parish, including Gibsland and Ringgold, do not have their own court systems. All court docket records for residents of Bienville Parish are filed with the clerk in Arcadia.

Nearby Parishes

Bienville Parish is located in northwest Louisiana and borders several other parishes. Use the links below to search court docket records in nearby areas.