How to Get a Certified Copy of Your Divorce Decree in Louisiana

Every post-divorce administrative step — updating Social Security, transferring a car title, filing a QDRO — starts with a certified copy of your divorce decree. The wrong type of copy will get rejected at the first agency window. Louisiana makes this more confusing than it needs to be because there are multiple types of copies and multiple places that issue them.

Here is exactly where to go, what to ask for, and how much it costs.

Certified Copy vs. Divorce Certificate vs. Conformed Copy

These are three different documents, and agencies care which one you bring.

Certified copy of the final judgment. This is the full text of your divorce decree bearing the Clerk of Court's raised seal and signature. It includes all terms — property division, custody, support, name confirmation. This is what the SSA, OMV, passport office, and plan administrators require. It can only be issued by the Clerk of Court in the parish where your divorce was granted.

Divorce certificate (vital records). This is a one-page summary document issued by the Louisiana Office of Vital Records in New Orleans. It confirms that a divorce occurred on a certain date but does not contain the full judgment terms. Some agencies accept it for proof of marital status, but it is not sufficient for name changes or property transfers.

Conformed copy. A date-stamped duplicate of the judgment for personal records. No raised seal. Not accepted by federal or state agencies.

How to Order Certified Copies

In person. Visit the Civil Division of the Clerk of Court in the parish where your divorce was filed. Bring your photo ID and your case number. Copies are usually available same-day.

By mail. Send a written request to the Clerk of Court with your case number, the date of the judgment, the names of both parties, and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Include a check or money order for the fee. Processing takes one to three weeks.

Online. Some parishes offer electronic ordering through their Clerk of Court website. Availability and turnaround vary.

Fees by Parish

Certified copy fees are not standardized across Louisiana's 64 parishes. Here are typical ranges:

Call the specific Clerk of Court to confirm current fees before sending payment by mail. Fees change without notice.

How Many Copies Do You Need?

Order at least three to five. You will need one each for the SSA, OMV, passport application, and any financial institution or retirement plan administrator. Some agencies retain the copy rather than returning it. Having extras avoids return trips to the courthouse.

Vital Records Certificate

If you need a divorce certificate (the one-page summary) rather than a certified copy of the full judgment, contact the Louisiana Office of Vital Records:

• Online: Through the Louisiana Vital Records portal
• By mail: P.O. Box 60630, New Orleans, LA 70160
• Fee: Approximately $25 per certificate

Vital Records only has divorces from January 1989 forward. For older divorces, the Clerk of Court in the filing parish is the sole source.

Next Steps

With certified copies in hand, you can begin the post-divorce administrative sequence: name changes, account closures, title transfers, and beneficiary updates. The Louisiana After-Divorce Checklist maps every step in the order that agencies require, so you avoid the rejections that come from doing things out of sequence.

See more Louisiana guides →