Making the most of Louisiana public records will require you to have a guide or referral. You can conduct Internet searches of many government agencies for free but you will spend a lot of time looking at irrelevant links and websites if you have no idea where to start.

You will first need to obtain some basic information on the individual or property for which you are seeking state of Louisiana public records. For example, if you are seeking information about an individual, it will be helpful to know some addresses where that person has previously lived.

There are three general types of public records in Louisiana:

1. Louisiana police records that include files on registered sex offenders, past convictions or information on current inmates in a particular prison. These records can help you perform a Louisiana background check on prospective employees.
2. Louisiana divorce records, census records, consumer protection information or legislation minutes. You may find these records helpful when researching a product or political candidate.
3. Real estate records like property appraisals, ownership and taxes. These types of records can be useful when buying or selling a home.
   

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find Louisiana criminal records from local government agencies

City and parish clerks in Louisiana can frequently provide a great deal of current information on an individual when you know their name and address.

I recommend: Louisiana Parish has links to websites grouped by parish. Perkins & Associates has a clickable map of Louisiana parishes that displays links to the courts associated with that parish.

Learn more about the laws regarding Louisiana public records

The records that are publicly available vary widely by state. You will want to have at least a general idea of what information you can expect to find before conducting your search.

I recommend: The Department of Environmental Quality provides instructions on making a public records request. The Louisiana.gov Services Directory provides a summary on obtaining each type of public record in Louisiana and a link to more detailed information.

Perform a search for a specific Louisiana criminal record

Many cities and counties in Louisiana maintain a variety of records on individuals and property that are freely available to the general public.

I recommend: The Desoto Parish Clerk of Court offers access to public records such as criminal, civil and real estate records. The Livingston Parish Clerk of Court provides an online public records search in exchange for a fee.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Exhaust free sources of information before you consider paying for Louisiana court records. Sites that charge a fee may only provide information you could obtain elsewhere for free. Fortunately, libraries frequently subscribe to services that you would normally need to pay a fee to access. You should also bear in mind that many Louisiana arrest records are simply not available online.

Whether you're looking for information about a potential employee or researching facts on a property, you need access to public records in Louisiana. Public records are documents that have been filed or recorded by either public agencies or private individuals. Such records include birth and death records, marriage and divorce papers, criminal records, real estate documents, licenses, and so on.

Public records are held by federal, state and local government, who in turn determine their availability. Although state of Louisiana public records are accessible to the public, you may be expected to pay for some information; the fees will vary depending on the department. You can always visit state departments and offices for public records, though there's a breadth of information online.

When researching Louisiana public records, remember the following:

1. When doing a background check on an individual, you may want to consider a nationwide search. This will cover information, not just in public records in Louisiana, but in the country as a whole.

2. Make sure that the State of Louisiana public records you get are up to date.

3. Get information from a credible source when searching Louisiana public records online. You may be liable for turning someone down if you base a hiring decision on incorrect facts.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Search public records in Louisiana to get information on real estate

Information on real estate is always available to the public. If you're looking for specific data on a particular property, such as zoning information, assessments or building requirements, you can find those on government sites, such as county offices. Additionally, you can research title and deed information, find out who owns a property and get tax information.

I recommend: Real Marketing is an online resource that provides links to Louisiana county assessor's offices, county recorder's offices, and county treasurer's offices. You can find comprehensive property information by visiting these online government resources.

Consider checking Louisiana court records before you hire a prospective employee

As a business owner, it's smart to run background checks on potential employees, especially if you're hiring child care providers and teachers. Background checks can range from verifying a person's Social Security number, to a detailed account of the person's history and acquaintances. Before doing a background check, you must get permission from the individual.

I recommend: Louisiana State Police can help you obtain Louisiana criminal records, such as Louisiana arrest records. Additionally, public access to court records is available at the Clerk of the Court's office.

Track down anyone with a Louisiana vital records search

With the assistance of the Internet and the right data, you can track down any individual, living or deceased. If you already know the person's Social Security number, date of birth, or last known address, you can use these to research vital records. Less information than that makes your search a little more difficult, but still possible.

I recommend: You can find records of marriage, divorce, birth and death at the Louisiana Department of Public Health. USA People Search can help you track someone down using a variety of information, but they do require a fee.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  The federal Fair Credit Reporting Act regulates how consumer credit information, such as a Louisiana criminal search, collect and report to outside companies-- not employers. The act also restricts reporting on outstanding debts and other negative information after seven years, with the exception of criminal convictions.

Louisiana public records laws and regulations provide access to government records like budget reports and meeting minutes. They also allow public access to records on individuals, such as Louisiana vital records and Louisiana arrest records.

State of Louisiana public records laws can be classified by the type of public records that they affect. These include the three following categories:

1. Laws on Louisiana public records that address the way in which these records can be accessed. These laws control issues such as the requirement for providing a reason for the information, specifying fees that an agency may charge and stating the length of time that the state is allowed to respond to a request for information.
2. Laws that specify an individual's information that may be considered public. These laws affect the way in which individuals may access their own information and how they may allow access by another party.
3. Laws that control the government records that the public may access. These laws may be intended to keep individuals informed on government decisions or allow journalists to report on government activity.
   

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Examine the laws that control access to Louisiana public records

The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) for Louisiana is a law that typically guides access to Louisiana court records and is usually handled by the attorney general's office. Louisiana criminal records may also be obtained from municipal and county courts.

I recommend: The Louisiana State Legislature provides the complete laws on public records in Louisiana. The Desoto Parish, Louisiana Clerk of Court provides its regulations for accessing public records in that Parish.

Study the laws that affect Louisiana public records on individuals

Public records laws control access to Louisiana bankruptcy records and Louisiana birth records. Some of these records may only be accessible to a designated individual or a party.

I recommend: The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals summarizes the laws that allow individuals to access their own vital records. The Louisiana Division of Administration provides the procedures needed to obtain birth records under Louisiana law.

Review the Louisiana public records laws that affect government records

Government records laws allow access to records such as real estate sales, budget reports and meeting minutes. Some government entities may specialize in one particular type of record, while others may provide access to many different types of government records.

I recommend: The Department of Environmental Quality provides a FAQ on the laws regarding the release of government records in Louisiana. The Louisiana Secretary of State provides a variety of policies on the management of public records under Louisiana law.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Louisiana public records law is generally guided by the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). This federal legislation was signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson in 1966. The FOIA was amended by the Electronic Freedom of Information Act Amendments in 1996, which controls the electronic access the public has to these records.

With the rapidly advancing computer related technology, doing a search for public records has become an easy and simple process. Most state governments now administer and maintain complete databases on public documents that are either free to the public or cost a small fee.

Public records are used to help find important information about a person, including unclaimed property, unpaid bills, bankruptcies, a registered sex offender's address, government jobs as well as birth and death records. Knowing the language of Louisiana public record searching can make the search easier.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Unclaimed property

Unclaimed property is defined as an asset that has been left, abandoned, unclaimed or inactive by the owner of the asset. These can include stocks, dormant bank accounts, refunds of credit, bonds and insurance proceeds.

I recommend: The Louisiana Treasury Department maintains and administers a database of all unclaimed property until the owner claims it.

Death records

The Louisiana Secretary of State maintains a database of all deaths that occurred in Louisiana between 1911-1956. Microfilmed death certificates might not be available for older records. Death records may be used in settling estates and other issues related to the certification of a person's death.

I recommend: For information about obtaining copies of death certificates for those people whose deaths occurred less than 50 years ago, access the Vital Records Registry for Louisiana within the office of the Louisiana Secretary of State.

Louisiana Automated Victim Notification System, LAVNS

Louisiana has an automated telephone system which helps keep crime victims informed of an offender's progress through the justice system. It's called the Louisiana Automated Victim Notification System, or LAVNS. Information about an offenders bail, arrest, hearings, release dates, incarceration and sentencing can be found by using this system.

I recommend: This information can be accessed by the public via the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement and Administration of Criminal Justice (LCLE) through the Louisiana Automated Victim Notification System.

Online verification

Information regarding a physician's professional license can be found online through the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiner's website. The information includes summaries of actions taking by the Board in relation to complaints, practice issues and license verification for individual practitioners.

I recommend: Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiner's allows the general public to conduct an online verification to help consumers make informed decisions about who will provide their health care.

Attorney referral Lawyer referral

It's important to check the credentials of any lawyer that you may be considering hiring for any type of legal action. Since there are so many subspecialties in law, finding the right attorney can make or break your case.

I recommend: The Louisiana State Bar Association maintains a database that is accessible by the public for search and selection of a member attorney. For more information, go to the State Bar's website.

The Department of Civil Service

The State is one of the biggest employers in Louisiana. There are many different types of career options that help to create career security and competitive wages, and they're all managed by The Department of Civil Service.

I recommend: Read about The Department of Civil Service on its website.