First time in a Louisiana courthouse? Here is what to expect.

Who is who inside the courthouse.

The Clerk of Court

The Clerk of Court is a parish-wide elected official. The clerk's office is where cases are filed, where records are kept, and where you pick up certified copies. The deputy clerks (the people behind the counter) accept filings, stamp them in, assign docket numbers, and route papers to the right judge. They cannot give you legal advice. They can tell you what forms are missing, how much the filing fee is, and where the courtroom is.

A good rule: treat the deputy clerks the way you want to be treated. They see hundreds of pro se filers a week; the ones who come in polite, prepared, and patient get the best help. Do not argue with the clerk about procedure. If you disagree, ask to speak with a supervisor, or come back after you have talked to a lawyer.

The Sheriff

The Sheriff is a parish-wide elected official too. The sheriff's office runs the courthouse security, serves legal papers, executes evictions, and conducts sheriff's sales. When your pleading says "please serve defendant," it is a sheriff's deputy who hunts down the defendant and hands them the paper. The sheriff's fee for service is typically $35 to $45 per attempt.

The Judge

The judge presides over hearings and trials. In most Louisiana district courts, divisions are labeled by letter (Division A, Division B, etc.), each with one judge. Family-law cases often start with a Hearing Officer who conducts the first conference and makes a recommendation; the judge decides if the parties object. You do not usually see the judge on your first filing day. The judge sees your paper when the clerk routes it to chambers for signature.

The Bailiff and Court Reporter

The bailiff is the deputy who runs the courtroom: calls cases, keeps order, swears in witnesses. The court reporter is the person at the small table with a stenotype machine, taking down everything that is said. Call the court reporter if you need a transcript.

Yourself

If you are filing your own case, you are a pro se or self-represented litigant. You have the same rights and responsibilities as an attorney in the case. The clerk and the court are required to treat you with respect, but will not relax procedural rules for you. If the other side has a lawyer, the lawyer will not advise you about anything; the lawyer represents their client, and your interactions with them are adversarial.

Docket, division, parish: how a case is identified.

Every Louisiana case has three identifiers you need to remember: the parish, the docket number, and the division. These three together uniquely identify your case anywhere in Louisiana. Write them on the top of every pleading and every page of your personal file.

• Parish: One of sixty-four. The clerk of the parish where you filed holds the record.
• Docket Number: The unique number assigned when the case was first filed. Looks like 2026-10385 or C-702923. The clerk writes it on your stamped copy when you file.
• Division: The letter of the judge-section the case is assigned to (Division A, Division B, etc.). The clerk assigns this at filing. Sometimes the division changes if a judge recuses; the docket number stays the same.

When you call the clerk, start with "I am calling about my case; the docket number is _______, Division _______." That tells the clerk which file to pull.

What to bring, what to wear, what to expect.

What to bring

• The original of every pleading, signed in blue ink, notarized where required.
• At least two copies of everything (one for your records, one for the sheriff's service packet). Three for divorce and succession filings.
• The proposed order, if any.
• The Civil Case Cover Sheet.
• The IFP affidavit, if you are seeking a fee waiver.
• The filing fee, in cash, money order, or (if the clerk accepts) card.
• A photo ID.
• A pen (blue ink preferred).
• A folder for the stamped-in copy you leave with.
• Any exhibits already labeled "Exhibit A," "Exhibit B," and attached in order.

What to wear

A courthouse is a civic building and dressing respectfully is expected. Clean, modest clothing is right. No pajamas, no tank tops, no visible undergarments, no profanity on clothing. Judges in some parishes have been known to refuse to let a litigant proceed if they are dressed in a way the court considers disrespectful. You do not need a suit for filing day. For a hearing, business casual is a safe default; a jacket and tie or a blouse and slacks never hurt.

What the metal detector cares about

No weapons of any kind. No knives, no pepper spray. Phones usually allowed but silenced; some parishes require you to leave them in your car. Belt buckles trigger the detector; keys set it off; a few parishes also prohibit cameras in the courtroom. If you have medical devices or metal implants, tell the deputy before walking through.

How the clerk will handle you

You join the line at the clerk's counter. When you get to the deputy clerk, say: "Good morning. I need to file a new petition in [case type]." The deputy will review the pleading for a caption and verification, assign a docket number, stamp everything, take the filing fee or the IFP, and either keep your proposed order for routing to the judge or hand it back for you to deliver to chambers. You will leave with a stamped-in copy. Keep that stamped-in copy forever.

What a courtroom day looks like.

1. Arrive early.

   Thirty minutes before the hearing time, not five. Traffic, parking, security, finding the right courtroom: everything takes longer than you expect. If you arrive late to a Louisiana hearing, you can lose by default, and the judge may not grant you a chance to re-set.

2. Check the docket at the courtroom door.

   Most courtrooms post a daily docket on the door or on a kiosk. Find your case name and docket number. If you do not see it, go to the clerk's counter in that courtroom and ask the deputy clerk to confirm your case is on the docket.

3. Sit in the gallery and wait for your case to be called.

   The bailiff calls cases in docket order unless the judge has set a specific order. When the bailiff calls your case, stand up and walk forward through the swinging doors in the bar. Say "Good morning, Your Honor" when you reach the lectern. If the other side is represented by counsel, counsel usually introduces themselves first, then you say "Good morning, Your Honor. [Your name], pro se."

4. Address the judge as "Your Honor."

   Every judge, in every courtroom, is "Your Honor" in court. Not "Judge," not "Sir," not "Ma'am." If the judge speaks, listen; do not interrupt. If the judge asks you a question, answer it directly. If you need a moment to find something in your file, say so.

5. Speak to the judge, not to the other side.

   Even if the other side's lawyer makes a point you disagree with, you address the judge, not the lawyer. "Your Honor, that is not accurate because..." is right. "You are lying" is wrong. Louisiana courtrooms expect civility; the judge will shut down anything else.

6. Bring witnesses if you need them.

   For a protective order, a divorce confirmation, a contested custody hearing: witnesses who can speak from personal knowledge are stronger than any affidavit. Have them in the hallway before the case is called. Tell the bailiff you have witnesses. The judge will call them in one at a time.

7. Bring your evidence organized.

   Documents labeled as exhibits, in a folder. Not loose, not jumbled, not on your phone unless the judge agrees to look. For evidence stored on a phone (texts, photos), print screenshots in advance and have paper copies.

8. At the end of the hearing, the judge rules or takes it under advisement.

   If the judge rules from the bench, listen carefully: the ruling is the judgment. If the judge takes it under advisement, a written ruling will follow (usually within a few weeks). If you win, the judgment usually gets signed in chambers over the next several days.

9. If you are unsure, ask one clear question.

   "Your Honor, am I allowed to introduce this document?" "Your Honor, may I call my next witness?" One clear question at a time. The judge is not your enemy; the judge is a referee.

10. Walk out the way you came in.

    When your case is finished, the bailiff will say "You are excused" or the judge will say "That is the ruling of the court." Stand up, say "Thank you, Your Honor," and leave. Do not linger; the next case is being called.

Six beginner mistakes, and how to avoid them.

1. Showing up without the paperwork. If the clerk cannot find your pleading, the hearing cannot proceed. Bring your stamped-in copy. Hand it to the courtroom clerk if asked.
2. Talking over the judge. Judges speak slowly, deliberately. If you talk while they are talking, they will stop you and sometimes rule against you simply for being disrespectful. Wait.
3. Arguing with opposing counsel. Opposing counsel is not your audience. The judge is. Address the judge. Let the lawyer say whatever they want; if it is wrong, correct the record calmly when it is your turn.
4. Overstating facts. Judges detect exaggeration in two sentences. If something is not provable, do not say it. If something is painful, say it quietly and factually; the judge will take it more seriously.
5. Not having your identification ready. At the security entrance, at the clerk's counter, at the courtroom clerk. Keep your photo ID on you throughout the courthouse day.
6. Giving up at the first "no." If the clerk says "we don't accept that here," ask what the alternative is. If the judge rules against you, ask whether to prepare a judgment or whether chambers will. If the sheriff cannot find the defendant, call the clerk about long-arm or curator options. Procedure has an answer for almost every problem; find it.