Bossier County Public Records
What Are Public Records in Bossier County?
Public records in Bossier Parish, Louisiana are defined under the Louisiana Public Records Law, specifically Louisiana Revised Statutes § 44:1, which states that public records include "all books, records, writings, accounts, letters and letter books, maps, drawings, photographs, cards, tapes, recordings, memoranda, and papers...prepared, possessed, or retained for use in the conduct of public business." These documents are maintained by various parish offices and are generally accessible to the public upon request.
Bossier Parish maintains numerous types of public records, including:
- Court Records: Civil, criminal, probate, and family court cases are maintained by the Bossier Parish Clerk of Court. These include judgments, pleadings, and case dispositions.
- Property Records: Deeds, mortgages, liens, and property assessments are filed with the Clerk of Court and the Bossier Parish Tax Assessor.
- Vital Records: Birth and death certificates from 1911 forward are maintained by the Louisiana Department of Health. Marriage licenses and divorce decrees are filed with the Clerk of Court.
- Business Records: Business licenses, permits, and fictitious name registrations are maintained by the Bossier Parish Clerk of Court and the Louisiana Secretary of State.
- Tax Records: Property tax information and assessment records are available through the Bossier Parish Tax Assessor's Office.
- Voting and Election Records: Voter registration and election results are maintained by the Bossier Parish Registrar of Voters.
- Meeting Minutes and Agendas: Records of the Bossier Parish Police Jury meetings, including minutes and agendas, are maintained by the Police Jury Secretary.
- Budget and Financial Documents: Parish financial records, budgets, and expenditure reports are maintained by the Bossier Parish Finance Department.
- Law Enforcement Records: Arrest logs and certain incident reports are maintained by the Bossier Parish Sheriff's Office, subject to ongoing investigation exemptions.
- Land Use and Zoning Records: Planning and zoning documents are maintained by the Bossier Parish Engineering Department.
Each record type is maintained by a specific parish office, with the Clerk of Court serving as the primary custodian for many judicial and property records. The Custodian of Records for the Bossier Parish Police Jury handles records requests for many administrative documents.
Is Bossier County an Open Records County?
Bossier Parish adheres to the Louisiana Public Records Law as codified in Louisiana Revised Statutes § 44:1-41, which establishes the framework for public access to government records throughout the state. Under this law, Bossier Parish is indeed an open records jurisdiction.
The Louisiana Public Records Law specifically states in § 44:31 that "any person of the age of majority may inspect, copy, or reproduce any public record" and "any person may obtain a copy or reproduction of any public record." This provision establishes a presumption of openness for government records in Bossier Parish.
Additionally, § 44:32(A) requires that "the custodian shall present any public record to any person of the age of majority who so requests." This statutory language creates a legal obligation for Bossier Parish officials to provide access to public records upon request.
Bossier Parish follows these state mandates and has established procedures for handling public records requests through the Bossier Parish Police Jury and other parish offices. The parish has designated custodians of records within various departments to facilitate public access to government information.
Bossier Parish also complies with Louisiana's Open Meetings Law (Louisiana Revised Statutes § 42:11-28), often referred to as the "Sunshine Law," which requires that meetings of public bodies be open to the public, with limited exceptions for executive sessions.
The parish has implemented specific policies to ensure compliance with these transparency laws, including procedures for submitting and processing records requests, fee schedules for copies, and protocols for handling exempt information.
How to Find Public Records in Bossier County in 2026
Members of the public seeking access to Bossier Parish records may follow these steps to obtain the information they need:
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Identify the appropriate custodian: Determine which parish office maintains the records you seek. The Bossier Parish Clerk of Court maintains court and property records, while the Bossier Parish Police Jury maintains administrative records.
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Submit a formal request: While verbal requests are permitted under Louisiana law, written requests are recommended for documentation purposes. Requests to the Police Jury should be directed to the Custodian of Records.
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Provide specific information: Include detailed information about the records sought, including names, dates, case numbers, or property descriptions when applicable. Specificity helps ensure prompt and accurate fulfillment of requests.
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Submit the request through appropriate channels:
- In person: Visit the relevant parish office during business hours
- By mail: Send written requests to the appropriate department
- By email: Many departments accept electronic submissions
- Online: Some records may be available through online portals
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Pay applicable fees: Be prepared to pay any required fees for copies or certified documents (see fee section below).
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Allow processing time: Under Louisiana Revised Statutes § 44:35, custodians must respond to requests within three business days. Complex requests may require additional time.
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Review records: For in-person inspections, you may examine records during regular business hours under the supervision of parish staff.
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Request copies if needed: After identifying relevant records, you may request copies for an additional fee.
For court records, the Louisiana Clerk of Court's Association provides resources for locating and requesting specific documents. Property records may be searched through the Bossier Parish Clerk of Court's land records database. The Louisiana Secretary of State maintains business filings and certain historical records.
How Much Does It Cost to Get Public Records in Bossier County?
Bossier Parish assesses fees for copies of public records in accordance with Louisiana Revised Statutes § 44:32(C), which permits custodians to establish and collect reasonable fees for providing copies of public records. The current fee structure for Bossier Parish public records is as follows:
- Standard paper copies: $0.25 per page for letter or legal size documents
- Certified copies: $5.00 per document plus copy fees
- Large format documents (maps, plats, etc.): $5.00 per page
- Digital copies (when available): $5.00 per CD/DVD or electronic file
- Court records: Fees vary by document type:
- Civil case documents: $0.50 per page
- Criminal case documents: $0.50 per page
- Marriage licenses: $10.00 per copy
- Divorce decrees: $10.00 per copy
- Property records:
- Deed copies: $5.00 for first page, $2.00 each additional page
- Mortgage documents: $5.00 for first page, $2.00 each additional page
- Property tax records: $1.00 per page
The Bossier Parish Clerk of Court and other parish offices accept the following payment methods:
- Cash (in-person requests only)
- Personal checks (made payable to the specific parish office)
- Money orders
- Credit/debit cards (subject to processing fees)
Pursuant to Louisiana Revised Statutes § 44:32(C)(1)(a), fees may be waived or reduced if the custodian determines that the request is not for the purpose of private gain and that the waiver would be in the public interest. Fee waiver requests must be submitted in writing with the initial records request.
For extensive research requiring more than 15 minutes of staff time, additional research fees may apply at a rate of $15.00 per hour. Requestors will be notified of any such fees before they are incurred.
Does Bossier County Have Free Public Records?
Bossier Parish provides free inspection of public records in compliance with Louisiana Revised Statutes § 44:32(A), which states that "the custodian shall present any public record to any person of the age of majority who so requests." This provision ensures that members of the public may examine records without charge during regular business hours.
The following free public records services are available in Bossier Parish:
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In-person inspection: Members of the public may examine non-exempt records at no cost at the appropriate parish office during regular business hours. The custodian may establish reasonable rules regarding the time, place, and manner of inspection.
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Online access: The Bossier Parish Police Jury provides free access to certain public records through its official website, including:
- Police Jury meeting agendas and minutes
- Parish ordinances and resolutions
- Annual budgets and financial reports
- Public notices and announcements
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Clerk of Court online index: The Bossier Parish Clerk of Court maintains a free online index of court cases and property records, though accessing full documents may require payment.
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Voter registration verification: The Louisiana Secretary of State provides free online voter registration verification through its GeauxVote portal.
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Property assessment information: Basic property assessment information is available at no cost through the Bossier Parish Tax Assessor's Office.
While inspection is free, fees apply for copies, certified documents, and extensive research as detailed in the previous section. Additionally, certain specialized databases may require subscription fees for full access.
Who Can Request Public Records in Bossier County?
Under Louisiana Revised Statutes § 44:31, "any person of the age of majority" may request public records in Bossier Parish. This broad eligibility requirement establishes that:
- Requestors must be at least 18 years of age
- Louisiana residency is not required to request records
- Citizenship status is not a factor in eligibility
- No statement of purpose is generally required
The law specifically states that the custodian "shall make no inquiry of any person who applies for a public record, except an inquiry as to the age and identification of the person." This provision prohibits parish officials from requiring requestors to explain why they want the records or how they plan to use them.
For most public records, requestors are not required to provide identification. However, certain sensitive records may require verification of identity or legal standing:
- Vital records: Birth and death certificates require proof of identity and, in some cases, proof of relationship to the subject of the record.
- Medical records: Access is restricted to the patient or their authorized representative under HIPAA regulations.
- Juvenile court records: Generally restricted to the juvenile, parents, legal guardians, or attorneys involved in the case.
- Adoption records: Access is limited to parties to the adoption or by court order.
Non-residents of Louisiana have the same rights to access Bossier Parish public records as residents, with no additional restrictions or fees. Corporate entities, media organizations, and advocacy groups may also request records through authorized representatives.
When requesting your own records versus those of another person, additional verification may be required to protect privacy interests, particularly for records containing personal identifying information.
What Records Are Confidential in Bossier County?
Certain records in Bossier Parish are exempt from public disclosure under Louisiana Revised Statutes § 44:4.1, which incorporates numerous statutory exceptions to the Public Records Law. The following categories of records are generally confidential:
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Sealed court records: Cases sealed by judicial order, including certain expunged criminal records and sealed juvenile proceedings.
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Juvenile records: Records related to juvenile offenders are confidential under Louisiana Children's Code Article 412, with limited exceptions for certain violent offenses.
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Ongoing investigations: Law enforcement investigative records for pending or reasonably anticipated criminal litigation are exempt under § 44:3.
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Personal identifying information: Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and other personal identifiers are protected from disclosure.
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Medical records: Health information protected under HIPAA and Louisiana Revised Statutes § 13:3734.
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Adoption records: Adoption proceedings and related documents are confidential under Louisiana Children's Code Article 1186.
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Child welfare records: Reports and records concerning child abuse investigations are confidential under Louisiana Children's Code Article 615.
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Personnel records: Certain information in employee files is exempt, including home addresses, telephone numbers, and performance evaluations, though general employment information remains public.
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Trade secrets: Proprietary business information submitted to parish agencies is protected under § 44:3.2.
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Security information: Records related to security procedures, emergency response plans, and critical infrastructure are exempt under § 44:3.1.
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Attorney-client communications: Communications between parish attorneys and officials regarding legal advice or pending litigation.
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Executive session minutes: Discussions held in properly convened executive sessions of public bodies.
Louisiana law requires custodians to apply a balancing test when records contain both public and confidential information. Under § 44:32(B), if a record contains confidential information that can be redacted, the custodian must separate the public information and make it available while protecting exempt content.
The Western District of Louisiana federal court maintains additional confidentiality rules for federal cases filed within its jurisdiction.
Bossier County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours
Bossier Parish Clerk of Court
204 Burt Boulevard
Benton, LA 71006
318-965-2336
Bossier Parish Clerk of Court
Hours of Operation:
Monday - Friday: 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Closed on weekends and state holidays
Bossier Parish Police Jury - Custodian of Records
204 Burt Boulevard
Benton, LA 71006
318-965-2329
Bossier Parish Police Jury
Hours of Operation:
Monday - Friday: 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Closed on weekends and state holidays
Bossier Parish Tax Assessor
204 Burt Boulevard, Room 101
Benton, LA 71006
318-965-2213
Bossier Parish Tax Assessor
Hours of Operation:
Monday - Friday: 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Closed on weekends and state holidays
Bossier Parish Registrar of Voters
204 Burt Boulevard, Room 101
Benton, LA 71006
318-965-2301
Bossier Parish Registrar of Voters
Hours of Operation:
Monday - Friday: 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Closed on weekends and state holidays
Lookup Public Records in Bossier County
Bossier Parish Police Jury Records
Bossier Parish Government Portal