Art. 251.Custodian of Court Records; Certified Copies; Records Public
Title I. Courts · Chapter 5. Clerks · Last amended 2005 · Last verified July 30, 2026
In one sentenceArticle 251 makes the clerk of court the legal custodian of every court record, lets the clerk certify true copies under seal, opens most records to public inspection during office hours, bars visitors from bringing in their own scanners or cameras, and lets a judge certify an emergency order when the clerk's office is closed.
Full Text of Art. 251
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A. The clerk of court is the legal custodian of all of its records and is responsible for their safekeeping and preservation. He may issue a copy of any of these records, certified by him under the seal of the court to be a correct copy of the original. Except as otherwise provided by law, he shall permit any person to examine, copy, photograph, or make a memorandum of any of these records at any time during which the clerk's office is required by law to be open. However, notwithstanding the provisions of this Paragraph or R.S.44:31 et seq., the use, placement, or installation of privately owned copying, reproducing, scanning, or any other such imaging equipment, whether hand-held, portable, fixed, or otherwise, within the offices of the clerk of court is prohibited unless ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction.
B. Notwithstanding the provisions of Paragraph A of this Article, a judge issuing a court order may certify a copy of that order for service of process, if the order is issued in an emergency situation and at a time when the clerk of court's office is not open. A determination of when an emergency situation exists shall be made by the judge issuing the order.
Every filed pleading, order, and exhibit in a Louisiana case ends up in the clerk of court's hands, and Article 251 makes the clerk responsible for keeping that record safe. The clerk stores the papers, protects them from loss, and can issue a certified copy — a copy stamped under the court's seal, good enough to stand in for the original in another proceeding.
Court records are public. Article 251 requires the clerk to let anyone examine, copy, photograph, or take notes on them during the office's regular hours, except where another law shields specific records from disclosure. There's one notable limit: visitors can't bring their own scanners, cameras, or copying equipment into the clerk's office. Anyone who wants a copy either uses the clerk's own equipment or gets a court order allowing otherwise.
The article also covers a narrow emergency situation. If a judge issues a court order after hours or on a weekend, and the clerk's office is closed, the judge may certify a copy of that order so it can be served right away. The judge alone decides whether the situation qualifies as an emergency.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the public look at court records in Louisiana?
Yes. Article 251 requires the clerk of court to let anyone examine, copy, photograph, or take notes on court records during the office's regular hours, unless another law makes a specific record confidential.
Can I bring my own scanner or camera into the clerk's office to copy records?
No. Article 251 bars privately owned copying, scanning, or photographing equipment inside the clerk's office unless a court orders otherwise.
What is a certified copy, and why would I need one?
A certified copy is a copy of a court record that the clerk stamps under the court's seal to confirm it matches the original. Courts, agencies, and other parties often require a certified copy rather than an ordinary photocopy.
What happens if I need a court order served at night or on a weekend?
If the clerk's office is closed and the judge determines an emergency exists, the judge may personally certify a copy of the order so it can be served without waiting for the office to reopen.
Source & verification. Article text is reproduced verbatim from
the vLex (Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure, 2026 Edition). Enacted by the Louisiana Legislature.
Last verified July 30, 2026.
· Official source
Also known as:clerk of court custodian recordscertified copies Louisiana courtpublic access court records Louisianano scanners in clerk's officeemergency order certification