Historic Courthouse · Clerk of Court · Calcasieu Parish
Calcasieu Parish
Courthouse
Home to the Calcasieu Parish Clerk of Court, the Historic Calcasieu Courthouse handles records, filings, and official court documentation for the parish. Carter Bail Bonds works with the parish court system daily. Available 24/7 at Louisiana's straightforward 12% rate.
Quick Facts
Table Of Contents
Jump straight to what you need — Clerk of Court services, how the courthouse relates to bail, and FAQs.
About the Calcasieu Parish Courthouse
What the Clerk of Court Handles
How This Relates to Bail
Nearby Jails & Detention Centers
What We Need When You Call
FAQs — Calcasieu Parish Courthouse
About the Calcasieu Parish Courthouse
The Historic Calcasieu Courthouse was built in 1912, designed by the architectural firm Favrot & Livaudais in the Classic Palladian style — columns, porticos, and a distinctive copper dome mark the building as one of downtown Lake Charles's most recognizable landmarks. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 2, 1989.
The courthouse sits on a one-acre site at 1000 Ryan Street and replaced an earlier courthouse destroyed in the Great Fire of 1910, which devastated much of downtown Lake Charles. It is managed by the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury and houses the Calcasieu Parish Clerk of Court's office, the Registrar of Voters, and the Civil Sheriff's office.
The Clerk of Court's office is one of the largest in the state, with a staff of approximately 120 employees. Note that actual court hearings — civil and criminal — take place next door at the Judicial Center (see our 14th Judicial District Court page), which adjoins the historic courthouse building.
A second location for west-parish residents: the Clerk of Court also maintains the West Calcasieu Annex at 500 A N. Huntington Street in Sulphur, offering select services without requiring a trip to downtown Lake Charles.
What the Clerk of Court Handles
- Filing and recording of civil and criminal court documents
- Public access to court records
- Marriage licenses and other vital records
- Property and land records
- Notary and passport services (availability varies — call to confirm)
- Jury service administration
For actual courtroom proceedings, hearings, and trials, see our 14th Judicial District Court page.
How This Relates to Bail
The Clerk of Court's office maintains official records related to bail bonds, court dates, and case filings — but bail amounts themselves are set by a judge, not by the Clerk's office. If you need to confirm a scheduled court date, case number, or official filing related to a bail matter, the Clerk of Court is the office that maintains those records.
Carter Bail Bonds handles posting the bond itself — we don't process court filings directly, but we work with the information the Clerk's office and the courts generate every day.
Nearby Jails & Detention Centers
If someone connected to a case at this court is in custody, they're almost certainly being held at one of these two Calcasieu Parish facilities.
Calcasieu Correctional Center
The primary booking facility for Calcasieu Parish.
Calcasieu Sheriff's Prison
A larger regional facility adjacent to the Correctional Center, including the Women's Correctional Services Annex.
What We Need When You Call
Having these details ready helps us move quickly. Don't have everything? Call anyway — we can often look it up.
Full Legal Name
First, middle, and last name of the defendant.
The Specific Charge
Helps us give you accurate information immediately.
Case Number (if known)
Not required, but helpful if you have it from a court document.
Your Contact Info
Your name, phone number, and relationship to the defendant.
Approximate Bail Amount (if known)
Lets us calculate your premium right away.
FAQs — Calcasieu Parish Courthouse
Straight answers to the questions families ask us most about the courthouse.