LA · Warrant guide
Is there an online warrant search in Louisiana?
Partly — some Louisiana counties publish an online warrant search, but there’s no single statewide one.
Official source
Open an official county search Opens an official county site in a new tab. Coverage varies by county — a name that isn’t listed does not rule out a warrant in another county or court.Last verified 2026-07-23Coverage Some countiesJurisdiction Louisiana
The official online lookup
Louisiana has no statewide public case-search or warrant-lookup website.
Court records are maintained parish-by-parish by each parish Clerk of Court (Louisiana uses parishes, not counties), and access varies by parish.
Some parish sheriffs' offices publish a searchable online warrant list — for example, the Caddo Parish Sheriff's Office 'Active Warrants' page, which is name-searchable — but coverage varies.
The authoritative sources are the parish Clerk of Court and the parish sheriff.
How to find out if you have a warrant in Louisiana
Warrants are issued by courts and served by sheriffs — so the surest way to confirm one is to ask the source directly. Work down this list.
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Contact the Clerk of Court in the parish where the case is pending
Each parish Clerk of Court maintains that parish's court records and can confirm whether a case or warrant is on file, the case number, the charge, any bond, and the next court date.
Open official site -
Contact the parish sheriff's office / warrants division
Parish sheriffs serve warrants and hold warrant records; some publish a searchable online warrant list (for example, the Caddo Parish Sheriff's Office 'Active Warrants' page). Call the sheriff in the parish where you believe a warrant was issued.
Open official site -
Request a criminal background check from the Louisiana State Police Bureau of Criminal Identification (BCII)
Louisiana State Police, through its Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation, provides fingerprint-based background checks. This reflects criminal history rather than real-time active-warrant status, but can help you understand your record.
Open official site
Types of warrants in Louisiana
Not every warrant means the same thing. These are the common types.
- Bench warrant / failure-to-appear
- attachment) — issued by a judge when you miss a required court date or violate a court order
- Arrest warrant — issued on a judicial finding of probable cause that a crime was committed
- Search warrant — authorizes law enforcement to search a specified place or property; it is not an order for your arrest
What happens if a warrant is ignored
An active warrant does not expire on its own; it remains until the court recalls it or it is served.
Law enforcement may arrest you on the warrant at any encounter, including a routine traffic stop.
A bench warrant (attachment) for a missed court date can add a failure-to-appear allegation.
In traffic cases, a failure to appear can lead the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles to place a hold on or suspend your driver's license until the matter is resolved.
What you can do
Procedural steps only — no outcome is predicted.
Confirm whether a warrant actually exists and identify the issuing court by contacting the Clerk of Court in the parish where the case is pending, or the parish sheriff's warrants division.
Ask for the case number, the charge, whether a bond amount is set, and any scheduled court date.
If the warrant is for a missed court date, ask the clerk how to have the matter re-set and how the warrant can be recalled.
If you decide to resolve it, arrange to address it on your own terms — for example by appearing in court or surrendering at a scheduled time.
Your rights. You have the right to talk to a lawyer about your situation, and if you cannot afford one, you can ask the court about a public defender.
Common questions about warrants in Louisiana
Is there an online warrant search in Louisiana?
Some Louisiana counties publish an online warrant search, but there’s no single statewide one.
How do I find out if I have a warrant in Louisiana?
Contact the clerk of the court that issued the warrant or the county sheriff’s records or warrant division. Contact the Clerk of Court in the parish where the case is pending; Contact the parish sheriff's office / warrants division; Request a criminal background check from the Louisiana State Police Bureau of Criminal Identification (BCII).
What happens if a warrant is ignored in Louisiana?
An active warrant does not expire on its own; it remains until the court recalls it or it is served. Law enforcement may arrest you on the warrant at any encounter, including a routine traffic stop. A bench warrant (attachment) for a missed court date can add a failure-to-appear allegation. In traffic cases, a failure to appear can lead the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles to place a hold on or suspend your driver's license until the matter is resolved.
What should I do about a warrant in Louisiana?
Confirm whether a warrant actually exists and identify the issuing court by contacting the Clerk of Court in the parish where the case is pending, or the parish sheriff's warrants division. Ask for the case number, the charge, whether a bond amount is set, and any scheduled court date. If the warrant is for a missed court date, ask the clerk how to have the matter re-set and how the warrant can be recalled. If you decide to resolve it, arrange to address it on your own terms — for example by appearing in court or surrendering at a scheduled time.
Sources & official links
Everything on this page links out to official government sources. We don’t store or search records.
Last verified 2026-07-23 · 4 official sources