CHAPTER 5.  CLERKS

SECTION 1.  GENERAL DISPOSITIONS

Art. 251.  Custodian of court records; certified copies; records public

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.

Acts 1986, No. 218, §1; Acts 1995, No. 372, §1, eff. July 1, 1995; Acts 2005, No. 193, §1.