Ascension Parish, Louisiana Court Filing
Fee Lookup

Court filing fees in Ascension Parish, Louisiana are collected by the Ascension Parish District Court in Donaldsonville according to Louisiana's statutory fee schedule, plus any local surcharges authorized by county ordinance. Louisiana's court structure — District Court (civil/probate/family) / City Court / Justice of the Peace — determines which courthouse accepts which case types and what fees apply.

The Ascension Parish District Court operates as a high-volume court with structured calendars. Confirming the current fee schedule with the clerk's office is recommended, as fees can change when new state legislation takes effect or when the county updates its local surcharge schedule.

For the full Louisiana court filing fee schedule, see our Louisiana Court Filing Fees.

The Ascension Parish District Court is located at 828 S Irma Blvd, Gonzales, LA 70737. The court clerk can be reached at (225) 450-1200.

Visit the court's website for current forms, fee schedules, and filing instructions.

Office hours: Mon–Fri 8:00 AM–4:30 PM.

• Filing fees in Ascension Parish are based on Louisiana's statutory schedule, which applies statewide, plus any local surcharges assessed by the county. For reference, the statewide base fees by case type are: probate and estate filings — $65–$200 (District Court — Succession Division
• varies by parish)
• civil complaints and appearances — $200–$400 (District Court
• varies by parish)
• family law matters (divorce, custody, support) — $200–$400 (District Court — Domestic Relations Division)
• small claims filings — $35–$80 (City Court / Justice of the Peace). These figures represent the state-level base
• the total amount due at the Ascension Parish District Court in Donaldsonville may include additional local charges.

As a high-volume jurisdiction, Ascension Parish may assess higher local surcharges than smaller counties, reflecting the greater administrative cost of operating a busy court in Donaldsonville.

• Beyond the initial filing fee, Ascension Parish litigants and estate administrators should budget for recurring court costs throughout the proceeding: fees for filing subsequent motions and responses, charges for certified copies of letters testamentary or court orders (typically $5 to $25 per document in Louisiana), jury demand deposits in civil cases, and in probate matters, fees associated with filing the inventory, accountings, and petition for discharge.
• For a complete picture of expected court costs in Ascension Parish, request the full fee schedule from the Ascension Parish District Court clerk in Donaldsonville before initiating the proceeding.

Louisiana is expanding e-filing across its court system. The Ascension Parish District Court in Donaldsonville likely participates in the state system — represented parties in civil and family matters may be required to file electronically.

Contact the clerk directly to confirm requirements for your case type and whether a convenience fee (typically $2–$8 per transaction) applies. For full statewide e-filing details, see our Louisiana Court Filing Fees.

• Ascension Parish residents who cannot afford court filing fees may apply for a fee waiver under La.
• Code Civ.
• Proc. art. 5183.
• To apply, file a declaration of financial condition with the Ascension Parish District Court clerk's office in Donaldsonville at the time of your initial filing.
• The declaration lists all household income sources, monthly expenses, assets, and liabilities.
• A judge or court commissioner reviews the application and issues an order granting or denying the waiver, typically within a few days of submission.

• Eligibility for a fee waiver in Ascension Parish generally requires that household income fall at or below 125% to 200% of the federal poverty level, or that the applicant is receiving qualifying public benefits — commonly Medicaid, SNAP, SSI, or public housing assistance.
• The specific income thresholds and qualifying programs are defined in La.
• Code Civ.
• Proc. art. 5183 and may have been updated by recent legislation.
• Ask the Ascension Parish District Court clerk in Donaldsonville for the current income guidelines before completing your declaration.

• A granted fee waiver covers filing fees charged by the Ascension Parish District Court — including initial filing fees and subsequent filings in the same case — but does not cover costs owed to third parties.
• In Ascension Parish probate proceedings, a fee waiver does not eliminate the cost of publishing a notice to creditors in a newspaper of general circulation (a statutory requirement in most states), service of process fees paid to process servers or the sheriff's office, or costs for court-ordered appraisals.
• Budget for these additional costs separately even when a fee waiver is in effect.