As I finish my eighth year in office and look forward to my third term that started July 1, 2024, I would like to thank the Citizens of Natchitoches Parish who have shown their support for our work by electing me to three terms as Natchitoches Parish Clerk of Court, I appreciate the confidence that you have shown in me. I have tried to repay you by managing a progressive office by making changes that benefit the people of our parish. The Clerk’s office does not collect or receive tax money to operate. We are fee based so it has been important to manage those fees while providing the services that are critical to our citizens. There are no fees on the criminal side of our business so we provide those services while receiving no income. Even with these limitations, we have continued to faithfully and prudently manage the business of the Clerk’s office to insure a healthy financial position.
The Clerk’s office manages the filings of conveyances and mortgages along with parish oil and gas records that are so important to land owners and financial institutions. Our Civil Department oversees the suit fillings and successions for Natchitoches Parish. We also work with the Judges and District attorney to make sure all the criminal filings are in order; our minute clerks assist in criminal and civil court and our office coordinates the jury process through the work of our staff and the jury commission. Additional services we provide to the citizens include processing birth certificates, marriage licenses and passports. When Mortgage Certificates or property bonds are needed, the Clerk’s office is ready to respond to these needs. There is never a dull moment at the Clerk’s office!
Another activity that we manage is our parish elections. While the overall time required to prepare for and manage the election process is a periodic matter, there is nothing more important than accurate and secure elections. Since proper elections are of such vital importance to our citizens, I will continue to make sure election rules are communicated and enforced. We appreciate all the Election Commissioners that help us maintain our goal of accountable and reliable elections to the public.
We have brought new technologies to the office including electronic recording and electronic filing while making more of our parish’s records available on line including having over 100 years of conveyances online. We have public computers available where you can search conveyances, criminal filings, and civil filings. We manage the parish records that go back to 1738. We have lots of interesting history at the clerk’s office.
Finally, an important thank you to the Deputy Clerks of our office. They do such an incredible job with all the tasks that I have described. There was a citizen in the office last week who said, “do you realize how great your staff is?” I told him that I certainly did and that is how I sleep so well!
The Clerk’s office will always emphasize service to the people of the parish while being efficient, courteous, and kind. Please feel free to contact our office in the Natchitoches Parish Courthouse or call me or one of our deputies anytime to let us know how we can be of continued service to the people of Natchitoches Parish. Thanks again.
David Stamey
Natchitoches Parish Clerk of Court
