La. R.S. » RS
Louisiana Revised Statutes & Codes

La. Rev. Stat. § 44:32 (2026)

Duty to permit examination; prevention of alteration; payment for overtime; copies provided; fees

✓ current as of May 2026
Find cases: SyfertCases citing this section LA-LEGlegis.la.gov JustiaTitle on Justia CornellLII Search CasesGoogle Scholar

§32. Duty to permit examination; prevention of alteration; payment for overtime; copies provided; fees

           A.(1) The custodian shall present any public record to any person of the age of majority who so requests. The custodian shall make no inquiry of any person who applies for a public record, except an inquiry as to the age and identification of the person and may require the person to sign a register and shall not review, examine, or scrutinize any copy, photograph, or memoranda in the possession of any such person; and shall extend to the person all reasonable comfort and facility for the full exercise of the right granted by this Chapter; provided that nothing herein contained shall prevent the custodian from maintaining such vigilance as is required to prevent alteration of any record while it is being examined; and provided further, that examinations of records under the authority of this Section must be conducted during regular office or working hours, unless the custodian shall authorize examination of records in other than regular office or working hours. In this event the persons designated to represent the custodian during such examination shall be entitled to reasonable compensation to be paid to them by the public body having custody of such record, out of funds provided in advance by the person examining such record in other than regular office or working hours. The custodian shall be permitted to make an inquiry regarding the specificity of the records sought by the applicant if, after review of the initial request, the custodian is unable to ascertain what records are being requested.

           (2) If the custodian reasonably determines that the request would substantially disrupt required government operations, the custodian may deny access only after reasonable attempts to narrow or specify the request with the requestor.

           B. If any record contains material which is not a public record, the custodian may separate the nonpublic record and make the public record available for examination.

           C.(1)(a) For all public records, except public records of state agencies, it shall be the duty of the custodian of the public records to provide copies to persons so requesting, unless the requestor fails to pay the applicable copying fees after being notified of the amount in advance of production or the requestor has an outstanding balance from a prior request. The custodian may establish and collect reasonable fees for making copies of public records, which may include the transmission of electronic copies of public records. Any custodian who elects to establish and collect fees shall establish a reasonable fee schedule and post the schedule where it can be readily accessed by the public. The custodian may request payment of fees in advance of production. Copies of records may be furnished without charge or at a reduced charge to indigent citizens of this state.

           (b) For all public records in the custody of a clerk of court, the clerk may also establish reasonable uniform written procedures for the reproduction of any such public record. Additionally, in the parish of Orleans, the recorder of mortgages, the register of conveyances, and the custodian of notarial records may each establish reasonable uniform procedures for the reproduction of public records.

           (c) The use or placement of mechanical reproduction, microphotographic reproduction, or any other such imaging, reproduction, or photocopying equipment within the offices of the clerk of court by any person described in R.S. 44:31 is prohibited unless ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction.

           (d) Any person, as provided for in R.S. 44:31, may request a copy or reproduction of any public record and it shall be the duty of the custodian to provide such copy or reproduction to the person so requesting.

           (2)(a) For all public records of state agencies, it shall be the duty of the custodian of such records to provide copies to persons so requesting, unless the requestor fails to pay the applicable copying fees after being notified of the amount in advance of production or the requestor has an outstanding balance from a prior request. Fees for such copies shall be charged according to the uniform fee schedule adopted by the commissioner of administration as provided by R.S. 39:241 or as otherwise fixed or provided by law. Copies of records may be furnished without charge or at a reduced charge to indigent citizens of this state or the persons whose use of such copies, as determined by the custodian, will be limited to a public purpose, including but not limited to use in a hearing before any governmental regulatory commission.

           (b) Copies of records held by a public postsecondary education institution shall be furnished without charge to any student-produced media outlet that is affiliated with the institution and that is funded in whole or in part by fees levied by the institution or by students enrolled at the institution.

           (3) No fee shall be charged to any person to examine or review any public records, except as provided in this Section, and no fee shall be charged for examination or review to determine if a record is subject to disclosure, except as may be determined by a court of competent jurisdiction.

           D. In any case in which a record is requested and a question is raised by the custodian of the record as to whether it is a public record, such custodian shall within five days, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays, and legal public holidays, of the receipt of the request, in writing for such record, notify in writing the person making such request of his determination and the reasons therefor. Such written notification shall contain a reference to the basis under law which the custodian has determined exempts a record, or any part thereof, from inspection, copying, or reproduction.

           Amended by Acts 1968, No. 473, §1; Acts 1978, No. 686, §1; Acts 1981, No. 933, §2; Acts 1989, No. 404, §1, eff. June 30, 1989; Acts 1995, No. 372, §2, eff. July 1, 1995;Acts 1999, No. 1154, §1; Acts 2004, No. 759, §1; Acts 2005, No. 193, §2; Acts 2016, No. 525, §1, eff. August 1, 2016; Acts 2022, No. 337, §1, eff. June 10, 2022; Acts 2022, No. 770, §1, eff. August 1, 2022; Acts 2023, No. 247, §1, eff. August 1, 2023; Acts 2024, No. 411, §1, eff. August 1, 2024.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 125 cases (16 in the last 5 years), 1961–2025 · leading case: Elliott v. Dist. Attorney of Baton Rouge, 664 So. 2d 122 (La. Ct. App. 1995).
Sort: Relevance Newest Treatment
Elliott v. Dist. Attorney of Baton Rouge, 664 So. 2d 122 (La. Ct. App. 1995). · cites it 10× “R.S. 44:32. The District Attorney conceded that the records requested by Elliott are, in this instance, public records subject to examination.”
Aswell v. Div. of Admin., 196 So. 3d 90 (La. Ct. App. 2016). · cites it 6× “R.S. 44:32, which mandates a response within three days of receipt .”
Treadway v. Jones, 583 So. 2d 119 (La. Ct. App. 1991). · cites it 16× “R.S. 44:32. The petition prayed for a writ of mandamus ordering that the records be produced immediately, or in the alternative *121 an injunction prohibiting Mr.”
Hatcher v. Rouse, 211 So. 3d 431 (La. Ct. App. 2017). · cites it 5× “R.S. 44:32. Because Dr. Rouse did not respond to his written request, Mr.”
Title Rsch. Corp. v. Rausch, 450 So. 2d 933 (La. 1984). · cites it 4× “The legislative intent to provide the access in as unrestricted manner as possible is expressed best by R.S. 44:32(A). [2] Any adult member of the public need only request a record, and the custodian must supply it.”
Deshotels v. White, 226 So. 3d 1211 (La. Ct. App. 2017). · cites it 4× “(1) If the court finds that the custodian arbitrarily or capriciously withheld the requested record or unreasonably or arbitrarily failed to respond to the request as required by R.S. 44:32, it may award the requester any actual damages proven by him to have resulted from the…”
All. for Affordable Energy v. Frick, 695 So. 2d 1126 (La. Ct. App. 1997). · cites it 7× “R.S. 44:32(A) requires the custodian to "present any public record to any person of the age of majority who so requests" and demonstrates the legislature's intent to provide access in as unrestricted a manner as possible.”
Capital City Press, L.L.C. v. Louisiana State Univ. Sys. Bd. of Supervisors, 168 So. 3d 727 (La. Ct. App. 2014). · cites it 5× “(1) If the court finds that the custodian arbitrarily or capriciously withheld the requested record or unreasonably or arbitrarily failed to respond to the request as required by R.S. 44:32, it may award the requester any actual damages proven by him to have resulted from the…”
Chandler v. Ouachita Par. Sherrif's Off., 121 So. 3d 1216 (La. Ct. App. 2013). · cites it 6× “R.S. 44:32. The trial court signed a judgment on June 26, 2012, granting Chandler declaratory relief for the violations of La.”
Carolina Biological Supply Co. v. East Baton Rouge Par. Sch. Bd., 202 So. 3d 1121 (La. Ct. App. 2016). · cites it 3× “R.S. 44:32, caused CBS to suffer damages.”
Lewis v. Morrell, 215 So. 3d 737 (La. Ct. App. 2017). · cites it 2× “3, Notwithstanding the provisions contained in R.S. 44:32, the custodian may make an inquiry of any individual who applies for a public record to determine if such individual is in custody after sentence following a felony conviction who has exhausted his appellate remedies and…”
VANDENWEGHE v. Par. of Jefferson, 70 So. 3d 51 (La. Ct. App. 2011). · cites it 3× “R.S. 44:32(A) provides that “[t]he custodian shall present any public record to any person of the age of majority who so requests.”
Show all 125 citing cases →
La. Rev. Stat. § 44:32(A): 27 cases
Title Rsch. Corp. v. Rausch, 450 So. 2d 933 (La. 1984). “The legislative intent to provide the access in as unrestricted manner as possible is expressed best by R.S. 44:32(A). [2] Any adult member of the public need only request a record, and the custodian must supply it.”
All. for Affordable Energy v. Frick, 695 So. 2d 1126 (La. Ct. App. 1997). “R.S. 44:32(A) requires the custodian to "present any public record to any person of the age of majority who so requests" and demonstrates the legislature's intent to provide access in as unrestricted a manner as possible.”
Elliott v. Dist. Attorney of Baton Rouge, 664 So. 2d 122 (La. Ct. App. 1995). “R.S. 44:32. The District Attorney conceded that the records requested by Elliott are, in this instance, public records subject to examination.”
Lewis v. Morrell, 215 So. 3d 737 (La. Ct. App. 2017). “3, Notwithstanding the provisions contained in R.S. 44:32, the custodian may make an inquiry of any individual who applies for a public record to determine if such individual is in custody after sentence following a felony conviction who has exhausted his appellate remedies and…”
VANDENWEGHE v. Par. of Jefferson, 70 So. 3d 51 (La. Ct. App. 2011). “R.S. 44:32(A) provides that “[t]he custodian shall present any public record to any person of the age of majority who so requests.”
La. Rev. Stat. § 44:32(A)(1): 2 cases
Coy Fortenberry v. Jeremy Evans, In His Capacity as DeSoto Par. Clerk of Court (La. Ct. App. 2024).
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals v. Bd. of Supervisors of Louisiana State Univ. & Thomas Galligan, Individually & in His Capacity of President of Louisiana State Univ. (La. 2024).
La. Rev. Stat. § 44:32(A)(2): 1 case
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals v. Bd. of Supervisors of Louisiana State Univ. & Thomas Galligan, Individually & in His Capacity of President of Louisiana State Univ. (La. 2024).
La. Rev. Stat. § 44:32(B): 10 cases
All. for Affordable Energy v. Frick, 695 So. 2d 1126 (La. Ct. App. 1997). “R.S. 44:32(A) requires the custodian to "present any public record to any person of the age of majority who so requests" and demonstrates the legislature's intent to provide access in as unrestricted a manner as possible.”
VANDENWEGHE v. Par. of Jefferson, 70 So. 3d 51 (La. Ct. App. 2011). “R.S. 44:32(A) provides that “[t]he custodian shall present any public record to any person of the age of majority who so requests.”
Elliott v. Taylor, 614 So. 2d 126 (La. Ct. App. 1993).
Kyle v. Perrilloux, 868 So. 2d 27 (La. Ct. App. 2003).
Elliott v. Dist. Attorney of Baton Rouge, 664 So. 2d 122 (La. Ct. App. 1995). “R.S. 44:32. The District Attorney conceded that the records requested by Elliott are, in this instance, public records subject to examination.”
La. Rev. Stat. § 44:32(C): 4 cases
Elliott v. Dist. Attorney of Baton Rouge, 664 So. 2d 122 (La. Ct. App. 1995). “R.S. 44:32. The District Attorney conceded that the records requested by Elliott are, in this instance, public records subject to examination.”
Indep. Weekly, LLC v. Pope, 201 So. 3d 951 (La. Ct. App. 2016).
Miles v. Connick, 613 So. 2d 1169 (La. Ct. App. 1993).
Gregory P. Mouton & Marivette V. Mouton v. Lowe's Home Centers, LLC d/b/a Lowe's Home Improvement (La. Ct. App. 2024).
La. Rev. Stat. § 44:32(C)(1): 3 cases
Title Rsch. Corp. v. Rausch, 450 So. 2d 933 (La. 1984). “The legislative intent to provide the access in as unrestricted manner as possible is expressed best by R.S. 44:32(A). [2] Any adult member of the public need only request a record, and the custodian must supply it.”
Carter v. Connick, 623 So. 2d 670 (La. Ct. App. 1993).
State ex rel. Tassin v. State, 516 So. 2d 363 (La. 1988).
La. Rev. Stat. § 44:32(C)(1)(a): 3 cases
State Ex Rel. Simmons v. State, 647 So. 2d 1094 (La. 1994).
All. for Affordable Energy v. Frick, 695 So. 2d 1126 (La. Ct. App. 1997). “R.S. 44:32(A) requires the custodian to "present any public record to any person of the age of majority who so requests" and demonstrates the legislature's intent to provide access in as unrestricted a manner as possible.”
Coy Fortenberry v. Jeremy Evans, In His Capacity as DeSoto Par. Clerk of Court (La. Ct. App. 2024).
La. Rev. Stat. § 44:32(C)(1)(b): 1 case
Carter v. Connick, 623 So. 2d 670 (La. Ct. App. 1993).
La. Rev. Stat. § 44:32(C)(2): 5 cases
Copsey v. Baer, 593 So. 2d 685 (La. Ct. App. 1991).
St. Tammany Par. Coroner v. Doe, 48 So. 3d 1241 (La. Ct. App. 2010).
Miles v. Connick, 613 So. 2d 1169 (La. Ct. App. 1993).
State v. Billiot, 673 So. 2d 1021 (La. 1996).
State Ex Rel. Williams v. Whitley, 649 So. 2d 414 (La. 1995).
La. Rev. Stat. § 44:32(C)(l)(a): 6 cases
Carter v. Connick, 623 So. 2d 670 (La. Ct. App. 1993).
St. Tammany Par. Coroner v. Doe, 48 So. 3d 1241 (La. Ct. App. 2010).
Miles v. Connick, 613 So. 2d 1169 (La. Ct. App. 1993).
State v. Jean, 847 So. 2d 780 (La. Ct. App. 2003).
State ex rel. Anderson v. Clerk of Court, 648 So. 2d 909 (La. 1995).
La. Rev. Stat. § 44:32(C)(l)(b): 1 case
Carter v. Connick, 623 So. 2d 670 (La. Ct. App. 1993).
La. Rev. Stat. § 44:32(C)(l)(d): 1 case
Johnson v. City of Pineville, 9 So. 3d 313 (La. Ct. App. 2009).
La. Rev. Stat. § 44:32(D): 21 cases
Aswell v. Div. of Admin., 196 So. 3d 90 (La. Ct. App. 2016). “R.S. 44:32, which mandates a response within three days of receipt .”
Treadway v. Jones, 583 So. 2d 119 (La. Ct. App. 1991). “R.S. 44:32. The petition prayed for a writ of mandamus ordering that the records be produced immediately, or in the alternative *121 an injunction prohibiting Mr.”
City of Pineville v. Aymond, 982 So. 2d 292 (La. Ct. App. 2008).
Skamangas v. Stockton, 867 So. 2d 1009 (La. Ct. App. 2004).
Ass'n for Rights of Citizens, Inc. v. Par. of St. Bernard, 557 So. 2d 714 (La. Ct. App. 1990).
Annotations are extracted automatically from the opinions in the Syfert caselaw corpus and ranked by authority, recency, and treatment. Dots show Syfertize treatment of the citing case itself.