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When you come to the City Court of Zachary, here’s what you can generally expect: Security Check: Upon arrival, you’ll go through a security screening. Make sure to leave any prohibited items at home. Check-In: You’ll need to check in with the court clerk. Have your identification and any relevant documents ready. Courtroom: You will be seated in the courtroom where you will wait until your case is called. It’s a good idea to arrive early to find your way around and get settled. Courtroom Etiquette: Dress appropriately and be respectful. Case Presentation: When your case is called, you’ll present your side to the judge. Be clear and concise. Judge’s Decision: After hearing your case, the judge will make a decision. This could happen immediately, or the judge might take some time to consider the case. After the Hearing: Depending on the outcome, you may need to follow up with additional paperwork or actions. If you are representing yourself, you can find legal assistance at the Louisiana State Bar Association. It’s also a good idea to consult with a lawyer if you have any legal questions or concerns. Refer to our Court Procedures page for more information.

No one may wear a hat, shorts, or sleeveless shirts, or be barefoot in the courtroom. Witnesses and spectators shall appear neat and clean, within the limits of decency. The court will make allowances for those who shall appear in work clothes and those whose attire is dictated by their religion. Clothing with profanity or inappropriate messaging is NOT allowed in the courtroom. Dress should be appropriate and business casual. Please refer to Proper Court Attire page for more information.

Constitutionally, you have the right to represent yourself in court, but you cannot represent someone else or a business unless you are an attorney. Self-represented litigants are held to the same standards as attorneys and will not be given legal advice. If you choose to hire an attorney, the Louisiana Bar Association can recommend one to fit your needs. For criminal and traffic cases, if you cannot afford to hire an attorney you may be eligible to be represented at no cost by a public defender or court appointed attorney. To see if you qualify, you may speak with a public defender on your appointed court date at no cost. Be sure to tell Court staff upon check-in if you wish to speak to an attorney.

Warrants CANNOT be resolved online or over the phone. If you are eligible to have your warrant recalled, you or your attorney of record MUST appear in person at the Zachary Clerk of Court Traffic Violation Bureau, located in the lobby of the court complex. Your physical presence is crucial in this matter. Refer to our Warrants Page for more information.

Interpreters can be requested at the initial appearance or by contacting the Court. The case will be continued if an interpreter is required but not available. Please refer to the INTERPRETER/LANGUAGE SERVICES page for more information.

If you are unable to appear on your arraignment (first appearance) date, the court may grant you ONE continuance of no more than two months. You must come to the Clerk of Court to request the continuance and sign notice of the new date. This does not apply to DWI or Domestic Violence Cases.

No. The City Court of Zachary Clerk’s office does not handle these matters. You can contact the East Baton Rouge Clerk of Court at 225-389-3950 for marriage licenses and birth certificates issued in EBR Parish or the Office of Vital Statistics at 504-568-5152, 504-568-8353, or toll-free at 800-454-9570. You can also obtain information and make an online request by visiting the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals website.

Community Service Work and Partial Payment Plans are available in some cases. If you cannot pay your fine by the scheduled court date, you must appear in person on your court date and make your request known to the Judge. Failure to appear or pay may result in the issuance of a bench warrant for your arrest, withdrawal of your driving privileges, and the assessment of additional penalty fees.

We have 3 methods: Pay Your Fine Online: If you qualify, a payment can be made online through our online system via a credit/debit card. A 3.5 % processing fee is charged to credit/debit card payments. Pay Now! No partial payments are accepted online and must be paid at the City Court Traffic Violations Bureau (TVB). Defendants are required to appear in person to make partial payments and sign a notice for the next payment. Pay In Person: Payments can be made in person during regular office hours. City Court accepts cash, personal or cashier checks, and money orders made payable to the Zachary City Court (no temporary checks), Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover Card. A 3.5 % processing fee is charged to credit card payments. Checks and money orders must be for the exact amount owed. NSF fees are charged on all checks returned unpaid. Payments can be made in person at: Zachary City Police/Court Complex Traffic Violations Bureau (TVB) 4510 Main Street Zachary, LA 70791 Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm Discover, Visa, MasterCard, and American Express accepted. NOTE: If requesting an extension to pay your fine, you must appear on or BEFORE your court date by 4:30 pm or appear in court as scheduled. Pay By Mail: A traffic citation payment can be made by mail. Mail payment to: Zachary City Court ATT: Clerk of Court PO Box 10 Zachary, LA 70791

No. Judges and staff cannot give legal advice to anyone who is or may be before the Court. Consult an attorney if you need help with a legal matter.

Multiple tow companies are used by the police department. Contact the police department's non-emergency line at (225) 654-9393 to find out where your car was stored.

The Small Claims Division is a part of the City Court of Zachary established pursuant to Louisiana Revised Statutes 13:5200-5211. You may sue to resolve minor civil disputes and to recover claims up to $5,000.00. A claim, generally speaking, asserts a legal right you may have. You may use the Small Claims Court to sue someone who LIVES within the city limits of Zachary. You may also sue in Small Claims Court if you were injured within the city limits of Zachary regardless of where the party causing you injury may live. Otherwise, the Court's authority to handle cases affecting defendants who do not reside within the Zachary City limits depends on numerous factors that warrant professional legal advise. You must be EIGHTEEN (18) YEARS OF AGE to file a case in Small Claims court, but minors and incompetents may sue through a parent or guardian. Minors cannot be sued unless through their parent or guardian.

You may sue if you believe someone owes you money. For example, you may sue if: Someone fails to return a deposit to you Products that you purchased are defective and the seller refuses to repair, refund, or replace You suffer loss or injury as a result of the negligence or intentional misconduct of another Your employer fails to pay wages, salaries, or commissions you are due You seek possession of the personal property you are due (but not real estate) The following types of cases MAY NOT be instituted in the Small Claims Court: Suits involving annulment, separation, divorce, alimony, separation of property, temporary restraining order or injunction, succession, interdiction, receivership, liquidation, habeas corpus, or the title to real estate; Suits against a state agency, parish, municipality, or other political subdivision; Suits against a public official performing official duties

If the defendant is to be served at an address within the city limits, the Clerk's Office will forward the defendant's copy of your Statement of Claim and Citation, which includes an "ATTENTION SHEET" to the City Marshal for "service" or delivery on the defendant. This "attention sheet" informs the defendant that he has been sued and will have ten (10) calendar days (inclusive of holidays and weekends) in which to answer. It is the defendant's right to request that the action be transferred from the Small Claims Division to the regular civil docket. A written motion requesting this transfer must be filed with the Clerk's Office within the same ten (10) calendar days allowed for the defendant's answer to be filed. A copy of the defendant's answer will be mailed to you. Transferring the case to the regular civil docket preserves both parties' the right to appeal an unfavorable judgment of the Court. An appeal would permit a review of the trial judge's ruling by a higher court to determine whether the judge properly applied the law to the facts of the case. Transfer to the regular trial division also means that there will be no relaxation of the rules of evidence or restrictions upon attorneys' participation. In such cases, you should be alerted to the advisability of hiring an attorney.

Complete the Statement of Claim and Citation (found in Civil Small Claim Packet) and bring it to the City Court of Zachary which is located at 4510 Main Street in Zachary Louisiana. The court costs for filing a Small Claims suit must be paid when suit is filed. Service is attempted initially by Certified Mail to defendant. If you wish to expedite service, you may request the Marshal serve the papers at an additional cost. All court costs are normally assessed against the party ultimately losing the laws suit but may be assessed against either party.

Please refer to our Civil Court Costs for more information about service fees.

The maximum amount you can sue for in Small Claims Court is $5,000 and the maximum amount you can sue for on the regular Civil docket for this Court is $35,000.

If you have been served with a Citation, you are referred to as the "Defendant" in the matter. Most importantly, DO NOT IGNORE the Statement of Claim and Citation and Attention Sheet if you wish to contest the claim against you. Initially, you must decide if you wish to hire an attorney to represent you. Secondly, you must decide whether you wish to transfer the case to the regular civil docket. Removal would enable you to preserve your right to appeal any unfavorable judgment. However, you should be aware that the appeal process can be lengthy and costly and may require that you hire an attorney. Transfer fee to the regular civil docket is payable by you the "defendant" and the charge is $10.00. If you decide to contest the case over any issue, you MUST file an answer IN WRITING with the Clerk's Office within the ten (10) day period allowed.

Arrive early and bring all court papers with you. If you are the party suing and arrive late or do not appear at all, your case may be dismissed. If you are the party being sued and arrive late or do not appear at all, a judgment could be entered against you. In other words, YOU MAY LOSE WITHOUT A HEARING. If you are SUING and the other party is not there, you must still show proof of your claim before you can get a judgment in your favor. If you are BEING SUED and the other party is not there, you may ask that the case against you be dismissed (so you will win the case). You will have the opportunity at trial to present your witnesses and evidence, and the opportunity to pose questions to your opponent(s). Additionally, you may be asked to answer your opponent's questions. The procedure will be more relaxed and informal than an ordinary trial, with the judge asking questions himself in an effort to understand the case and ascertain the truth. After all of the testimony is taken, the judge will announce the decision regarding which party has won the case and the amount of any judgment, if a sum of money is awarded. There are times when the judge will not render a decision immediately after the trial but rather take the matter "under advisement" in order to conduct research. You will be notified by mail of the decision. A judgment rendered in the Small Claims Division becomes final and executory three days after it is signed or served on the defendant when service is necessary, unless within that period of time a "Motion for New Trial" is filed. A judgment establishes that the defendant does or does not owe you money. IT DOES NOT NECSSARILY MEAN YOU WILL BE PAID.

The Clerk’s Office accepts civil filings through facsimile means. The number for the Civil Division to fax file a document is 225-654-6569. In accordance with L.R.S 13:850, the following is required to be forwarded to the Clerk’s Office within seven (7) days of the fax filing, exclusive of legal holidays, for the facsimile filing to have full force and effect: An additional $5 facsimile transmission fee must be enclosed with each original document transmitted. Applicable fees for the facsimile filing and filing of the original document are stated on the confirmation of receipt, if any. The original signed document

Zachary City Court does not accept E-filing at this time.

It is NOT the duty or the function of the court to automatically pay or collect what is owed to you. IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO TAKE ANY AND ALL LEGAL ACTION NECESSARY TO COLLECT ON YOUR JUDGMENT. In order to collect, you may have to take further action, such as a garnishment of the losing party's bank account or wages, or "seizure and sale" on certain non-exempt property belonging to the defendant. Additional court cost deposits are required for these actions, which, like other costs of court, are recoverable from the losing party If you do not know of any assets belonging to the losing party that you could seize, you may request a "JUDGMENT DEBTOR EXAMINATION" for an oral examination as to the existence and whereabouts of the defendant's assets. The advance court costs deposit is $50.00 for filing this action (an additional $45.00 would be charged if service is outside the city limits). It is not a new trial or hearing. You will be allowed to orally examine the defendant (who will be under oath) regarding his assets, employment, etc., at a place suitable for such examination, usually inside the court conference room. This information may help you in finding other legal means for collection on your judgment.

A tenant can be evicted by following and using our Eviction Procedure Guidelines Packet and Forms. The rental property must be located within the Zachary City limits. For specific city limits please refer to City of Zachary (arcgis.com). Generally speaking, a copy of the lease or a copy of the five-day NOTICE TO VACATE must be provided in court, and the eviction suit is initiated with the Court by filing a PETITION FOR EVICTION. Acceptance of rent after the Notice to Vacate has been given BUT before Judgment of Eviction cancels the notice and prevents the lessor from obtaining such a judgment. Refer to Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure Articles 4701, 4702, 4731,4732, 4733, 4734, 4735.

Eviction procedures only apply to the eviction of the tenant and not the recovery of back rent.

Acceptance of rent after the notice to vacate has been given but before Judgment of Eviction cancels the notice and prevents the lessor from obtaining such a Judgment.

The landlord must get a court order to remove the tenant from the rental property. The process usually involves: Providing Proper Notice: Unless it's waived in the lease, the landlord must give notice.

If you are facing eviction and decide to contest it, it is essential to respond formally by preparing an Answer to Eviction or Rule for Possession. The Answer to Eviction, otherwise known as the Answer to the Rule for Possession, is used by a tenant to respond formally to an eviction lawsuit initiated by a landlord in Louisiana. The Answer serves as the tenant’s official reply to the eviction notice and is filed in the court where the eviction case is being heard. The primary purpose of the Answer is to provide the tenant with an opportunity to present their side of the story or raise any defenses they might have against the eviction.

If you do not file an answer or appear in court in response to an eviction notice in Louisiana, several things can happen: Default Judgment: The court may issue a default judgment in favor of the landlord. This means the judge can decide the case without hearing your side, usually granting the landlord what they have requested in the eviction notice, which typically includes the right to regain possession of the property and possibly a judgment for unpaid rent and fees. Eviction Order: Once a default judgment is issued, the court will typically grant an order of eviction. This order allows the landlord to regain possession of the rental unit, usually with the assistance of law enforcement, such as the sheriff's office. Limited Time to Move Out: After the eviction order is issued, you will be given a short period to vacate the property. The exact time frame can vary but can begin 24 hours after the order and is generally swift. Impact on Credit and Rental History: A default judgment can affect your ability to rent in the future, as it may appear on your rental history and credit reports. This can make it more difficult to secure housing and may affect your credit score. No Opportunity to Contest: By not responding, you forfeit your right to contest the eviction and to present any defenses you might have, such as proof of payment, conditions of the property, or any breaches by the landlord that might justify your actions or non-payment.

No. ALL criminal misdemeanor charges are court-mandatory. You must appear in court on your court date and time indicated on your misdemeanor summons/citation.

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All arrestees are booked into East Baton Rouge Parish Prison. Contact the Prison information line at 1-800-414-7685.

Mutiple tow companies are used by the police department. Contact the police department's non-emergency line at (225) 654-9393 to find out where your car was stored.

Contact the court directly to request a certified copy of case disposition and court minutes.

If you have been ordered to appear in a criminal matter, it is extremely important that you appear as scheduled. A bench warrant for your arrest may be issued for failure to appear. While absences are generally unexcused regardless of the reason, if you determine that you will not be able to make the appearance as required, you should immediately call the City Court of Zachary Clerk's Office at 225-654-0044 and let them know of the emergency.

Yes, if you already went to court and pled guilty or no contest and the judge ordered you to pay a fine, but you were not able to pay the fine and were given another court date, you may be able to pay the fine online. To avoid going to court, you must make full payment before your scheduled court date. If the ticket is not paid in full, you must appear in court on your scheduled court date. Go to the online payment center and follow the instructions.

A police report or crash report may be obtained from the Zachary Police Department. To inquire about a report, call the Records Department at 654-1904 or email aguidry@zacharypd.org. Please include the file number, date, location, and person involved. You can contact ZPD office at 225-654-1921 or visit their website for more information. http://www.zacharypd.org

TRAFFIC: Everyone under the age of 18 all traffic matters are held with the East Baton Rouge Parish Juvenile Court. Contact them at (225) 354-1250 to obtain a court date. CRIMINAL: Under 17 years old, matters are held with the East Baton Rouge Parish Juvenile Court. Contact them at (225) 354-1250 to obtain a court date. Over 17 years old all criminal misdemeanor charges are held with the Zachary City Court. Your child must appear in court on the court date given. A parent or guardian may attend with their child.

We have THREE methods: Pay Your Fine Online: A traffic citation payment can be made online through our online system. It allows you to pay with a credit/debit card online if your ticket is a payable offense and does not require a court date to be set or proof of payment. Pay Now! No partial payments are accepted online and must be paid at the City Court Traffic Violations Bureau (TVB). Defendants are required to appear in person to make partial payments and sign a notice for the next payment. Pay In Person: Payments can be made in person during regular office hours. City Court accepts cash, personal or cashier checks, and money orders made payable to the Zachary City Court (no temporary checks), Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover Card. A 3.5 % processing fee is charged to credit card payments. Checks and money orders must be for the exact amount owed. NSF fees are charged on all checks returned unpaid. Payments can be made in person at: Zachary City Police/Court Complex Traffic Violations Bureau (TVB) 4510 Main Street Zachary, LA 70791 Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm Discover, Visa, MasterCard, and American Express accepted. NOTE: If requesting an extension to pay your fine, you must appear on or before your due date by 4:30 pm Pay By Mail: A traffic citation payment can be made by mail. Mail payment to: Zachary City Court ATT: Clerk of Court PO Box 10 Zachary, LA 70791

If you receive the error message, that your case cannot be found, it may mean that the citation is still being processed and you can check back closer to the court date given on your citation. You may also call the Court to inquire if your citation has been processed and is a payable offense. NOTE: It may take up to 2-4 weeks from the initial date you received the citation before processing is complete.

"Your case cannot be paid online. Your case has a violation that calls for a mandatory appearance in court." If you received the above error message when entering your citation/docket number in the online payment portal, you are required to appear in court on the date indicated on your citation. You will be notified in court how much your fines are and if you qualify for any improvement programs.

You will need to contact the Department of Motor Vehicles at 1-877-368-5463 to find out why your license has been suspended. You may have an outstanding traffic fine owed and must clear this up before your license can be reinstated.

Some traffic charges have mandatory court appearances. Please refer to the Court's Mandatory Citations. Failure to appear for a mandatory appearance will result in a warrant being issued for your arrest. If the appearance is not mandatory, the ticket or complaint is eligible to be paid prior to or on the hearing date. If you pay your ticket prior to the court date, the case will be closed and you do not have to appear for Court. By paying your ticket before the court date you are legally pleading guilty and waiving your right to contest the ticket in court. If no payment has been made and you do not appear, a warrant will be issued for your arrest.

Contact the court directly to request a certified copy of case disposition and court minutes.

All fines are due by the court date indicated on your ticket or court summons. However, you may be eligible to make a partial payment and get a new court date to make another payment in approximately 30 days. To get an extended payment date, you MUST appear in person, make a partial payment of NO LESS than $100.00, and sign a court summons for your next payment date. No partial payments are accepted online. If your ticket does not require a mandatory appearance, another person can appear and pay for your fine, ONLY if it is paid in full.

Yes. In the event that the presiding judge issued a bench warrant, you could be arrested. A traffic violation is a violation of the City Ordinance and State Traffic Laws all of which authorize a judge to issue warrants for the arrest of persons not appearing in court to answer for traffic charges. The judge can issue an arrest, fugitive, or bench warrant. If you are concerned about being arrested because you missed your court date, you should immediately contact the City of Zachary Clerk of Court to make arrangements to obtain a new court date at (225) 654-0044.

Article 892.1 of the Code of Criminal Procedure in Louisiana allows some drivers to pursue court-approved driver education programs and avoid penalties for some misdemeanor driving offenses. If the person successfully completes the course and the Court approves the request, the charge under this Article shall not become a part of the person’s official driving record. To be eligible for Article 892.1, you MUST be granted permission by the Court on or before your court date indicated on your ticket and request this benefit. Please refer to the DRIVER IMPROVMENT PROGRAM page for more information and requirements. ​

Upon completing your Defensive Driving Course, submit your certificate of completion to the Court by your given date deadline. You may print your certificate and submit to the Clerk of Court during normal office hours OR you may email us your certificate directly to 892.1programs@zacharycitycourt.org. NOTE: Driving Schools do not automatically send completed certificates to the court. It is your responsibility to ensure your certificate reaches the court.