East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana: Where to File a Security Deposit Claim and What It Costs

Listed court is East Baton Rouge Parish Justice of the Peace Courts in Baton Rouge. Check venue on the court's official page or with the clerk. Filing fee: set by the court; see its fee table. Claim limit varies by court. Louisiana return time: one month or another period by condition. ACS two-bedroom rent: $1,113. Enter your dates below and send the dated letter first.

Court listed	East Baton Rouge Parish Justice of the Peace Courts
City	Baton Rouge
Statewide filing fee	Current court fee schedule
E-filing	Yes, see filing page
Small claims limit	$5,000
State deposit return deadline	one month after the lease terminates / date the tenancy terminates. Applies when: return of deposit or itemized statement of retained amounts; the statute uses one month. 30 calendar days after written demand for a refund. Applies when: failure to remit within 30 days after written demand constitutes willful failure for penalty purposes under R.S. 9:3252.
Time limit to sue	3 years
Deposit statute	La. R.S. 9:3251 to 9:3252

Some counties have more than one small claims court, and venue rules differ by state; check which court hears your claim on the court's official page or with the clerk.

Details

Limits: $5,000 (justice of the peace / parish court small claims (varies by parish) only).

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Details of the return rules

Louisiana statutory deadlines
When it applies	Deadline	Starts from
return of deposit or itemized statement of retained amounts; the statute uses one month	one month	after the lease terminates / date the tenancy terminates

Louisiana return rule: one month (return of deposit or itemized statement of retained amounts; the statute uses one month). Check the dates you entered above.

Court listed for this county: East Baton Rouge Parish Justice of the Peace Courts. Check venue on the official court page or with the clerk.

Free dated DOCX by email. Print-ready state PDF kit: $29. Letter preparation and mailing: $49.

Who do you name in the claim?

Find and compare the legal names

Find and compare the legal names in these records:

The lease: the Landlord or Owner line and who signed.
The deposit receipt or the account your rent went to.
The owner of record in the property records of East Baton Rouge Parish.
The Louisiana business registry for an LLC or management company: its exact legal name and registered agent. Louisiana Secretary of State

A registered agent receives court papers for a company; it is not the defendant.

This page shows where the names are recorded; it does not decide who is legally liable.

What to bring to the clerk

Your lease.
Deposit receipt or payment record.
The demand letter and proof of delivery.
Move-out photos and an inventory or condition report.

Is it worth filing here?

Illustration: a deposit equal to one month's ACS median gross rent (U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) for a home in East Baton Rouge Parish. This is calculated from rent, not measured deposits. The statutory amount requires the rule's conditions.

Bedrooms

Bedrooms	Deposit owed	Statutory amount	Total illustration	Limit check
1	$946	$946	$1,892	Check the applicable limit and remedy
2	$1,113	$1,113	$2,226	Check the applicable limit and remedy
3	$1,342	$1,342	$2,684	Check the applicable limit and remedy
4	$1,583	$1,583	$3,166	Check the applicable limit and remedy

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates, tables B25064, B25031, B25003, B25070; accessed 2026-09-21. Penalty rule.

How does East Baton Rouge Parish compare with other Louisiana counties?

The two-bedroom median gross rent is $1,113: rank 4 of 5 counties with this metric in U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates. 40.9% of households rent in East Baton Rouge Parish.

East Baton Rouge Parish two-bedroom rent $1,113, rank 4 of 5 counties

Nearby counties in the two-bedroom rent ranking
County	Median gross rent
Orleans Parish	$1,287
St. Tammany Parish	$1,223
Jefferson Parish	$1,202
East Baton Rouge Parish	$1,113
Lafayette Parish	$991

Ranking uses the same ACS metric and period within this state; ties share a rank. Coverage is 5 of 5 listed counties. Census source.

Places in East Baton Rouge Parish

Baker
Baton Rouge
Central
Zachary

These are Census places in the county. Check the rental's address with the clerk to find the court.

U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census place-to-county relationship file

Free legal help

Southeast Louisiana Legal Services Corporation: free civil legal aid for low-income people, including emergency eviction cases
Jefferson Community Action Programs: HUD-approved rental housing counseling
CENLA Community Action Committee, Incorporated: HUD-approved rental housing counseling
Desire Community Housing Corporation: HUD-approved rental housing counseling and rental housing workshops

FAQ

How much does it cost to file in East Baton Rouge Parish?

The court sets the fee. Check the current schedule. Court page

Where do I file a deposit claim in East Baton Rouge Parish?

East Baton Rouge Parish Justice of the Peace Courts is listed. Some counties have more than one small claims court, and venue rules differ by state; check which court hears your claim on the court's official page or with the clerk. Court page

Who should I name in the claim?

Compare the legal names on the lease, deposit receipt, property records and business registry. A registered agent receives papers for a company; it is not the defendant.

What should I bring to the clerk?

Bring your lease, deposit receipt, demand letter, proof of delivery, photos and any move-out inventory.