Lafayette Parish, Louisiana: Small Claims for a Security Deposit

Limits: $5,000 (justice of the peace / parish court small claims (varies by parish) only). E-filing: Not verified. Court: Lafayette Parish Justice of the Peace Courts.

Filing facts

State small claims limits	$5,000 (justice of the peace / parish court small claims (varies by parish) only)
Statewide filing fee	Set by the court; call the clerk or check the court page. Official court website
E-filing	Not verified
Time limit to sue in Louisiana	3 years.
State deposit return deadline	one month after the lease terminates / date the tenancy terminates. return of deposit or itemized statement of retained amounts; the statute uses one month. 30 calendar days after written demand for a refund. failure to remit within 30 days after written demand constitutes willful failure for penalty purposes under R.S. 9:3252.
Penalty formula	for willful failure: recover the wrongfully retained portion plus $300 or twice the wrongfully retained portion, whichever is greater. Bad faith required: Yes.
Deposit statute	La. R.S. 9:3251 to 9:3252

Where to file

Lafayette Parish Justice of the Peace Courts

Courthouse city: Lafayette

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.

Official court website

Court page check not recorded

See how to file in Louisiana for the state filing procedure.

Rent and deposits in Lafayette Parish

County median gross rent: $1,022 per month.

County median gross rent by bedroom count
Bedrooms	Monthly rent
Studio	$868
1 bedroom	$869
2 bedrooms	$991
3 bedrooms	$1,180
4 bedrooms	$1,516

Illustrative deposit example computed from the county median rent: one month of the Census two-bedroom median is $991; two months is $1,982. This is an example computed from the county median, not a legal cap or a survey of deposits. The calculations below use the one-month deposit of $991.

State legal maximum deposit in Louisiana: No statewide statutory maximum.

Total households in Lafayette Parish: 99,357.

Renter households: 33,679 (33.9% of all households).

Renters spending more than half their household income on rent: 10.4%. A delayed deposit refund can leave these households with less money for their next rent payment.

County rent and household source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates, tables B25064, B25031, B25003, B25070. Accessed 2026-09-21.

Will my deposit claim fit the limit?

Using the county Census figure: two-bedroom median gross rent for Lafayette Parish, $991 per month.

The deposit range does not include penalties, interest, or other amounts you may claim.

Compared with $5,000 (justice of the peace / parish court small claims (varies by parish) only), the whole deposit range fits.

A claim above the applicable limit must either be reduced to that limit or go to a different court.

Towns this court serves

A deposit claim is usually filed where the property sits or where the landlord is.

Broussard
Carencro
Duson
Lafayette
Scott
Youngsville

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

Free help in Lafayette Parish

Acadiana Legal Service Corporation
free civil legal help protecting tenants from wrongful evictions, unsafe living conditions, and housing discrimination
Phone: (866) 275-2572

Statewide help

Jefferson Community Action Programs
HUD-approved rental housing counseling
Phone: (504) 736-6900
CENLA Community Action Committee, Incorporated
HUD-approved rental housing counseling
Phone: (318) 314-3480
Desire Community Housing Corporation
HUD-approved rental housing counseling and rental housing workshops
Phone: (504) 905-1425

These are independent organisations, not DemandLetterLab.

From letter to filing

Send a Louisiana security deposit demand letter stating the deposit amount supported by your records. Give the landlord your forwarding address in writing.
Before you file: review the deposit return deadlines above and allow the typical response window of 30 days after your letter.
Time limit to sue in Louisiana: 3 years.
Check the court's filing instructions. Keep your lease, payment records, photos, letter, and proof of delivery ready.

This template uses Louisiana law. Your county decides where you file, not which law applies.

Choose how to send your letter

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$49, done for you.

We write the letter from the facts you send, mail it by USPS Certified Mail with tracking, and send you the tracking number and a PDF record of what was sent.

Mailed within 2 business days of your completed form, or a full refund.

Document preparation and mailing, not legal advice. We do not assess your claim, choose a strategy, or promise a recovery.

Write and mail my letter for $49

$29, you send it.

A print-ready PDF of the Louisiana letter template, ready to download after payment.

Certified-mail instructions: what to ask for at the counter and what it costs.
Louisiana small-claims details: the limit, the deadline to sue, and where to file.

You fill in the template, print it, and pay postage. The same letter template is also available free by email below. The kit adds the print-ready PDF, mailing guide, and local details in one place.

If you cannot access or use the kit files, contact us for a replacement or a full refund.

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Free Louisiana template, built from verified state data

Methodology: every statute verified against primary sources. See how verification works.

I rented [rental property address] from [lease start date] to [move-out date]. I paid a security deposit of $[amount]. I returned the keys on [date] and gave you my forwarding address in writing on [date]. Under Louisiana law (La. R.S. 9:3251 to 9:3252), a landlord must return the deposit or respond in writing within [one month / 30 calendar days, see the note above] after [the event listed in the note above].

FAQ

How much does it cost to file in Lafayette Parish?

Statewide filing fee: Set by the court; call the clerk or check the court page. Official court website

How long do I have to sue?

Time limit to sue in Louisiana: 3 years.

Where do I file?

Lafayette Parish Justice of the Peace Courts. Courthouse city: Lafayette. Check the court's instructions for the right filing location.