Parish Legal Meaning and Definition

Here is a simplified definition of the legal term Parish.

Parish (noun)

1. A geographical area or territory that is served, owned, or operated by a church or religious institution for administrative purposes, typically associated with a specific church congregation or community.

2. Specific to Louisiana, USA: A division of local government, analogous to a county in other US states. Each parish is governed by a local council, similar to a county board of supervisors.

Example: "St. John the Baptist is a parish in Louisiana."