Each volume includes records of the sales of both movable and immovable properties as ordered by the civil courts of the Parish. In most cases an individual record includes a clipping of the newspaper advertisement for the sale and manuscript notations as to amount of sale, sheriff's fees, interest, and other charges. Often the clippings are in both English and French; the manuscript notations seem to be exclusively in English. For sales of movables there is usually a detailed inventory of the items being sold, along with the amount paid for each item, and the name of the purchaser. Among the records are sales of the contents of private residences and of businesses such as dry goods stores, coffee houses, and book stores, all with item-by-item or lot-by-lot inventories. There are also several records of hotel sales, including at least one for the St. Charles Hotel, again with room-by-room listings of furnishings and inventories of the contents of the public rooms. Each volume is indexed by the titles of the suits which led to the court-ordered sale.

Also included is one manuscript volume of "account sales" (1838-1840) which show date, name of suit prompting the sale, name of court in which the suit was heard, description of the property being sold (land, slaves, and moveable properties are included), name of purchaser, and amount and terms of sale. The fees charged by the Sheriff are also listed and totaled, and subtracted from the sale price to give the amount of net proceeds.