Louisiana probate guide

Probate process in Louisiana

Louisiana is a civil-law (Napoleonic Code) state and calls the process 'succession' rather than probate. Successions are opened in the District Court of the parish of domicile. Small successions can be handled by affidavit (no court filing) for estates of $125,000 or less. Louisiana is a community-property state and does NOT have a real-property TOD deed; usufruct and legitime rules apply instead.

Louisiana probate at a glance

Court
District Court (succession proceedings)
Typical timeline
12–40 weeks
Filing fee
$200–$550
Small-estate threshold
$125,000
TOD deed allowed?
No
Bond required by default?
Yes (unless waived)
Statute
La. Code Civ. Proc. arts. 2811 et seq.; La. R.S. 9:1421 (small succession)

Source: www.lasc.org. Fees and thresholds change — verify with your county court before filing.

How Louisiana probate works, step by step

  1. 1File petition to open succession in the parish District Court
  2. 2Court appoints succession representative if administration is needed
  3. 3Prepare detailed descriptive list of assets and liabilities
  4. 4Pay debts and taxes and obtain judgment of possession
  5. 5Record the judgment of possession to transfer immovable property

Probate by county in Louisiana

Filing fees, court contacts, and process detail for 3 Louisiana counties:

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This page is informational and is not legal advice. Probate procedure varies by county and changes over time. Consult a licensed Louisiana probate attorney for advice specific to your situation.