TL;DR
A typical uncontested Louisiana succession takes 45 to 90 days from engagement to recorded judgment of possession. Week 1-2: document gathering and engagement. Week 3-4: petition drafting and filing. Week 5-6: court intake and any required hearings. Week 7-10: judgment of possession signed and recorded. Successions with mineral interests, multi-parish recording, or contested elements stretch to 4-12 months. Here is what happens week by week.
Why a week-by-week timeline helps
The single most common question we get from new clients is “how long will this take?” The honest answer is “45 to 90 days for a typical uncontested matter” but that does not tell anyone what is happening in the meantime. This article maps the actual week-by-week activity for a standard uncontested Louisiana succession. If your case is more complex (forced heirs, contested issues, mineral interests, multi-parish recording), the timeline lengthens, but the underlying sequence is the same.
Week 1: Initial consultation and engagement
What you do
- Initial phone or video consultation (typically 30-45 minutes)
- Review of fee proposal and engagement letter
- Sign engagement and pay initial retainer
What we do
- Conflict check
- Open file, assign matter number
- Request initial document list (death certificate, marriage license, prior wills, deeds, account statements, bills)
- Schedule intake meeting (if not done in initial call)
Week 2: Document gathering and analysis
What you do
- Send certified death certificate, decedent’s last will, marriage records, deed copies, recent bank/investment statements
- List all known heirs with addresses, SSN or DOB, relationship to decedent
- List all known creditors
What we do
- Review the testament (if any) for formal validity and contest exposure
- Run parish public records for owned immovables
- Order mineral-interest searches if applicable
- Begin preparing the descriptive list of assets and liabilities
- Identify any minor heirs, missing heirs, or forced-heirship issues
Week 3: Petition drafting
What we draft
- Petition for probate of testament (if testate) or petition for possession (if intestate and small enough to skip administration)
- Affidavit of death and heirship
- Sworn descriptive list of assets and liabilities
- Proposed judgment of possession
- Order setting hearing or order for direct probate
What you do
- Review the descriptive list for accuracy
- Sign the verification of the descriptive list
- Sign any required affidavits
Week 4: Court filing and intake
What we do
- File petition with the parish clerk of court
- Pay filing fees ($350-$650 in most parishes)
- Order the case to a docket
- Set any required ex parte hearings
What you do
Usually nothing this week. The court system processes the new filing.
Want a predictable Louisiana succession timeline?
Our process is built around week-by-week milestones. Flat-fee where possible. Most uncontested cases close in 45-90 days.
Week 5-6: Court processing
What happens at court
- Clerk routes file to assigned judge or commissioner
- Court reviews testament (if any) for formal validity
- Court reviews petition and supporting documents
- Order for probate is signed if the testament passes (notarial: typically same day; olographic: requires witness affidavits)
- If administration is required (creditor issues, contested matters), letters of administration or letters testamentary issue
If administration is required
An administered succession takes longer because La. C.C.P. art. 3301 et seq. requires:
- Notice to creditors (typically by publication)
- 30-day window for creditor claims
- Resolution of disputed claims
- Final accounting before judgment of possession
Most of our uncontested successions can skip administration under La. C.C.P. art. 3001 (sending heirs directly into possession when all heirs are competent adults and there is no need for administration).
Week 7-8: Judgment of possession signed
What happens
- Judge signs the judgment of possession
- Clerk issues certified copies (we order several)
- Judgment is then ready for recording
Week 9-10: Recording in parish records
What we do
- Record the judgment in the conveyance and mortgage records of every parish where the decedent owned immovable property or mineral interests
- Send certified copies to banks, brokerage firms, employers (for any final paychecks or pension benefits), and insurance companies
- Send division-order packages to oil and gas operators (see our mineral royalty release article)
- Coordinate retitling of vehicles, boats, and titled personal property
What you do
- Open estate bank account if needed for ongoing matters
- Notify Social Security Administration (if not already done)
- Coordinate any property listings or sales
Variations from the standard timeline
| Case feature | Effect on timeline |
|---|---|
| Olographic testament | Add 2-4 weeks (witness affidavits) |
| Out-of-state heirs | Add 1-3 weeks (mailing, signature collection) |
| Mineral interests in 3+ parishes | Add 4-8 weeks (recording, operator curative) |
| Forced-heir minor | Add 2-4 weeks (tutorship coordination) |
| Missing heir requiring curator | Add 4-12 weeks |
| Required administration | Add 30-90 days (creditor notice period) |
| Contested testament | Add 6-24 months |
| Forced-heirship reduction action | Add 6-18 months |
What slows successions down
In our experience, the longest delays in nominally uncontested cases come from:
- Missing documents: Bank statements not provided, deed copies not located, prior succession documents missing
- Unresponsive heirs: Heirs who do not return calls, sign affidavits, or provide addresses
- Title curative on inherited property: A decedent who inherited from a parent but never opened that prior succession means we have to open two successions
- Out-of-state heir signature delays: Notarization in a state that requires unusual notary credentials
- Bank-specific holds: Some banks require specific affidavit language or W-9 formats
How to keep your succession on the fast track
- Provide every document on the initial checklist within the first 2 weeks
- Respond to emails and calls within 48 hours
- Have heirs sign and notarize documents promptly
- If you do not have something, say so quickly so we can substitute or work around
- Avoid making major estate-property decisions (sales, gifts) without consulting us
After judgment: what comes next
Recording the judgment of possession closes the succession proceeding. Heirs are now the owners of record. Subsequent steps depend on the heir’s goals:
- Keep the property: Update insurance, transfer accounts, file ongoing tax returns
- Sell: List the property; the recorded judgment is the necessary title document
- Refinance or rent: Lenders and tenants want the recorded judgment in title
- Mineral royalties: Submit division-order packages to operators
Read our stalled real estate closing article for the seller’s perspective.
Reasonable expectations
A 45-day Louisiana succession is achievable if you have a clean notarial testament, all heirs cooperative, no mineral interests, no out-of-state heirs, and no surviving spouse complications. A 90-day timeline is normal for typical uncontested cases. A 6-month timeline is normal for cases with mineral interests, multi-parish recording, or moderate complexity. Cases with contested testaments, capacity disputes, or forced-heirship reduction actions can take 12-24 months or longer.
Related Reading
- How to Open a Louisiana Succession
- Louisiana Succession Documents Checklist
- How Much Does Louisiana Succession Cost?
- Uncontested Louisiana Succession Services
About the Author
Ronald C. Cantin is the principal attorney at Pelican Succession Law (3001 17th Street, Suite 102, Metairie, LA 70002 · (504) 389-6100 · info@pelicanfirm.com) and a member of the Louisiana State Bar Association (#39827). His practice concentrates on Louisiana successions, forced heirship, mineral-rights succession, and ancillary representation for out-of-state heirs across all 64 parishes.
Disclaimer. This article is for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Reading this article does not create an attorney-client relationship. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. For advice on your specific situation, consult a Louisiana attorney. Pelican Succession Law’s attorneys are licensed only in Louisiana. Attorney Advertising. Pelican Succession Law, 3001 17th Street, Suite 102, Metairie, LA 70002.