Service
Uncontested Louisiana Succession.
Results May Vary.
TL;DR
What this costs
Flat fee from $2,500, quoted up front, no retainer, no hourly billing. Court costs and recording fees billed at cost.
How long this takes
14 business days* average from the date we receive complete documentation. Results May Vary. Most parishes process uncontested judgments in 3–10 business days. We file electronically.
What is an uncontested Louisiana succession?
What you’ll need to get started
Missing documents are a common cause of timeline delays. Gather these before your free consultation. We’ll review what you have and tell you what’s still needed.
- Certified copy of the death certificate (Louisiana Vital Records)
- Original will, if any (look in safe deposit box, attorney’s office, Notarial Archives)
- Names, addresses, dates of birth, and Social Security numbers for all heirs
- Property deeds or parish tax-assessment records for any real estate
- Account numbers and approximate balances for bank accounts and investments
- Marriage certificate (if decedent was married) and any divorce decrees
- Any matrimonial agreement (prenup/postnup)
Two tests decide whether you need one
A full court succession is the route where an estate cannot use a Small Succession Affidavit. The affidavit has two separate tests. An estate has to pass both of them.
The first test is value, and it is set by La. C.C.P. art. 3421. Domiciled means where the person made their permanent legal home. For a person who died domiciled in Louisiana, the Louisiana property must have a gross value of $200,000 or less. For a person who died domiciled outside Louisiana, the Louisiana property must have a gross value of $125,000 or less. Where the death occurred at least twenty years before the affidavit is signed, and the person left property in Louisiana, there is no dollar limit at all. Gross value means the value before debts are subtracted. Value is measured as of the date of death, not at today’s prices.
The second test is who the person was and what they owned, and it is set by La. C.C.P. art. 3431. It is much narrower than the value test. A person who died domiciled in Louisiana without a will may be able to use the affidavit, and it can transfer Louisiana real estate. A person who died domiciled in Louisiana, left a will, and owned any Louisiana immovable property cannot use the affidavit at any value. Immovable property means real estate such as a house, land or a camp. A person who died domiciled in Louisiana with a will and no Louisiana immovable property may be able to use the affidavit. That route also requires the surviving spouse, everyone who would inherit under the will, and everyone who would inherit without a will, all to agree to waive probate. A person who died domiciled outside Louisiana may be able to use the affidavit if they left no will, or if a court in another state has already probated the will. Where the person died domiciled outside Louisiana and the affidavit is available, it can also transfer Louisiana real estate. Anyone the descriptions above do not cover has to have the succession opened in court, however small the estate.
Clearing the value limit does not by itself keep a succession out of court. Where both tests are met, the estate can often be settled with a sworn affidavit instead of a court proceeding. Where only the value test is met, the succession still has to be opened in court, but qualifying as a small succession still saves money. Court costs are half the rate charged in a succession that is not a small succession, under La. C.C.P. art. 3422(1). Attorney fees are separate and are not affected. A full court succession is the route in the situations below.
When you need one
- The deceased owned Louisiana real estate (a home, camp, or land) that needs to be sold, refinanced, or retitled, and the estate fails at least one of the two tests above
- A bank, brokerage, or insurance company is holding accounts, and the estate fails at least one of the two tests above
- The estate’s gross value at the date of death is more than the limit set out above, so it fails the value test. An estate has to pass both tests.
- The deceased died domiciled in Louisiana, left a will, and owned Louisiana immovable property, which means real estate such as a house, land or a camp
- The deceased died domiciled in Louisiana and left a will, and at least one of the people whose agreement is needed has not agreed to waive probate. Those people are the surviving spouse, everyone who would inherit under the will, and everyone who would inherit without a will
Pricing
- Tier 1 (Simple): $2,500 for one property, up to four heirs, single parish.
- Tier 2 (Standard): $3,500–$4,500 for multiple properties or up to eight heirs, multi-parish recording.
- Tier 3 (Complex): from $5,000 for multiple prior marriages, blended families, business interests, or large portfolios.
Common Scenarios We Handle
Scenario 1
Single-property intestate
A decedent dies without a will, leaving one Louisiana home and a small number of heirs (typically a surviving spouse and adult children). The path here is the Louisiana Civil Code’s default order. Descendants inherit first, then ascendants and collaterals. Where the person who died left descendants, the surviving spouse usually receives a usufruct over the deceased spouse’s share of the community property, which is the right to use it. Where the estate meets both of the tests set out above, a Small Succession Affidavit may be available instead. This is a common uncontested matter, and it typically closes in about 14 business days.
Results May Vary.
Scenario 2
Testate matter with a notarial will
The decedent left a properly executed Louisiana notarial will naming the heirs and (often) a particular executor. The will is filed with the petition, the court declares it valid, and the Judgment of Possession follows the will’s bequests. Title companies, banks, and the DMV treat the resulting judgment as final.
Scenario 3
Forced heirs, and the will already covers them
Forced heirs exist, but the estate is large enough that the will gives each forced heir at least the share Louisiana law guarantees them, called the legitime. No reduction action is needed. We account for the forced-heir interests in the Judgment of Possession, and the matter remains uncontested.
Scenario 4
Retired couple, community home, no debts
One spouse passes away; the surviving spouse and adult children agree on distribution. The home is community property, accounts are jointly titled, and there are no outstanding debts. A standard uncontested filing places the property with usufruct to the surviving spouse and naked ownership to the children.
The 14-day* timeline
Results May Vary.
- Days 1–2: Free consultation, engagement letter, document collection.
- Days 3–4: We draft the Petition for Possession, Detailed Descriptive List of Assets, and Affidavit of Death and Heirship.
- Day 5: You sign one notarized Verification at any notary near you.
- Day 6: We file electronically with the parish court.
- Days 7–12: The judge reviews the filing and usually signs the Judgment of Possession.
- Days 13–14: Recording in conveyance records and certified copies delivered.
Common questions
What if there is no will?
An intestate succession (no will) follows Louisiana Civil Code default rules: descendants inherit first, then ascendants and collaterals, with the surviving spouse receiving usufruct over community property. The flat-fee, 14-day* timeline still applies.
Do I have to come to Louisiana?
No. We handle the matter remotely. You sign one notarized Verification at any notary near you. We appear in court and file electronically.
Do you handle forced heirship?
Every Louisiana succession involving a parent decedent gets a forced-heirship analysis before we file. If forced heirs exist (children under 24 or permanently incapacitated children), we account for them in the Judgment of Possession.
What if the matter becomes contested partway through?
If a dispute emerges, we let you know in writing, give you an honest assessment of options, and quote the next phase upfront. We never bill silently for contested work.
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Request Free QuoteFrequently Asked Questions
How long does an uncontested Louisiana succession take?
From complete documents to recorded Judgment of Possession, typically 14 business days. Document-collection delays are the #1 cause of timeline slippage; the court itself usually signs within 7 business days of filing. Multi-parish recordings can add 1-2 days at the end.
What flat fee should I expect?
Tier 1 (one property, up to 4 heirs): $2,500. Tier 2 (multiple properties or 5-8 heirs): $3,500-$4,500. Plus court costs (~$200-$300) and recording fees (~$100-$200 per parish), billed at cost. We quote the full fee in writing before any work begins.
Do all the heirs have to sign?
Each heir signs their own notarized Verification. They can sign separately, in different cities, on different days. We assemble the signed verifications and file once we have all of them. Heirs in different states (or different countries) is routine and adds no cost.
What happens if the deceased’s will turns out to be invalid?
If a will fails (for example, an olographic will that cannot be authenticated), we proceed under intestate succession rules. We notify you immediately, explain the change in distribution, and re-quote the matter in writing if the additional work moves it into a higher tier.
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