You'll be back. Every time life changes.
Louisiana Estate Planning Resources
In-depth guides covering Louisiana probate laws, trust requirements, and estate planning strategies.
© 2026 SimplyTrust Software Inc.
In-depth guides covering Louisiana probate laws, trust requirements, and estate planning strategies.
Free Louisiana last will form. 2 witnesses, notary required. Name beneficiaries, guardians, and executor. Download PDF, print, and sign.
Step 1 of 9
This information identifies you as the person making this will. It also determines your state's specific execution requirements.
FREE & PRIVATE: This form is free—no account or credit card required. Your form entries and generated document never leave your browser—SimplyTrust does not transmit or store them. You are responsible for saving your completed document.
SELF-HELP SERVICE: SimplyTrust provides a self-help document preparation service. We are not a law firm and cannot provide legal advice, select forms for you, or tell you how to complete forms. Our role is limited to providing a platform where you input your own information into document templates.
NOT LEGAL ADVICE:This document was created entirely based on your selections. SimplyTrust does not review, analyze, or verify your entries, nor do we verify your identity, capacity, or authority to act. You are solely responsible for determining whether this document meets your needs and for completing all required execution formalities (signatures, witnesses, notarization, or recording) in accordance with your state's laws. For any legal questions, consult a licensed attorney in your state.
Louisiana requires 2 adult witnesses present when the testator signs.La. C.C. Art. 1576Verified May 31, 2026 Witnesses must be 18 or older. Louisiana allows interested witnesses (beneficiaries), though most families use disinterested witnesses.
Yes, Louisiana requires notarization for a will to be valid.La. C.C. Art. 1576Verified May 31, 2026 The notary must be present along with the witnesses when the testator signs. This is stricter than most states.
Yes, Louisiana recognizes holographic (handwritten) wills if the material provisions are in the testator's handwriting.La. C.C. Art. 1576Verified May 31, 2026 Holographic wills typically do not need witnesses, but they're more vulnerable to legal challenges than a formally executed will.
A will does not avoid probate — it goes through the Louisiana probate court for validation and asset distribution. Simple estates typically take 3-6 months.La. C.C. Art. 1576Verified May 31, 2026 Estates valued under $125,000 may qualify for a Small Succession, which is faster than full probate. Use the probate cost calculator to estimate what probate would cost in Louisiana.
As a community property state, Louisiana treats most marital assets as jointly owned. Without a will, community property generally passes to the surviving spouse, while separate property is divided among the spouse and children according to intestacy law. See exactly how Louisiana divides assets with the Louisiana inheritance calculator.
Louisiana has authorized remote online notarization, but wills are excluded — the self-proving affidavit must be notarized in person.La. R.S. 35:621 et seq. Other documents like trusts and powers of attorney may be eligible for RON.
You must be at least 16 years old to create a valid will in Louisiana.La. C.C. Art. 1576Verified May 31, 2026 This is lower than the 18-year minimum used by most states.
A will distributes assets through probate court — public, slower, and carries the state-specific costs you can see on the probate calculator. A revocable living trust skips probate, keeps the estate private, and lets your family receive assets faster. If avoiding probate matters to you, you can create a revocable trust instead of, or alongside, this will.
Get a complete guide for your specific circumstances.
Your family is growing. Your protection should too. Guardian nominations, trusts for minors, beneficiary updates, and the documents new parents need in place.
Learn more
Starting a life together means planning for it. Beneficiary updates, asset titling, powers of attorney, and what blended families need to know.
Learn more