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Louisiana estate planning
Home→States→Louisiana

Louisiana Estate Planning: Free Wills, Forms & Calculators

The Pelican State

Access Louisiana-specific estate planning resources including FREE Last Will and Testament, Financial Power of Attorney, and Healthcare Proxy forms. Learn about community property and forced heirship laws.

What Makes Louisiana Different

Louisiana operates under community property law, one of only nine states to do so. Most assets acquired during marriage belong equally to both spouses regardless of whose name is on the title or who earned the income. This fundamental difference from common law states shapes every aspect of estate planning here, from how property passes at death to what a surviving spouse automatically inherits.

Like all states, Louisiana recognizes formally executed wills and living trusts as valid estate planning tools. A standard will here requires 2 adult witnesses and must be notarized to be valid. However, the state also recognizes holographic (handwritten) wills, which require only your signature—no witnesses or notary—though these must be proved in court and are more vulnerable to challenges. The minimum age to create a will here is 16, younger than the 18 required in most states.

Smaller estates under $125,000 can use a simplified transfer process that avoids full probate proceedings.

Find Your County's Probate Court

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Each county in Louisiana handles probate matters through its local court system. Click on any county to view specific court contact information, judges, filing procedures, and local requirements.

Louisiana Estate Law

Probate costs, will requirements, trust laws, and more. Compare with other states.

Explore

Louisiana Estate Planning Forms

Pick what's right for you. Free for Louisiana.

$12/month

Revocable Living Trust

Create a revocable living trust to avoid probate, protect privacy, and control asset distribution.

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Last Will and Testament

Name your heirs, guardians, and final wishes. Free for every state.

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Free

Pour-Over Will

Catch anything outside your trust. Pairs with your revocable trust.

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Free

Healthcare Power of Attorney

Name someone to make medical decisions if you can't.

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Free

Financial Power of Attorney

Name someone to manage your finances if you can't.

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Louisiana Tools & Calculators

Run the numbers for Louisiana for free.

How Much Does Probate Cost in Louisiana?

Estimate attorney fees, executor fees, court costs, and timeline for probating an estate in your state. See if the estate qualifies for simplified probate procedures.

Use Calculator

How Much Can an Executor Charge in Louisiana?

Calculate how much an executor (personal representative) can charge for administering an estate. See if your state has statutory fees or uses reasonable compensation.

Use Calculator

Who Inherits Without a Will in Louisiana?

Find out who inherits your estate and how much they get if you die without a will. Based on your state's intestate succession laws.

Use Calculator

What's Fair Trustee Compensation in Louisiana?

Find out what's fair compensation for serving as trustee. Compare family, professional, and corporate trustee rates based on your situation.

Use Calculator

How Much Are Estate & Inheritance Taxes in Louisiana?

Calculate federal estate tax, state estate tax (12 states + DC), and inheritance tax (5 states) for an estate or trust.

Use Calculator

How Many Death Certificates Do I Need in Louisiana?

Calculate how many certified death certificates you need based on the assets and accounts you need to close. See state-specific ordering information.

Use Calculator

Do I Need Probate in Louisiana?

Answer a few questions to find out if an estate needs full probate, qualifies for simplified probate, or can avoid probate entirely with a small estate affidavit.

Check Now

What Does Estate Planning Actually Cost in Louisiana?

See the true cost of estate planning. Compare SimplyTrust, Trust & Will, LegalZoom, and attorneys including life events like marriage, divorce, and having children.

Compare Costs

How Much Does a Revocable Living Trust Cost in Louisiana?

Compare the cost of creating a revocable living trust. See how SimplyTrust, Trust & Will, LegalZoom, and attorneys compare over 5 years including life events.

Compare Costs

How Much Does a Will Cost in Louisiana?

Compare the cost of creating a will. See document costs plus probate fees your heirs will pay. Compare SimplyTrust, Trust & Will, LegalZoom, and attorneys.

Compare Costs

How Much Life Insurance Do I Need in Louisiana?

Calculate how much life insurance coverage you need. Accounts for income replacement, debt payoff, college funding, and state-specific factors like cost of living and estate taxes.

Use Calculator

I'm Inheriting - What Should I Expect in Louisiana?

Find out what to expect when inheriting money, property, or other assets. See timeline estimates, inheritance tax implications, and understand what the executor or trustee is handling behind the scenes.

Learn More

Are My Beneficiary Designations Protected in Louisiana?

See how your state handles beneficiary designations after divorce, inherited IRA creditor protection, and spousal consent requirements for retirement accounts.

Check Now

What Are the Estate Laws in My State in Louisiana?

Understand your state's estate planning landscape. See will execution requirements, probate procedures, trust administration rules, and what happens if you die without a plan.

Check Your State

How Do Trust Laws Differ Between States in Louisiana?

See side-by-side differences in trust execution requirements, remote notarization, transfer-on-death deeds, and administration rules. Calculate settlement costs for each state.

Compare States

How Do I Sign Estate Documents in Louisiana?

Understand what you need to execute your estate planning documents. Check witness requirements, notarization rules, and whether you can sign remotely via video call (RON).

Check Requirements

Will My Estate Documents Transfer in Louisiana?

Moving states? Find out if your will, trust, healthcare proxy, or power of attorney will be recognized in your new state. See the legal basis for interstate recognition and any potential issues.

Check Portability

Do I Need a Revocable Trust in Louisiana?

Answer questions about your estate size, real estate, family situation, and privacy preferences to see how a revocable trust compares to a will alone.

Take the Quiz

Can I Self-File Probate in Louisiana?

Get a score-based recommendation on whether self-filing probate is right for your situation. See estimated savings vs. hiring an attorney and get a step-by-step checklist.

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Do I Need a Trust or Will in Louisiana?

Compare trusts vs wills for your specific situation. See probate costs, trust administration expenses, and whether your estate qualifies for simplified procedures based on your state and estate value.

Compare Options

How Do I Settle an Estate in Louisiana?

Get a personalized checklist for settling an estate after someone passes away. Covers trust administration, probate, and intestate estates.

Get Checklist

What Are My Duties as Trustee in Louisiana?

Step-by-step guide for successor trustees administering a trust. Understand your duties, notification deadlines, and asset management responsibilities.

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What Are My Duties as Executor in Louisiana?

Complete guide for executors and personal representatives navigating probate. Court filings, creditor claims, and distribution timelines.

Get Checklist

Louisiana Estate Attorneys

Find estate planning attorneys in Louisiana by practice area.

Louisiana Estate Planning Attorneys

32 firms

Louisiana Trust Administration Attorneys

5 firms

Louisiana Probate Attorneys

8 firms

Louisiana Probate Litigation Attorneys

1 firm

Louisiana Elder Law Attorneys

8 firms

Louisiana Tax Planning Attorneys

7 firms

Louisiana Guardianship Attorneys

1 firm

Louisiana Special Needs Planning Attorneys

1 firm

Louisiana Asset Protection Attorneys

2 firms

Financial Institutions in Louisiana

Banks, brokerages, and credit unions serving Louisiana.

Cadence Bank

Cadence Bank logo

Bank serving the Southeast and Southwest

Cadence Bank

First Horizon

First Horizon logo

Bank serving the Southeast, Northeast, and more

First Horizon

Hancock Whitney

Hancock Whitney logo

Bank serving the Southeast and Southwest

Hancock Whitney

Huntington

Huntington logo

Bank serving the Southeast, Midwest, and more

Huntington

Keesler Federal

Keesler Federal logo

Credit Union serving Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama

Keesler Federal

Origin

Origin logo

Bank serving the Southeast and Southwest

Origin

Regions

Regions logo

Bank serving the Southeast, Midwest, and more

Regions

Acorns

Acorns logo

Brokerage serving all 50 states

Acorns

ADP

ADP logo

Retirement Provider serving all 50 states

ADP

Aflac

Aflac logo

Insurance Company serving all 50 states

Aflac

VALIC

VALIC logo

Insurance Company serving all 50 states

VALIC

Alerus

Alerus logo

Retirement Provider serving all 50 states

Alerus

Alight

Alight logo

Retirement Provider serving all 50 states

Alight

Alliant

Alliant logo

Credit Union serving all 50 states

Alliant

Allianz Life

Allianz Life logo

Insurance Company serving all 50 states

Allianz Life

Allstate

Allstate logo

Insurance Company serving all 50 states

Allstate

Louisiana Estate Planning Articles

Discover Louisiana's unique forced heirship rules, community property laws, and civil law traditions that shape estate planning decisions.

Cost of Probate in Louisiana: A Guide

Cost of Probate in Louisiana: A Guide

Louisiana succession costs range from 2-4% of the estate value.
Estate Planning
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialFebruary 15, 2026
Revocable Trusts in Louisiana vs Nevada: Key Differences

Revocable Trusts in Louisiana vs Nevada: Key Differences

Compare revocable trusts in Louisiana versus Nevada and how each state’s rules are unique for residents and property owners.
Estate Planning
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialJanuary 21, 2026
Why No Inheritance Tax in Louisiana?

Why No Inheritance Tax in Louisiana?

Louisiana has no inheritance tax, benefiting families who live or own property in the state. Learn how it works.
Estate Planning
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialJanuary 21, 2026
Why No Estate Tax in Louisiana?

Why No Estate Tax in Louisiana?

Louisiana eliminated its estate tax in 2004, simplifying planning for residents and property owners. Here’s the overview.
Estate Planning
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialJanuary 20, 2026