Probate in Caddo Parish runs through the District Court: prove the will, settle the debts, and pass the house to the heirs. Here is how the local process works—and what each step actually costs.
When someone dies in Caddo Parish, settling their estate runs through the District Court. This page covers the court record, whether probate is required, what it costs, how to file, transferring property, and the local attorneys who handle probate here.
Probate Court Record
Caddo Parish · 1st Judicial District
Address
Phone
Fax
Hours
Louisiana uses "succession" instead of "probate" (civil law tradition). Civil Filings: 318-226-6776; civil@caddoclerk.com. Emergency fax: 318-227-9080.
Verified July 3, 2026 · Source
Probate is the court-supervised process of settling someone's estate after they die — validating the will, paying debts and taxes, and transferring what's left to the heirs. In Caddo Parish, probate runs through the District Court at 501 Texas Street, Room 103, Shreveport. The court sits in the 1st Judicial District.
The personal representative opens the case, gives notice to heirs and creditors, files an inventory of the estate's assets, settles outstanding debts and taxes, and then distributes the remainder under the will — or under Louisiana intestacy law when there is no will.
Most Louisiana estates take 6 months to 12 months to move through this process. The 3 monthsLa. C.C.P. art. 3302Verified Sep 8, 2026View source creditor claim window is the largest fixed piece of that timeline — a mandatory wait regardless of how simple the estate is.
What probate costs in Caddo Parish, Louisiana comes down to a handful of line items — the court filing fee, attorney and executor compensation, publication, and sometimes a bond — scaled by the estate's size and whether the will is contested. The case itself runs through the District Court at 501 Texas Street, Room 103, Shreveport. The court is part of the 1st Judicial District.
Local procedures at this court that affect cost: Succession advance deposit is $450.00 for both large and small successions. These are county-specific and not posted on the statewide court site.
The District Court charges $300 - $400 (based on estate value)La. R.S. 13:841; La. CCP Art. 3421-3422; Acts 2026, No. 293, §1 (HB 215); Acts 2024, No. 90, §1 (SB 32)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to open a probate case. Additional filings during administration — inventory, accounting, the final petition — add to the total.
The District Court accepts e-filing. Paper filing remains available for self-represented filers.
Estimate the costs for this estate:
Attorney fees in Louisiana are negotiated, typically 1.9%La. C.C.P. arts. 3301, 3303 (attorney fees are an administration expense — La. Civ. Code art. 1415 — payable only on court authorization); art. 3351.1 (dual-role limit)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3%La. C.C.P. arts. 3301, 3303 (attorney fees are an administration expense — La. Civ. Code art. 1415 — payable only on court authorization); art. 3351.1 (dual-role limit)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of estate value. Flat-fee arrangements are common for straightforward estates.
Executor compensation is set by statute at 2.5%La. C.C.P. art. 3351 (2.5% of inventory default; court may increase if inadequate)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of estate value. Family members who are also beneficiaries often waive the fee — executor pay is taxable income while inheritances are not.
A surety bond may be required unless the will waives it or all beneficiaries consent. Premiums run roughly 0.5%La. C.C.P. arts. 3151 (administrator security, 1.25x inventory), 3153 (testator-named executor not required to furnish security), 3154-3155 (forced heirs, surviving spouse, or creditor may compel), 3396.14 (independent administrator not required to provide security)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of estate value annually.
Probate in Louisiana typically runs 6 months to 12 months, and costs accrue throughout that period.
Probate documents in Caddo Parish can be filed in person at the District Court, by mail, or electronically. Most families handling probate themselves prefer paper filing, though e-filing is available. The court sits in the 1st Judicial District.
How to File Your Documents
You can file your probate documents in person at the court or by mail.
If you prefer, you can file electronically through the state's online system. This is optional for families filing without an attorney.
Not every estate requires an attorney. Estate size, asset types, and whether beneficiaries agree determine if self-filing at the District Court is realistic.
For a full cost comparison and filing checklist, see the Caddo Parish Self-Filing Assessment.
These are specific requirements for filing probate in this county. Following these guidelines will help avoid delays or rejected filings.
Civil Court Rules require all filings to be submitted on legal-size paper.
SourceBefore You Go
You can file in person without an appointment. The Civil Filings Department receives and files petitions and other civil pleadings in person during business hours; no appointment is referenced.
To file at the District Court you need: the original will (or proof there isn't one), a certified death certificate, contact information for all heirs and beneficiaries, and a summary of what the estate owns and owes.
Clearing title to real estate after a death, whether by a personal representative’s deed, an affidavit of survivorship, or a court order, happens at the Clerk of Court.
Deeds and other real property documents for Caddo Parish are recorded with the Clerk of Court, led by Mike Spence, at 501 Texas Street, Room 103, Shreveport, LA 71101. Phone: 318-226-6790. Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM.
The Clerk of Court charges $100 for 1-5 pages, $200 for 6-25 pages, $300 for 26-50 pages, $300 plus $5 for each page beyond 50.
Caddo Parish accepts electronic recording through ClerkConnect.
Recording Office Record
Caddo Parish · Mike Spence
Address
Phone
Fax
Hours
E-recording
Recording fees
| 1-5 pages | $100 |
| 6-25 pages | $200 |
| 26-50 pages | $300 |
| 51+ pages | $300 |
| Louisiana Clerks' Remote Access Authority (LCRAA) portal feeRequired with most deeds | $5 |
| Court Modernization and Technology Fund feeRequired with most deeds | $5 |
La. R.S. 13:844(A)(1)
Verified September 5, 2026 · Source
Louisiana uses formal, court-supervised probate, which makes an attorney worthwhile for most estates in Caddo Parish — the filing sequence, notice requirements, and accounting leave little room for error. Estates under the small-estate threshold are the usual exception.
Probate attorney fees in Louisiana are based on reasonable compensation — typically 1.9%La. C.C.P. arts. 3301, 3303 (attorney fees are an administration expense — La. Civ. Code art. 1415 — payable only on court authorization); art. 3351.1 (dual-role limit)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3%La. C.C.P. arts. 3301, 3303 (attorney fees are an administration expense — La. Civ. Code art. 1415 — payable only on court authorization); art. 3351.1 (dual-role limit)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate's value, billed hourly or as a flat fee. Ask a Caddo Parish firm to quote a structure up front.
A probate attorney files the petition with the District Court, publishes the required creditor notices, prepares the inventory and accounting, handles creditor claims and tax filings, and guides the final distribution. They represent the personal representative — not the beneficiaries — a distinction that matters if a dispute develops.
FirmCoushatta, LA
Serves families, landowners, and businesses across Northwest Louisiana from offices in Coushatta and Shreveport, with roots in Red River Parish since 1922. Handles Louisiana successions and probates, estate planning, wills and trusts, and property matters including the succession of land, timber, and mineral estates.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateProperty LawWills Trusts
Solo PracticeShreveport, LA
Attorney Carl H. Franklin has been guiding Louisiana families through successions, probate, wills, and estate planning for over 39 years. A member of Elder Counsel and Wealth Counsel, he serves Shreveport, Bossier City, Monroe, and parishes throughout Northwest Louisiana.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateElder LawWills Trusts
Solo PracticeBossier City, LA
Established succession attorney in Bossier City with extensive experience as a probate lawyer, serving clients throughout Shreveport and Bossier City, Louisiana.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateWills Trusts
FirmRuston, LA
Founded by brothers Andy and Bjay Durrett, natives of Lincoln Parish, the firm combines nearly two decades of legal experience serving clients in North Louisiana with business transactions, probate, successions, and estate planning.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateElder LawWills Trusts
FirmShreveport, LA
Shreveport firm providing skilled guidance for successions under their Wills, Trusts & Estates practice, representing executors and family members in administering successions of all sizes.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateTax PlanningWills Trusts
FirmShreveport, LA
Shreveport law firm handling successions and probate for families settling a relative's estate, including asset inventory, will validation, debt settlement, and asset distribution. Offers a free consultation.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbate
Firm listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any specific firm or attorney. Contact firms directly to verify their current practice areas and availability.
Data sourced from Louisiana statutes and official state code. How we research.
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Probate fee bases vary by state and may use gross estate, personal property, inventory value, or net property after debts. This calculator provides educational estimates only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Actual costs vary significantly by county, attorney, and estate complexity. Consult a licensed attorney in your state for guidance specific to your situation.
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