Practices from Gretna near the Jefferson, Orleans and Plaquemines parish courthouses and has served the New Orleans area since 1980. Handles successions under administration, simple successions placing heirs into possession, small succession affidavits and double successions, and both contests and defenses of wills. Offers a free telephone consultation.
What to Do When Someone Dies in Orleans Parish, Louisiana
How probate works in Orleans Parish: the Civil District Court record, what the process costs, and how to file there.
Probate Court Record
Orleans Parish Civil District Court
Orleans Parish · Orleans Parish Civil District
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:30 AM-5:00 PM
Office
421 Loyola Avenue, Room 402, New Orleans, LA 70112
Website
E-filing
Filing in person
Walk-ins accepted
Self-represented filing
Allowed
Self-help forms
E-filing
OptionalRemote Access subscribers with an active Louisiana Bar Roll number who have taken the clerk's e-filing training can e-file initial and later pleadings in non-domestic cases through Remote Access. Fees come out of the subscriber's escrow account and are non-refundable once authorized. On paper: Domestic cases.
Filing in person
Walk-ins acceptedSuccessions are filed at the Docket 1 station on the front counter of the Civil Division, Room 402, during office hours. Outside office hours an on-call employee takes urgent filings.
Self-represented filing
AllowedThe clerk publishes the court's numbered Docket 1 forms (letters, bonds, will orders, publication notices) as one packet. A litigant who cannot pay the filing fees may apply to proceed in forma pauperis.
Fax
1-504-592-9128
Departments
- Successions (Docket 1)1-504-407-0047Docket 1 handles successions and probate matters, tutorships, interdictions and emancipations, and arranges the required notice publications.
- Record Room1-504-407-0036Deputy clerks give factual information from case records by phone. Successions from 1918 to 2003 are kept in the Annex Record Room, so retrieval takes longer.
- After-hours filing1-504-407-0000 · Monday-Sunday 5:00 PM-midnight (holidays included)The answering service connects the clerk employee on call. After-hours filing is limited to urgent matters.
About the court
- Louisiana uses "succession" instead of "probate" (civil law tradition). In Orleans Parish the Civil and Criminal District Courts are separate courts, and every succession is filed with the Clerk of Civil District Court. Starting November 9, 2026, the clerk's office hours change to 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Verified October 15, 2026 · Source
How Probate Works in Orleans Parish
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 Orleans Parish, probate runs through the Civil District Court at 421 Loyola Avenue, Room 402, New Orleans. The court sits in the Orleans Parish Civil District. Probate e-filing in Orleans Parish goes through remoteaccess.orleanscivilclerk.com, a county-specific system.
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. Creditors have 3 monthsLa. C.C.P. arts. 3241-3249, 3301-3308; La. C.C. art. 3276Verified Oct 18, 2026View source to present a claim, counted from the date of death.
What Probate Costs in Orleans Parish
What probate costs in Orleans 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 Civil District Court at 421 Loyola Avenue, Room 402, New Orleans. The court is part of the Orleans Parish Civil District.
Procedures at this court that affect cost: Non-refundable filing fees are set by the Court sitting En Banc; In Forma Pauperis is available.
The Civil 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 Oct 17, 2026View source to open a probate case. Additional filings during administration — inventory, accounting, the final petition — add to the total.
Estimate the costs for this estate:
Attorney fees in Louisiana are negotiated, typically 1.9%Modeled estimate under 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): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3%Modeled estimate under 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): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source of estate value. Flat-fee arrangements are common for straightforward estates.
Louisiana sets executor compensation at 2.5% of the estate by statuteLa. C.C.P. art. 3351 (2.5% of inventory default; court may increase if inadequate)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source. 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%Industry surety premium estimate; the bond itself under La. C.C.P. arts. 3151 (administrator security, 1.25x inventory), 3153 (testator-named executor), 3154-3155 (forced heirs, spouse or creditor may compel), 3396.14 (independent administrator)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.
How to File Probate at the Civil District Court
Probate documents in Orleans Parish can be filed in person at the Civil District Court, by mail, or electronically. Most families handling probate themselves prefer paper filing, though e-filing is available. The court sits in the Orleans Parish Civil District.
Beside the filing office, the court lists separate lines for Successions (Docket 1), Record Room, and After-hours filing.
Can You File Without an Attorney?
Louisiana has no statewide fill-in probate petition, so the opening petition is drafted as a legal pleading, and informal probate is not available.
For a full cost comparison and filing checklist, see the Orleans Parish Self-Filing Assessment.
Orleans Parish Filing Requirements
These are specific requirements for filing probate in this county. Following these guidelines will help avoid delays or rejected filings.
Before You File
Successions are filed at Docket 1 (Successions Department).
Succession matters in Orleans Parish are filed with the Civil Division under Docket 1, on the 4th floor at 421 Loyola Avenue.
SourceDocument Requirements
The court uses numbered succession forms for letters, bonds, will orders and publication notices.
The Docket 1 forms are published one by one and as a single All Succession Forms PDF.
SourceWhat to Bring
Filed with the opening petition at the Civil District Court: Proof of the decedent’s death and of the heirs’ relationship — EITHER an official certificate issued by the proper public officer (a certified death certificate) OR an affidavit executed by two persons having knowledge of the facts, filed in the record of the succession proceeding (CCP arts. 2821-2822). The affidavit route — the customary "Affidavit of Death, Domicile and Heirship" — is what Louisiana practice actually files; no article requires a death certificateLa. Code Civ. Proc. arts. 2811, 3001-3198 (succession opening, appointment, letters); arts. 3396-3396.20 (independent administration)Verified Aug 24, 2026View source.
Death Certificates and the Coroner in Orleans Parish
In Louisiana a death is registered locally, and in Orleans Parish certified copies of the death certificate are issued by Vital Records Central Office, Orleans Parish as well as by Louisiana Department of Health - Vital Records Registry.
Vital Records Office Record
Local Health Department
Orleans Parish · Vital Records Central Office
Phone
Hours
8:00 AM-3:30 PM (walk-in, excluding state holidays)
Office
1450 Poydras Street, Suite 400, New Orleans, LA 70112
Website
Certified copies
At the counter
Order online
Also issued by
The county recorder
Vital Records Registry
P.O. Box 60630
New Orleans, LA 70160
Local rule
- The state registrar is the local registrar in Orleans Parish, at this office. The Clerk of the Second City Court, 225 Morgan Street, Room 206 (1-504-407-0435), may also issue death certificates.
Certified copy fees
| First certified copy | $7 |
Verified November 2, 2026 · Source
Coroner or Medical Examiner Record
Coroner
Orleans Parish · Orleans Parish Coroner
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 9:00 AM-4:00 PM
Office
3001 Earhart Boulevard, New Orleans, LA 70125
Website
Verified November 2, 2026 · Source
Transferring Property in Orleans Parish
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 Civil District Court.
Deeds and other real property documents for Orleans Parish are recorded with the Clerk of Civil District Court at 1340 Poydras Street, 4th Floor, New Orleans, LA 70112. Phone: 1-504-407-0005. Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30 AM-5:00 PM.
The Clerk of Civil District 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.
Orleans Parish accepts electronic recording through CSC, ePN and Simplifile.
Recording Office Record
Clerk of Civil District Court
Orleans Parish · Land Records Division
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:30 AM-5:00 PM
Office
1340 Poydras Street, 4th Floor, New Orleans, LA 70112
Website
E-recording
available via CSC, ePN and Simplifile
Fax
1-504-592-9192
Recording fees
| 1-5 pages | $100 |
| 6-25 pages | $200 |
| 26-50 pages | $300 |
| 51+ pages | $300 |
| Courthouse Building Fund fee (Orleans Parish)Required with most deeds | $30 |
| Louisiana Clerks' Remote Access Authority (LCRAA) portal feeRequired with most deeds | $5 |
| Ordinance #20527 New Orleans Documentary Transaction TaxRequired with most deeds | $325 flat (most documents transferring real estate) |
La. R.S. 13:844(A)(1); La. R.S. 13:1211
Verified October 16, 2026 · Source
Probate Attorneys Serving Orleans Parish
Louisiana allows independent administrationLa. C.C.P. art. 3396.2Verified Sep 8, 2026View source, so the personal representative manages, pays and distributes the estate without returning to the court for approval at each step. A probate attorney earns the fee when the estate is contested, includes a business or out-of-state real estate, has unclear or insolvent debts, or when beneficiaries disagree.
Probate attorney fees in Louisiana are based on reasonable compensation, billed hourly or as a flat fee. Ask an Orleans Parish firm to quote a structure up front.
A probate attorney files the petition with the Civil 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.
Practices from Metairie and handles successions in Orleans, St. Tammany, Jefferson, Lafourche, St. John and Terrebonne parishes. Represents heirs and succession representatives in successions with and without administration, probate of wills and small successions, and litigates will contests and representative removals. Also answers Medicaid estate recovery claims.
Practices from Metairie in Jefferson Parish for clients throughout the New Orleans metro area. Attorney R. Scott Buhrer, in practice since 1986, administers testate and intestate successions, represents both challengers and administrators in contested successions, and handles interdictions. He holds an MBA from Tulane University, applied to estates with business interests.
Practices from Metairie, New Orleans and Hammond, serving Jefferson, Orleans and Tangipahoa parishes, and has handled successions since its founding in 1989. Handles succession and estate administration, trust administration, and estate and trust litigation over will validity, trust management and the distribution of estate assets, with estate, gift and income tax planning.
New Orleans firm founded in 1937, with offices in Baton Rouge, Lafayette and Lake Charles. Its Estate Planning & Administration attorneys administer domiciliary and ancillary estates, prepare estate and gift tax returns, and handle contested successions and trust disputes. Partners David F. Edwards and Miriam Wogan Henry are board-certified Estate Planning and Administration Specialists.
Mid-City New Orleans firm founded in 1967, now run by Vincent B. "Chip" LoCoco, serving Orleans, Jefferson, St. Tammany and St. Bernard parishes. It handles probate of the will and the succession, from the petition and executor appointment through inventory, payment of debts and distribution to heirs, as well as interdictions and special needs planning.
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.
Legal Sources
(9)·
- La. C.C.P. art. 3351 (2.5% of inventory default; court may increase if inadequate)
- La. C.C.P. art. 3396.2
- La. C.C.P. arts. 3241-3249, 3301-3308; La. C.C. art. 3276
- La. Code Civ. Proc. arts. 2811, 3001-3198 (succession opening, appointment, letters); arts. 3396-3396.20 (independent administration)
- La. R.S. 13:841; La. CCP Art. 3421-3422; Acts 2026, No. 293, §1 (HB 215); Acts 2024, No. 90, §1 (SB 32)
- La. R.S. 13:844(A)(1); La. R.S. 13:1211
- Orleans Parish Civil District Court, official page
- Orleans Parish Clerk of Civil District Court, official page
- Orleans Parish vital records and death investigation offices, official page
Data sourced from Louisiana statutes and official state code. Fee percentages are modeled estimates; each figure's note says how. How we research.
Tools for Settling an Estate in Louisiana
Free tools for settling an estate in Louisiana: whether probate is needed, executor and trustee pay, creditor deadlines and taxes. Run each tool for Louisiana.
How Do I Settle an Estate?
Settling an estate in Louisiana: creditors have 3 monthsLa. C.C.P. arts. 3241-3249, 3301-3308; La. C.C. art. 3276Verified Oct 18, 2026View source to present claims; a simple estate closes in 3 months to 6 months.
See the Steps
How Do I Settle a Trust?
Settling a trust in Louisiana happens outside court: the trustee acts under the state's trust statuteLa. R.S. 9:1721 et seq.Verified Oct 17, 2026View source, notifies the beneficiaries, then pays the debts and distributes under the trust's terms.
See the Steps
Can I Self-File Probate?
Louisiana has no statewide fill-in probate petition, so the opening petition is drafted as a legal pleading, and informal probate is not available.
Get the Answer
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