What to Do When Someone Dies in St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana
Probate in St. Bernard 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 St. Bernard 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.
Accepted paymentCheck, Money order. Checks or money orders payable to the St. Bernard Parish Clerk of Court. (Service fees may require a separate check payable to the St. Bernard Sheriff's Office.)
Louisiana uses "succession" instead of "probate" (civil law tradition). Mailing address: P.O. Box 1746, Chalmette, LA 70044-1746. St. Bernard Parish alone makes up the 34th JDC. Contact data confirmed via the Louisiana Clerks of Court Association directory; the clerk site (stbclerk.com) is HTTP-only and could not be fetched directly on this review. Per La. R.S. 13:850, fax filings no longer accepted statewide effective Jan 1, 2026.
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 St. Bernard Parish, probate runs through the District Court at 1101 W. St. Bernard Hwy., Chalmette. The court sits in the 34th 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 St. Bernard Parish
What probate costs in St. Bernard 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 1101 W. St. Bernard Hwy., Chalmette. The court is part of the 34th Judicial District.
Louisiana 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 probate, the same in every county. Additional filings during administration — inventory, accounting, the final petition — add to the total.
The District Court accepts e-filing (https://go.tybera.net/la/efile/). 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.
How to File Probate at the District Court
Probate documents in St. Bernard 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 34th Judicial District.
How to File Your Documents
Paper Filing Available
You can file your probate documents in person at the court or by mail.
E-Filing Also Available
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.
Check, Money order. Checks or money orders payable to the St. Bernard Parish Clerk of Court. (Service fees may require a separate check payable to the St. Bernard Sheriff's Office.)
What to Bring
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.
Transferring Property in St. Bernard 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 Court.
Deeds and other real property documents for St. Bernard Parish are recorded with the Clerk of Court, led by Randy Nunez, at 1101 West St. Bernard Hwy., Chalmette, LA 70043. Phone: 504-271-3434. Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM.
Documents submitted by mail go to P.O. Box 1746, Chalmette, LA 70044.
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.
Recording Office Record
Clerk of Court
St. Bernard Parish · Randy Nunez
Address
1101 West St. Bernard Hwy.Chalmette, LA 70043Mailing: P.O. Box 1746, Chalmette, LA 70044
Louisiana uses formal, court-supervised probate, which makes an attorney worthwhile for most estates in St. Bernard 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 St. Bernard 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.
Many & LoCoco has served New Orleans families since 1967. Led by Vincent B. "Chip" LoCoco, who has over 25 years of experience and is consistently named one of the top estate planning attorneys in the New Orleans area. The firm specializes in probate, wills, estate planning, interdictions, powers of attorney, and trusts.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateElder LawSpecial Needs Planningand 3 more
Damon J. Baldone is a lifelong resident of Houma with over 30 years of legal experience. The firm handles succession proceedings, estate administration, and estate planning for families in Terrebonne Parish and surrounding areas.
New Iberia firm with attorneys handling wills, successions, estate planning, and real estate transactions throughout Louisiana. Licensed to practice in all Federal and State Courts with a satellite office in New Orleans.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateWills Trusts
Office
1101 East Admiral Doyle Drive, Suite 503New Iberia, LA 70560
Established in 1937, Jones Walker is the largest law firm in New Orleans with more than 150 attorneys. The Estate Planning & Administration team advises clients on wills, trusts, estate and gift tax planning, asset valuations, and business succession planning. Multiple attorneys are board-certified Estate Planning and Administration Specialists.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 4 more
Baton Rouge estate and elder law firm, with New Orleans and Lake Charles offices, handling Louisiana successions across the Capital Region courts. Work covers simple and administered successions, small-succession affidavits, estate settlement, and contested successions involving intestacy and capacity or undue-influence claims. Led by board-certified specialist Linda S. Melancon.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateElder LawTax Planningand 4 more
Specializes exclusively in estate planning and settlement with over 18 years of experience. Serves all of Louisiana with flat-fee pricing, free initial consultations, and document completion within three business days.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbatePowers Of AttorneyWills Trusts
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.
Living trust assets, and accounts with a named beneficiary or surviving joint owner. These skip probate; some states charge the court fee only on what remains.
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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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St. Bernard Parish Guides
Step-by-step tools for families in St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana.
