Lafayette office serving Lafayette, Acadia, Calcasieu, Iberia, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Mary, Jefferson Davis and Vermilion parishes. Handles successions after a death, including opening the succession, probating a notarial or olographic will, and petitioning the court to transfer property, alongside will preparation. Attorney Daniel Tercero offers services in Spanish.
What to Do When Someone Dies in St. Landry Parish, Louisiana
How probate works in St. Landry Parish: the District Court record, what the process costs, and how to file there.
Probate Court Record
St. Landry Parish District Court
St. Landry Parish · 27th Judicial District
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:30 AM-4:30 PM
Office
118 South Court Street, Suite 207, Opelousas, LA 70570
Website
E-filing
Self-represented filing
Allowed
E-filing
OptionalCivil, criminal, traffic and probate records are online through ClerkConnect by paid subscription, and the clerk's ClerkConnect page links the clerks' statewide rules for electronic filing. Land records are on eClerksLA.
P.O. Box 750
Opelousas, LA 70571-0750
Fax
1-337-948-9158
Departments
- Courts Division1-337-942-5606 ext. 5113 · Suite 121, 1st FloorThe Courts Division takes civil suits, including successions, in Suite 121 on the first floor of the courthouse.
About the court
- Louisiana uses "succession" instead of "probate" (civil law tradition). St. Landry Parish alone makes up the 27th JDC. The main number plays a directory of the clerk's divisions.
Verified October 15, 2026 · Source
How Probate Works in St. Landry 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 St. Landry Parish, probate runs through the District Court at 118 South Court Street, Suite 207, Opelousas. The court sits in the 27th 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. 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 St. Landry Parish
What probate costs in St. Landry 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 118 South Court Street, Suite 207, Opelousas. The court is part of the 27th Judicial District.
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 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 District Court
Probate documents in St. Landry 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 27th Judicial District.
Beside the filing office, the court lists a separate line for Courts Division.
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 St. Landry Parish Self-Filing Assessment.
St. Landry Parish Filing Requirements
These are specific requirements for filing probate in this county. Following these guidelines will help avoid delays or rejected filings.
Records Access
ClerkConnect record access subscription fees
Online court record access (civil, criminal, traffic and family) through ClerkConnect: $20 for 1-day access, $50 for 30-day access, $600 for 365-day access, each with a $1.00 per-page printing fee.
SourceWhat to Bring
Filed with the opening petition at the 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 St. Landry Parish
In Louisiana a death is registered locally, and in St. Landry Parish certified copies of the death certificate are issued by St. Landry Parish Health Unit as well as by Louisiana Department of Health - Vital Records Registry.
Vital Records Office Record
Local Health Department
St. Landry Parish · St. Landry Parish Health Unit
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:30 PM
Office
308 West Bloch Street, Opelousas, LA 70570
Website
Also issued by
The county recorder
Local rule
- By law the health unit's local registrar can issue a death certificate only in the ten days after it is filed. The Clerk of Court also issues death certificates, for deaths from 2011 on.
Certified copy fees
| First certified copy | $7 |
Verified November 2, 2026 · Source
Coroner or Medical Examiner Record
Coroner
St. Landry Parish · St. Landry Parish Coroner
Phone
Verified November 2, 2026 · Source
Transferring Property in St. Landry 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. Landry Parish are recorded with the Clerk of Court at 118 South Court Street, Suite 207, Opelousas, LA 70570. Phone: 1-337-942-5606 ext. 5121. Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30 AM-4:30 PM.
Documents submitted by mail go to P.O. Box 750, Opelousas, LA 70571-0750.
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.
St. Landry Parish accepts electronic recording through eClerksLA.
Recording Office Record
Clerk of Court
St. Landry Parish
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:30 AM-4:30 PM
Office
118 South Court Street, Suite 207, Opelousas, LA 70570
Website
E-recording
P.O. Box 750
Opelousas, LA 70571-0750
Fax
1-337-948-7265
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 |
La. R.S. 13:844(A)(1)
Verified October 16, 2026 · Source
Probate Attorneys Serving St. Landry 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 a St. Landry 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.
Acadiana firm with offices in Lafayette and Crowley, drafting wills, living wills and powers of attorney and preparing succession and probate plans for clients in Abbeville, Crowley, Lafayette, New Iberia, Jennings, Opelousas and surrounding areas. Most of its practice is criminal defense and family law.
The Vidrine Law Firm
Ville Platte firm serving the Evangeline Parish community with estate planning and succession services.
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.
Lake Charles firm with a second office in New Iberia that also practices personal injury, family law and criminal defense. Handles successions from inventory and creditor notice through distribution, including the small succession affidavit for intestate estates, and drafts wills, living trusts, living wills and powers of attorney. Offers free initial consultations.
Slidell solo practice of D. Bruce Cameron, with more than 20 years of succession and estate administration work in St. Tammany Parish and along the Northshore. Represents heirs, beneficiaries and executors from identifying assets and paying creditors to distribution, and in estate disputes over undue influence, incapacity and fraud. Evening and weekend appointments are available.
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)
- St. Landry Parish District Court, official page
- St. Landry Parish Clerk of Court, official page
- St. Landry 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
Hire a Louisiana Probate Attorney
Browse vetted Louisiana attorneys handling probate matters.
Browse firms
Notify Banks & Financial Institutions
Each institution has a separate death claim process. Find yours below.
Is this your situation?
Get a complete guide for your specific circumstances.
