Probate in St. Martin 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. Martin 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
St. Martin Parish · 16th Judicial District
Address
Phone
Fax
Hours
County forms
Louisiana uses "succession" instead of "probate" (civil law tradition). Mailing address: P.O. Box 308, St. Martinville, LA 70582. Civil fax: 337-394-2240; criminal fax: 337-394-8404. Passport hours: 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM; birth/death certificates: 8:30 AM - 3:45 PM. 16th JDC also includes Iberia and St. Mary Parishes.
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 St. Martin Parish, probate runs through the District Court at 415 St. Martin Street, St. Martinville. The court sits in the 16th Judicial District. The same 16th Judicial District also serves Iberia and St Mary.
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. Martin 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 415 St. Martin Street, St. Martinville. The court is part of the 16th 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.
E-filing is mandatory for attorneys filing at the District Court (https://go.tybera.net/la/efile). Self-represented filers can request a paper-filing exemption.
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.
If you're handling probate yourself in St. Martin Parish, Louisiana, you can file at the District Court in person or by mail. E-filing is mandatory for attorneys but families filing without one are exempt and can use paper forms. The court sits in the 16th Judicial District.
How to File Your Documents
You can file your probate documents in person or by mail. While attorneys are required to e-file in St. Martin Parish, families handling probate themselves are exempt and can file on paper.
If you prefer, you can file electronically through the state's online system. This is optional for families filing without an attorney.
View E-Filing InformationNot 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 St. Martin Parish Self-Filing Assessment.
These are specific requirements for filing probate in this county. Following these guidelines will help avoid delays or rejected filings.
Tybera e-filing required for civil filings (effective Jan 1, 2026)
Under Act 352 of the 2025 Louisiana Legislative Session, effective January 1, 2026 all pleadings, documents, and exhibits filed with the civil department must be submitted either in person in proper form or electronically through Tybera. Other delivery methods are no longer accepted.
SourceThis county uses specific forms in addition to state-standard forms. Using the correct forms helps avoid delays or rejected filings.
Request to proceed without prepayment of court costs for civil/succession filings.
Before You Go
You can file in person without an appointment. Civil documents may be submitted in person in proper form or electronically through Tybera; no appointment 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 St. Martin Parish are recorded with the Clerk of Court, led by Laura B. Blanchard, at 415 St. Martin Street, St. Martinville, LA 70582. Phone: 337-394-2210. Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM.
Documents submitted by mail go to P.O. Box 308, St. Martinville, LA 70582.
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. Martin Parish accepts electronic recording through ePN / CSC / Simplifile.
Recording Office Record
St. Martin Parish · Laura B. Blanchard
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 St. Martin 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. Martin 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.
FirmLafayette, LA
Keaty & Tilly, LLC has handled hundreds of estate planning and succession cases throughout Acadiana since 2012. The firm provides attentive representation for adoptions, successions, and everything in between.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateCivil Litigation
FirmLafayette, LA
Lafayette firm guiding administrators and executors across Acadiana from probate of a will through distribution. Handles asset valuation and estate tax minimization, represents both executors and will challengers in contested matters, and handles tutorships when a decedent leaves minor children. William P. Stubbs, Jr. is board certified in tax law.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateProbate LitigationTax Planningand 2 more
FirmLake Charles, LA
Lake Charles firm serving Calcasieu Parish and Southwest Louisiana, with a second office in New Iberia. Handles Louisiana successions and probate, including small succession affidavits and estate administration, plus wills and powers of attorney. Offers free initial consultations, in person or virtual.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbatePowers Of AttorneyWills Trusts
FirmNew Iberia, LA
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
FirmNew Orleans, LA
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
FirmBaton Rouge, LA
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
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.
Each institution has a separate death claim process. Find yours below.
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Vehicles, jewelry, collectibles, etc.
Mortgages, credit cards, loans, etc.
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.
Select your state and enter an estate value to see a detailed cost estimate.
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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This tool provides general information about self-filing probate and is not legal advice. Consult a licensed attorney in your state for guidance specific to your situation.
Step-by-step tools for families in St. Martin Parish, Louisiana.
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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.
Browse vetted Louisiana attorneys handling probate matters.
