Probate in St. Tammany 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. Tammany 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. Tammany Parish · 22nd Judicial District
Address
Phone
Hours
Louisiana uses "succession" instead of "probate" (civil law tradition). Mailing address: P.O. Box 1090, Covington, LA 70434. Civil Filing: 985-809-8776. Slidell Annex: 520 Old Spanish Trail, 5th Floor, 985-643-6969 (closed 1-2 PM daily). Elections office: 601 N. Jefferson Street, Covington. Online payment via Point and Pay. 22nd JDC also includes Washington Parish.
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. Tammany Parish, probate runs through the District Court at 701 N. Columbia Street, Covington. The court sits in the 22nd Judicial District. The same 22nd Judicial District also serves Washington.
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. Tammany 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 701 N. Columbia Street, Covington. The court is part of the 22nd 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. 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 St. Tammany 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 22nd 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 St. Tammany Parish Self-Filing Assessment.
Before You Go
You can file in person without an appointment. Walk-in filing accepted at the Civil Department during business hours; e-filing also available. Slidell Annex closed 1:00-2:00 PM daily.
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. Tammany Parish are recorded with the Clerk of Court, led by Jessica Jenkins Brewster, at 701 North Columbia Street, Covington, LA 70433. Phone: 985-809-8700. Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 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.
St. Tammany Parish accepts electronic recording through CSC / ePN / Simplifile.
Recording Office Record
St. Tammany Parish · Jessica Jenkins Brewster
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. Tammany 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. Tammany 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.
FirmMetairie, LA
Handles successions, estates, and probate matters throughout Orleans Parish and surrounding Louisiana parishes including Jefferson, St. Tammany, St. John the Baptist, Lafourche, and Terrebonne parishes.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder LawMedicaid Planning
Solo PracticeSlidell, LA
D. Bruce Cameron offers more than 20 years of experience in estate planning, successions, and estate administration serving Slidell, St. Tammany Parish, the Northshore area, and throughout Louisiana. The firm accommodates evening and weekend appointments.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateWills Trusts
FirmMetairie, LA
Metairie firm serving Jefferson, Orleans, St. Tammany, and Tangipahoa parishes from offices in Metairie, New Orleans, and Hammond. Handles testate and intestate succession administration, estate and trust administration, and estate and trust litigation involving will validity and contested distributions. The succession practice dates to the firm's founding in 1989.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateProbate LitigationTrust Litigationand 3 more
FirmMandeville, LA
Christie Tournet is a St. Tammany Parish attorney and Certified Dementia Practitioner focused on estate planning, elder law, estate administration, and long-term care planning. The firm serves Mandeville, Covington, all of St. Tammany Parish, and the Greater New Orleans area.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateElder LawBusiness SuccessionWills Trusts
FirmNew Orleans, LA
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
FirmCovington, LA
Scott Law Group specializes in Louisiana succession and probate law, handling approximately 200 estates annually. The firm provides experienced succession representation with offices across the New Orleans metro area including Covington, New Orleans, Kenner, and Gretna.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateProbate LitigationWrongful Death
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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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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Step-by-step tools for families in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana.
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