For anyone planning an estate in Louisiana or settling one: what a will or trust costs, whether an estate needs probate, what executors and trustees are paid, and the taxes on an inheritance, each answered under Louisiana law.
36 tools for Louisiana
Probate in Louisiana takes 3 months to 6 months for a simple estate and charges attorney fees of 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; assets held in a revocable trust skip both.
Louisiana does not authorize transfer on death deeds; sole-name real property goes through probate, at least 3 months for a simple estate, unless held in a trust or with a right of survivorship.
Louisiana does not offer a transfer-on-death designation on a vehicle title; a vehicle passes by will, trust, joint title, or 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.
In Louisiana, the District Court appoints the personal representative and the Clerk of Court issues Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration; every appointment goes through the court.
In Louisiana, creditors have 3 monthsLa. C.C.P. art. 3302Verified Sep 8, 2026View source from the date of death to present claims; late claims are barred.
When an estate owes more than it holds, Louisiana pays the claims in 5La. C.C. art. 3276Verified Sep 23, 2026View source classes in statutory order, beginning with vendor's privileges, other special privileges and mortgages on immovables, from the price of the property they burden (only seal, inventory and other costs needed to sell it come first).
Compare estate-account opening requirements bank by bank: channels, required documents, and steps.
Compare trust-account requirements bank by bank: how a revocable trust account is opened or retitled, and what proves the trust.
See which federal withdrawal rules apply to an inherited IRA, Roth IRA, or employer plan, the deadline year, and the missed-withdrawal tax.
Louisiana requires a final state income tax return for the decedent alongside the federal Form 1040La. R.S. 47:32(A); La. R.S. 47:294; Acts 2024, 3rd Ex. Sess., No. 11 (HB 10)Verified Sep 20, 2026View source; a federal estate tax return (Form 706) is required only for estates above $15,000,00026 USC 2001(c), 2010; P.L. 119-21 §70106Verified Sep 15, 2026View source.
Estimate the fair market value of household items for probate and see how it affects fees.
In Louisiana, a will-based plan pays probate attorney fees of 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; a funded revocable trust keeps those assets out of probate and off that fee.
Settling an estate in Louisiana: creditors have 3 monthsLa. C.C.P. arts. 3241-3249, 3301-3308; La. C.C. art. 3276Verified Sep 15, 2026View source to present claims; a simple estate closes in 3 months to 6 months.
Settling a trust in Louisiana happens outside court: the trustee acts under the state's trust statuteLa. R.S. 9:1721 et seq.Verified Jul 15, 2026View source, notifies the beneficiaries, then pays the debts and distributes under the trust's terms.
After a death in Louisiana, the estate either qualifies for the simplified procedure for estates under $200,000La. C.C.P. art. 3421Verified Sep 8, 2026View source or goes through probate, where creditors have 3 monthsLa. C.C.P. art. 3302Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to file claims after notice.