Skip to main content
SimplyTrust
SimplyTrust
Create a TrustNewForms & ToolsFreeResourcesStates
LoginGet started
Company
AboutCareersContactFormsCreate a TrustNew
Privacy PolicyTerms of ServiceSecurityAI Access

© 2026 SimplyTrust Software Inc.

SimplyTrust Logo

Every family deserves a plan. We'll help.

Get startedApp StoreGoogle Play

Forms

  • Revocable Trust
  • Last Will
  • Pour-Over Will
  • Healthcare Proxy
  • Financial POA
  • Transfer on Death Deed

Tools

  • Trust vs Will
  • Probate Calculator
  • Who Inherits
  • Estate Settlement
  • Death Tax Calculator
  • Life Insurance

Learn

  • Revocable Living Trusts
  • Last Will and Testaments
  • Articles
  • State Guides
  • Estate Law
  • Life Events

Directories

  • Law Firms
  • Financial Assets
  • Digital Assets
  • Government Agencies

Company

  • About
  • Careers
  • Contact
  • Create a Trust

SimplyTrust is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice, legal counsel, or attorney review. Information on this platform is for general informational purposes only. Use of SimplyTrust does not create an attorney-client relationship. You are solely responsible for all documents you create. For advice tailored to your circumstances, consult a licensed attorney in your state.

© 2026 SimplyTrust Software Inc. All rights reserved.

Privacy Policy·Terms of Service·Security··AI Access

All content, data, and calculations are proprietary. Automated scraping, systematic downloading, or data extraction is prohibited under our Terms of Service. Product visuals are simulated for illustrative purposes and may differ from actual experience. Logos provided by Logo.dev.

A will is a wish. A trust is a plan.

Create and manage your trust online.

How it works

No probate. No public record. No court.

Estate Ledger

Every decision signed, timestamped, and hashed

Pricing

Simple, transparent pricing

Download

Get the app on iOS and Android

Home→Tools→Trust or Will Decision Tool→Louisiana

Should You Get a Trust or a Will in Louisiana?

Compare probate costs, trust administration fees, and digital signing options for your state.

Frequently Asked Questions

Louisiana uses reasonable compensation for probate fees, typically 2-4% of the estate value.La. C.C.P. art. 3351.1 (limits dual-role compensation; attorney fees reasonable per court discretion)Verified May 31, 2026 A trust avoids probate entirely and distributes assets faster than the 3-6 month probate timeline.

Probate in Louisiana typically costs 2-4% of the estate value in attorney fees alone.La. C.C.P. art. 3351.1 (limits dual-role compensation; attorney fees reasonable per court discretion)Verified May 31, 2026 A revocable trust has a one-time setup cost and no probate fees. See a detailed breakdown with the Louisiana probate calculator.

No. A will must go through probate in Louisiana. However, estates with personal property under $125,000 may qualify for Small Succession, which is faster and less expensive than full probate.La. C.C.P. arts. 3302, 3303, 3304, 3351, 3351.1, 3396.2, 3421, 3431, 3434, 2891, 3151, 3153 (verified on legis.la.gov, May 2026). Art. 2891 amended by Acts 2025, No. 30 (SB 49, eff. 8/1/2025) — no-proof rule now expressly tied to Art. 2887(A) compliance; substance unchanged.Verified May 31, 2026

Simple estates in Louisiana typically take 3-6 months through probate. Complex or contested estates can take 12-24 months or longer.La. C.C.P. arts. 3302, 3303, 3304, 3351, 3351.1, 3396.2, 3421, 3431, 3434, 2891, 3151, 3153 (verified on legis.la.gov, May 2026). Art. 2891 amended by Acts 2025, No. 30 (SB 49, eff. 8/1/2025) — no-proof rule now expressly tied to Art. 2887(A) compliance; substance unchanged.Verified May 31, 2026 A revocable trust avoids probate entirely, with assets typically distributed within weeks.

Yes. A will becomes a public court record once it enters probate in Louisiana. A revocable trust is a private document that does not go through probate, so the terms, beneficiaries, and asset details remain confidential.

Use the Louisiana probate calculator to estimate attorney fees, executor fees, court costs, and the probate timeline.La. C.C.P. arts. 3302, 3303, 3304, 3351, 3351.1, 3396.2, 3421, 3431, 3434, 2891, 3151, 3153 (verified on legis.la.gov, May 2026). Art. 2891 amended by Acts 2025, No. 30 (SB 49, eff. 8/1/2025) — no-proof rule now expressly tied to Art. 2887(A) compliance; substance unchanged.Verified May 31, 2026

Whether a trust is cost-effective depends on estate size, property types, and Louisiana's probate costs. The Louisiana trust need assessment evaluates these factors against your specific situation.

Trust vs Will in Louisiana

The will route in Louisiana pays attorney fees on a reasonable-compensation basis, typically 2%La. C.C.P. art. 3351.1 (limits dual-role compensation; attorney fees reasonable per court discretion)Verified May 31, 2026 to 4%La. C.C.P. art. 3351.1 (limits dual-role compensation; attorney fees reasonable per court discretion)Verified May 31, 2026 of the estate. There's negotiation room, but probate still takes time. The trust route is a higher upfront effort (the trust has to be funded), in exchange for skipping that fee entirely. The Louisiana probate calculator shows the dollar gap on your estate size; the Louisiana will cost calculator covers what each provider charges to draft the will itself.

Because Louisiana is a community-property state, much of a married couple's estate already passes to the surviving spouse outside probate by operation of law. That tilts the will-vs-trust decision: at first death the trust adds less; at second death (or for unmarried owners), the gap re-opens.

Louisiana's $125,000La. C.C.P. arts. 3302Verified May 31, 2026 small-estate cap is the line where the will route really shines. Below it, probate is fast and cheap. Above it, every additional dollar of estate value translates to more attorney time and a longer timeline — both avoided by a funded trust.

Privacy is the silent feature in this comparison. Whatever Louisiana probate the will route triggers ends up in public court records — including who got what. A trust handles distributions privately, which matters more for some families than the fee numbers do.

When the trust path makes sense, the Louisiana revocable trust builder creates the document. The trust need tool is the size-and-circumstance check that comes before that.

SimplyTrustSimplyTrust Editorial·Updated May 31, 2026

Legal Sources

  • La. C.C.P. art. 3351.1 (limits dual-role compensation; attorney fees reasonable per court discretion)
  • La. C.C.P. arts. 3302

Data sourced from Louisiana statutes and official state code. How we research.

When you're ready, we're here.

A revocable living trust skips probate, stays private, and takes 15 minutes.

Get startedApp StoreGoogle Play

Louisiana Estate Planning Resources

In-depth guides covering Louisiana probate laws, trust requirements, and estate planning strategies.

$

Louisiana Last Will and Testament

Louisiana Revocable Living Trust

Nevada Revocable Living Trust

Estimated Net to Beneficiaries

$1,174,600

Estimated Net to Beneficiaries

$1,244,375

Estimated Net to Beneficiaries

$1,244,375

Create a Revocable Trust in 15 minutes

Probate fees are typically calculated on gross estate value before deducting 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.

SimplyTrust

Create your estate plan

Is this your situation?

Get a complete guide for your specific circumstances.

New Home

New Home

Your home is probably your biggest asset. Protect it like one. Property titling, trust ownership, and how to keep your home out of probate.

Learn more
Marriage

Marriage

Starting a life together means planning for it. Beneficiary updates, asset titling, powers of attorney, and what blended families need to know.

Learn more