The figures on this page are general estimates. Laws, fees, thresholds, and prices differ by state and change often, and your own situation may change the result. Before you act, confirm the current numbers and rules for Louisiana with a licensed professional — an attorney, tax advisor, or licensed agent as appropriate. Reading this page does not create a professional relationship.
This page is built to print. Use your browser's Print command and choose "Save as PDF" for a one-page Louisiana reference. Every figure below is compiled from the statutes and state authorities listed at the bottom — the same sources cited on our Louisiana probate pages.
Louisiana probate fees
| Item | Louisiana |
|---|---|
| Court filing fee | Roughly $250 to $450 in most parishes; some parishes charge a reduced rate for small successions (Orleans Parish, for example, has charged about $248 for estates of $125,000 or less). |
| Attorney fees | Not statutory. Louisiana succession attorneys typically charge a flat fee ($2,500–$5,000 for a routine, uncontested succession), an hourly rate ($150–$300), or by agreement a percentage of the estate (commonly 2–5%). |
| Executor / personal representative fees | The succession representative (executor or administrator) is entitled to compensation of 2.5% of the estate's value under La. C.C.P. art. 3351, unless the will fixes a different amount; family representatives often waive it. |
| Fee basis | percentage |
| Appraisal / referee | Not used. Louisiana does not appoint a state appraiser; a descriptive list of assets sworn by the heirs usually substitutes for a formal appraisal. |
Worked example
On a Louisiana succession with a $400,000 inventory, the default commission is $10,000 (2.5% of $400,000). If the will names a different amount, or the heirs agree to one, that controls instead of the default.
Louisiana thresholds and deadlines
| Item | Louisiana |
|---|---|
| Small-estate threshold | Louisiana allows a small-succession affidavit for estates with a gross value of $125,000 or less, or for any estate where the person died at least 20 years ago, under La. C.C.P. arts. 3421 and 3431 — no court proceeding required. |
| Creditor claim period | Louisiana does not use the short common-law nonclaim period. Under a full administration, the succession representative advertises and pays claims through the formal administration process; in a simple 'possession' succession there is no fixed claims window, and heirs who accept the succession can be answerable to creditors up to what they receive (La. C.C.P. Book VI). |
| Typical duration | About 3 to 6 months for a simple, uncontested succession; longer if a full administration or property dispute is involved. |
| Transfer-on-death deed | Louisiana does NOT authorize a transfer-on-death or beneficiary deed for real estate. As a civil-law state with forced-heirship rules, Louisiana requires immovable (real) property to pass by will, intestate succession, donation, or a trust — there is no TOD-deed shortcut. |
What passes outside Louisiana probate
These transfers are not part of the estate the fees above are calculated on:
- Beneficiary designations — retirement accounts, life insurance, payable-on-death accounts.
- Joint ownership with right of survivorship.
- Transfer-on-death deed — Louisiana does NOT authorize a transfer-on-death or beneficiary deed for real estate. As a civil-law state with forced-heirship rules, Louisiana requires immovable (real) property to pass by will, intestate succession, donation, or a trust — there is no TOD-deed shortcut.
- Assets titled into a funded living trust.
Sources for this sheet
- Statutes: La. C.C.P. art. 3421; La. C.C.P. art. 3431; La. C.C.P. art. 3351; La. Civ. Code art. 1493; La. Civ. Code art. 890
- State authority: Louisiana State Legislature (legis.la.gov)
- Small-estate procedure: https://law.justia.com/codes/louisiana/2021/code-of-civil-procedure/article-3431/
- Transfers outside probate: https://law.justia.com/codes/louisiana/civil-code/article-1493/
Compiled August 15, 2026 from the sources listed above. Fee schedules, thresholds, and court costs are amended by legislatures and courts — confirm each figure against the cited statute or the Louisiana court before relying on it.
The full Louisiana guides
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How Much Does Probate Cost in Louisiana? — the full cost breakdown.
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How Much Does an Executor Get Paid in Louisiana? — the fee rule in detail.
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How Long Does Probate Take in Louisiana? — the timeline and its statutory floor.
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How to Avoid Probate in Louisiana — the transfers that pass outside it.
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How Much Does a Will Cost in Louisiana? — execution requirements and pricing.
Fee sheets for other states
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This sheet sets out Louisiana probate figures as published at the time of compilation. It is not legal advice. Figures and statutes change and their application depends on the specific estate. Confirm current figures with the Louisiana courts or a licensed Louisiana attorney.