Hiring a Wills, Trusts or Probate Lawyer in Louisiana
What Louisiana requires for a valid will, when probate applies, how estate lawyers charge, how to check a lawyer's license, and free help. We do not recommend or rank lawyers.
What a lawyer costs in Louisiana: fee rules
| Rules on contingency fees | Contingent fees are allowed except where Rule 1.5(d) or other law prohibits them. The agreement must be in a writing signed by the client, and the client must get a copy or duplicate original when it is signed. It must state how the fee is figured, including percentages on settlement, trial or appeal, the litigation and other expenses deducted from the recovery, whether expenses come out before or after the fee is calculated, and any expenses the client owes whether or not they win. At the end, the lawyer must give a written statement of the outcome and the client's share. Contingent fees are banned for criminal defendants and for domestic relations fees contingent on a divorce or the amount of alimony, support or property settlement. |
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| If you disagree with a lawyer's bill | The Louisiana State Bar Association's Lawyer Fee Dispute Resolution Program handles minor attorney fee disputes between lawyers and clients (or between lawyers) through volunteer arbitrators. The LSBA charges a nominal administrative fee and may decline disputes that are too complex, involve many issues or parties, are pending elsewhere, or fall under a statutory scheme such as succession or workers' compensation. LSBA staff cannot give legal advice. Contact: (504) 619-0153 or (504) 619-0143. |
| If a lawyer takes your money | The LSBA Client Assistance Fund compensates clients who lose money or property due to a lawyer's dishonest conduct (not incompetence or failure to act), reimbursing up to $50,000 for thefts by a lawyer; interest and consequential damages are not paid, and fees are reimbursable only in limited cases, such as when the lawyer did no work. You must show the money or property reached the lawyer. Applying is free and no lawyer is needed; deadlines apply, so apply promptly. The fund also advises filing a complaint with the Office of Disciplinary Counsel. Contact: 601 St. Charles Ave., New Orleans, LA 70130-3427; (504) 566-1600 or (800) 421-5722, ext. 107. |
Louisiana rules to know first
| Requirements for a valid will | Louisiana calls a will a 'testament.' A person 16 or older may make a testament, and must be able to understand generally the nature and consequences of the disposition. A notarial testament must be in writing, dated, and signed by the testator, two witnesses, and a notary, executed before the notary in the presence of the two witnesses. The signature and date may appear anywhere in the document. A witness cannot be insane, blind, under 16, or unable to sign his or her name. Louisiana's testament-form rules were rewritten by Acts 2025, No. 30 (effective August 1, 2025), which dropped the attestation-clause and every-page-signing requirements for validity. Those steps now matter for making the testament self-proving. Capacity: https://legis.la.gov/legis/Law.aspx?d=108796 and https://legis.la.gov/legis/Law.aspx?d=108797; witnesses: https://legis.la.gov/legis/Law.aspx?d=108907. |
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| Small estate affidavit | A 'small succession' is the estate of a Louisiana resident whose property had a gross value of $200,000 or less at death (for a non-resident, Louisiana property of $125,000 or less), or of a person who died at least 20 years before the affidavit, regardless of value. No court proceeding is needed if the person died without a will; if there was a will and no Louisiana real estate, the spouse and all heirs and legatees must agree to waive probate. At least two people (including the surviving spouse, if any, and one or more heirs) sign a sworn affidavit listing the heirs, the property (real estate described well enough to transfer), its value, and each heir's share. Heirs who do not sign must be unlocatable or have received 30 days' mailed notice without objecting. Banks and others may pay or deliver property on the affidavit. Real estate is allowed: the affidavit must be recorded in the conveyance records of the parish where the property is located. No waiting period is set. The resident limit was raised to $200,000 by Acts 2026, No. 293 (it had been $125,000). Related articles: https://legis.la.gov/legis/Law.aspx?d=111767, https://legis.la.gov/legis/Law.aspx?d=111768, https://legis.la.gov/legis/Law.aspx?d=111770. |
| How probate works | A succession is opened in the district court. A will is probated (a self-proving notarial testament needs no further proof; others are proved by testimony), ex parte unless someone objects. If administration is needed, the court confirms the executor or appoints an administrator, who posts security if required and receives letters. The court may order an inventory, taken by a notary in each parish where the person left property. Debts are paid only with court authorization. Accounts, including the final account, are served on heirs and residuary legatees and may be approved ('homologated') 10 days after service unless opposed. The heirs and legatees are then sent into possession. Related articles: art. 2881 https://legis.la.gov/legis/Law.aspx?d=111558; art. 3131 https://legis.la.gov/legis/Law.aspx?d=111617; art. 3301 https://legis.la.gov/legis/Law.aspx?d=111704; art. 3336 https://legis.la.gov/legis/Law.aspx?d=111721. |
Find and check a lawyer
| Lawyer referral service | The Louisiana State Bar Association's Find Legal Help portal does not describe a statewide LSBA referral line; its Find an Attorney directory can locate a local lawyer referral program for certain cities, and its Modest Means Directory lists attorneys who charge reduced fees to people who meet income requirements. LSBA phone: (800) 421-LSBA (5722) or (504) 566-1600. |
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| Check that the lawyer is licensed | The Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board's lawyer search lets you look up attorneys by name, city and status. Each result shows the date admitted, a status code (such as ELIG for eligible to practice, SUS suspended, DIS disbarred, INA inactive), public disciplinary actions with dates, and current administrative status. It does not show complaints, investigations or private discipline; full disciplinary history can be requested separately. Discipline history request: https://www.ladb.org/Account/DataRequest.aspx |
| Check discipline history or file a complaint | Complaints about Louisiana lawyers must be in writing to the Office of Disciplinary Counsel (ODC), using the Ethical Conduct Complaint Form or a letter describing what the lawyer did or failed to do, with the lawyer's contact details, dates and copies of documents. Mail to ODC, 4000 S. Sherwood Forest Blvd., Suite 607, Baton Rouge, LA 70816; phone (225) 293-3900 or (800) 326-8022. Anyone may file. ODC screens the complaint, may send it to the lawyer for a response (which you usually see), and may dismiss, issue a private admonition or file formal charges. You may appeal a dismissal in writing within 30 days. |
Free legal help
| Free legal aid | Louisiana's LSC-funded legal aid organizations, Acadiana Legal Service Corporation and Southeast Louisiana Legal Services, give free civil legal help to eligible low-income people. The LSBA also points people to the Louisiana Civil Legal Navigator (free legal information, court forms and legal aid referrals), LA.FreeLegalAnswers.org (online answers from volunteer attorneys for eligible adults), LouisianaLawHelp.org, and court self-help centers. LSBA page: https://www.lsba.org/goto/FindLegalHelp |
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All legal help in Louisiana · Do I need a lawyer?
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.