Home / Legal Tools
Free Tool · Louisiana Law
Do I Need a Full Succession?
When someone passes away, Louisiana sometimes allows a simplified small succession instead of a full court proceeding. This free screener gives a rough sense of which path your situation may call for. It is not legal advice, and only a lawyer can confirm what your estate actually needs.
Answer a few questions for a general indication. Every estate is different, so treat this as a starting point for a conversation — not a final answer.
The screener
Use the gross value (before subtracting debts) of everything owned — home, accounts, vehicles, and so on — valued as of the date of death. A rough estimate is fine.
The date of death matters: Louisiana has a separate path for deaths that occurred many years ago.
Real estate often determines whether and how a succession is needed, because transferring title usually requires a court judgment.
Disagreements among heirs, or missing heirs, usually push an estate toward a more formal proceeding.
Please read. This screener is a free educational aid, not legal advice, and using it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Louisiana’s small-succession rules (La. C.C.P. art. 3421 et seq.) involve conditions this short tool does not fully capture — including who the heirs are, the kinds of assets involved, debts, and whether an affidavit procedure is actually available. The general $125,000 figure and the date-of-death rule are simplifications and can change. Do not rely on this result to decide how to handle an estate. The right path — small succession, full administration, or simple possession — should be confirmed by a lawyer who has reviewed the specific facts. You can also read our plain-language guide, What Is a Louisiana Succession?
Find out which path your estate needs
A direct conversation · Louisiana & Mississippi
Contact the Firm →