What this covers
Most Louisiana successions fall into a few familiar shapes: with a will, without a will, small estates that qualify for simplified handling, and estates where a spouse survives. Each has its own paperwork, its own timing, and its own decisions about how title passes to heirs. If the estate is modest, a small succession affidavit may transfer the property without a court proceeding at all.
We handle successions from start to judgment of possession, gathering the documents, filing with the court, and walking the family through what each step means. Because Paul is also a CPA, tax and reporting questions are handled in the same conversation.
Common questions
- How long does a Louisiana succession take?
- It varies widely. Straightforward successions can close in a few months; complex ones, involving out-of-state property, disputes, or business interests, take longer. The family usually knows within the first meeting which shape their succession will take.
- What does a Louisiana succession cost?
- Cost depends on the size and complexity of the estate, the type of succession, and whether there are contested issues. We give a clear, written scope after reviewing the family's specific situation.
- Do we have to open a succession right away?
- There is no strict deadline in Louisiana, but delay usually makes a succession harder, records get lost, heirs move, and title issues compound. Sooner is almost always easier.
- Is 'succession' the same thing as 'probate'?
- In practice, yes, succession is Louisiana's term for what other states usually call probate. Both refer to the court process of transferring a deceased person's property.
