Louisiana Estate Planning Resources
Explore videos, answers, and tools to help you understand and plan with confidence.
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Start With The Basics
What Is Estate Planning? (And Why It Matters More Than You Think)
What Happens If You Die Without a Will in Louisiana?
Trust vs Will: How to Decide What You Actually Need (Most People Get This Wrong)
Louisiana Estate Planning Videos
These videos walk through how estate planning works in Louisiana, including wills, trusts, probate, and planning for incapacity. While many of the core concepts are similar across states, Louisiana has unique laws that can affect how a plan works—so understanding the Louisiana-specific approach is important.
Louisiana Estate Planning Basics
Louisiana has its own rules for how property passes at death. These videos explain succession, wills, and key Louisiana concepts that affect spouses, children, and heirs.
Louisiana Estate Planning Basics: What Makes Louisiana Different
Louisiana estate planning is fundamentally different from most other states. This video explains the civil law system, community property rules, and succession concepts that make Louisiana unique.
Louisiana Community Property Explained
An overview of Louisiana’s community property system, including how it differs from separate property and why ownership matters in estate planning. This video explains a foundational Louisiana concept that affects wills, trusts, and succession.
The 5 Documents Most Louisiana Families Need
Estate planning in Louisiana involves more than just a will. This video explains the five core documents most Louisiana families need and how they work together to protect your wishes during life, incapacity, and after death.
7 Estate Planning Mistakes People in Louisiana Make
Louisiana estate planning follows rules that don’t exist in most other states. This video walks through seven common mistakes Louisiana residents make, including issues with forced heirship, usufruct, and relying on out-of-state advice.
Forced Heirship in Louisiana: What Parents Need to Know
Forced heirship is often misunderstood by Louisiana parents. This video explains who qualifies as a forced heir, when the rules apply, and how proper Louisiana estate planning can preserve control while protecting children.
Wills, Probate, and Succession
Louisiana has its own rules for how property passes at death. These videos explain succession, wills, and key Louisiana concepts that affect spouses, children, and heirs.
Louisiana Usufruct Explained (Why Estate Planning Is Different Here)
A plain-English explanation of the Louisiana usufruct, including how ownership is split between surviving spouses and children, when a usufruct applies, and why it is not the same as full ownership.
Are Handwritten Wills Valid in Louisiana?
Louisiana does recognize handwritten (olographic) wills—but only if very specific rules are followed. This video explains when a handwritten will works, when it doesn’t, and why these wills often create problems for families.
What Happens If You Die Without a Will in Louisiana?
If you die without a will in Louisiana, state law—not your family—controls who inherits and how your estate is handled. This video explains Louisiana’s intestacy rules and why the default outcome often surprises families.
Independent Administration: How to Make Succession Easier
Independent administration can save your family time, money, and court involvement after a death. Learn what it is, how it works in Louisiana, and how proper planning can make a succession far less stressful.
Can You Avoid Succession in Louisiana? (Realistic Options)
Succession can sometimes be avoided in Louisiana—but only in specific, realistic situations. This video explains what actually works, what doesn’t, and when succession is unavoidable despite good planning.
Trusts can be powerful tools in Louisiana—but only in the right situations. These resources explain when a trust helps and when simpler planning may be enough.
Wills vs. Trusts in Louisiana: Which Do You Need?
Both wills and trusts can play an important role in a Louisiana estate plan, but they serve different purposes. This video breaks down the key differences and helps you understand which approach may fit your situation.
Louisiana Revocable Living Trusts: How They Actually Work
Revocable living trusts work differently in Louisiana than many people expect. This video explains what they do well, their limits, and when a trust makes sense as part of a Louisiana estate plan.
Trust Funding Basics in Louisiana (What “Funding” Means)
Creating a trust is only the first step—your assets must be properly transferred into it. This video explains what “funding” a trust means, why it matters, and what can go wrong if it’s overlooked.
Should You Put Your House in a Trust in Louisiana?
Putting a house into a revocable living trust can sometimes help Louisiana families avoid delays after death or during incapacity. This video explains when it makes sense, how usufruct protects the homestead exemption, and why proper Louisiana drafting matters.
Do You Really Need a Trust in Louisiana?
Do you really need a trust in Louisiana, or can a will accomplish your goals? This video explains when trusts make sense under Louisiana law—and when simpler planning may be enough.
How Trusts Work With Community Property in Louisiana
Trust planning in Louisiana must account for community property rules. This video explains how trusts interact with community and separate property under Louisiana law and why that distinction matters.
Blended Families in Louisiana: The Biggest Estate Planning Mistakes
Blended families in Louisiana face unique estate planning challenges involving community property, usufruct, and inheritance rights of children from prior relationships. This video explains the most common planning mistakes and why intentional planning under Louisiana law is critical for blended families.
Trusts and Advanced Planning
Trusts can be powerful tools in Louisiana—but only in the right situations. These resources explain when a trust helps and when simpler planning may be enough.
After Death & Ongoing Administration
Estate planning doesn’t end when documents are signed. These resources explain what happens after a death, including next steps, responsibilities, and how Louisiana successions are handled in practice.
What To Do Immediately After a Loved One Dies in Louisiana
The first days after a death are overwhelming, and the steps matter. This video walks through what Louisiana families should do first—before making costly or irreversible mistakes.
How Long Does Succession Take in Louisiana?
Louisiana successions can take weeks, months, or longer depending on the facts. This video breaks down the typical timelines and the key factors that speed things up—or slow everything down.
Estate Taxes and Inheritance Taxes: What Louisiana Families Should Know
Louisiana does not have a state estate or inheritance tax—but federal estate taxes can still apply in some situations. This video explains what taxes you actually need to worry about, and when most Louisiana families don’t owe anything at all.
Succession When Family Members Don’t Agree: What Happens Next (Louisiana)
When family members disagree during a Louisiana succession, the court follows a structured legal process to resolve disputes. This video explains what happens when heirs contest a will, disagree about an executor, or argue over how assets should be divided.
Louisiana Estate Planning Starter Workbook
A simple worksheet designed to help individuals and families organize the key information needed for estate planning.
Completing the workbook can help clarify planning goals, identify important assets, and prepare for conversations with an estate planning professional.
17-page fillable PDF
Download instantly — no email or signup required
The Estate Planning Starter Workbook is designed to help individuals and families begin organizing the information commonly needed for estate planning.
Completing the workbook can help clarify planning goals, identify important assets, and prepare for conversations with an estate planning professional.
This workbook may be helpful if you:
want to begin organizing your estate planning information
are thinking about creating or updating an estate plan
want to better understand your assets and beneficiaries
plan to meet with an estate planning attorney in the future
want to organize information for your family
What the workbook includes:
Personal and family information
Asset and property overview
Beneficiary designations
Planning goals and priorities
Notes and questions for future planning discussions
Many people find it helpful to complete the workbook before meeting with an estate planning attorney or beginning the planning process.
Common Louisiana Estate Planning Questions
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A will allows you to control how your property is distributed and who will handle your estate after death. Without a will, Louisiana’s intestate succession laws determine who inherits. Those rules may not reflect your wishes, especially in blended families or when specific assets should go to certain beneficiaries.
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When someone dies without a will, Louisiana law determines who inherits the property. These rules are called intestate succession laws. Depending on the family situation, assets may pass to a surviving spouse, children, parents, or other relatives according to a fixed legal order.
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Forced heirship is a Louisiana rule that protects certain children from being disinherited. In some cases, a portion of a parent’s estate must go to children who qualify as forced heirs. The rules are complex and depend on factors such as the child’s age or disability.
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Succession is the Louisiana legal process for transferring property after someone dies. Other states call this probate, but Louisiana uses a civil-law system with different procedures and terminology. Some estates require court involvement, while others may qualify for simplified processes.
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Louisiana does not use the term probate the way most other states do. Instead, the legal process for transferring property after someone dies is called succession. While succession serves a similar purpose as probate in other states, the procedures and terminology are different because Louisiana follows a civil-law legal system.
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A usufruct allows one person to use property during their lifetime while another person owns the underlying interest. This is commonly used to allow a surviving spouse to use property while children inherit ownership. Usufruct arrangements are a common feature of Louisiana estate plans.
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Louisiana is a community property state, meaning many assets acquired during marriage are jointly owned by both spouses. This affects how property can be transferred during life and after death. Estate planning strategies must take community property rules into account.
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In most cases, a will does not completely avoid succession in Louisiana. A will can simplify the process and make sure property is distributed according to your wishes, but the estate usually still goes through some form of succession proceeding. Certain assets, such as those with beneficiary designations or assets held in trust, may transfer outside of succession.
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Some Louisiana families benefit from using trusts to manage assets, provide for children, or avoid certain succession complications. However, many estate plans can be accomplished with wills and other planning tools. The right approach depends on the family’s goals, assets, and circumstances.
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Louisiana follows a civil-law legal system, unlike the common-law systems used in the other 49 states. Concepts such as forced heirship, usufruct, and succession procedures make Louisiana estate planning unique. Because of these differences, strategies used in other states may not apply in Louisiana.
Still have questions about Louisiana estate planning?
Explore the educational videos and resources on this page.
Need Help with Louisiana Estate Planning?
If you’re ready to move forward, you can work with a Louisiana estate planning attorney who understands Louisiana’s unique legal system.
Paul Rabalais, Esq.
Rabalais Martinez, LLC
Baton Rouge · New Orleans