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Louisiana Succession Cost: Full Breakdown

Exactly what you pay to settle a succession in Louisiana — the 2.5% succession representative fee, attorney fees, and parish court costs — with worked examples, statute cited.

La. C.C.P. § 3351 FigureMyTax Editorial Team

By the FigureMyTax Editorial Team · How we calculate

Quick answer: Louisiana's succession representative fee is unusually clear-cut for a civil law state: a default 2.5% of the inventory value, unless the will or an heir agreement sets a different amount. Attorney fees have no statutory cap — typically hourly, $200–$450/hr, or a flat fee. Court filing runs roughly $250–$500 depending on the parish. There's no death tax. Get your own estimate with the Louisiana succession cost calculator.

1. The succession representative fee — a real default percentage

La. C.C.P. § 3351 ranks three sources, in order: (1) whatever amount the testament specifies controls for an executor; (2) for an administrator, an agreement between the administrator and the surviving spouse and all competent heirs or legatees controls; (3) absent either, the default is 2.5% of the amount of the inventory. The court may increase this on a proper showing that 2.5% is inadequate for the work involved. Compensation is due when the court homologates — formally approves — the final account, though the court can authorize an advance during administration.

Unlike most Uniform Probate Code states, which set no percentage at all, Louisiana's Napoleonic-code tradition kept a genuine statutory default rate — closer in spirit to the older percentage-schedule states than to the "reasonable compensation" states.

2. Attorney fees & the tax picture

No fixed schedule: Louisiana sets no statutory percentage for succession attorney fees. Rates run roughly $200–$450/hour, or a flat fee for a straightforward, uncontested succession — commonly $1,500–$3,000 for a simple case, more for one involving real estate, administration, or disputes. A full judicial succession in Louisiana effectively requires a licensed attorney; the courts do not allow a non-attorney to represent the succession in contested pleadings.
No death tax: Louisiana has no state estate tax and no inheritance tax. Only the federal estate tax can apply, to estates above the federal exemption ($15 million in 2026).

Worked total examples

Estate valueRep. fee (2.5%)Attorney (est.)Filing + adv.Approx. total
$100,000$2,500$3,000$500≈ $6,000
$300,000$7,500$9,000$500≈ $17,000
$500,000$12,500$15,000$500≈ $28,000

Filing + adv. = ~$350 parish filing fee + ~$150 judicial advertisement. Attorney fee shown at an illustrative ~3% for comparison; Louisiana attorneys just as commonly bill hourly or flat. If the succession representative waives the fee, subtract that column. Run your own numbers in the calculator.

How to reduce Louisiana succession costs

  • Use the small succession affidavit for a Louisiana-domiciled decedent's estate up to $200,000, no real estate (C.C.P. § 3421, as of August 1, 2026).
  • Use independent administration where the will authorizes it, or all heirs agree — it cuts court supervision and cost versus a fully administered succession.
  • Succession representative waives the fee if a family member and heir.
  • A living trust can keep assets out of the succession process entirely.
Facing probate in Louisiana?

A local probate attorney can review your estate — many offer a free consultation.

Talk to a Louisiana attorney

Keep going

Louisiana Succession Cost CalculatorYour estimate + PDF Succession Attorney FeesNo fixed percentage Filing FeesParish court costs Executor Fee CalculatorThe 2.5% commission

Estimate for general guidance only, not legal or tax advice. Succession representative fee defaults to 2.5% of the inventory value under La. C.C.P. § 3351, unless the will or heir agreement sets a different amount. Attorney fees have no statutory percentage. Figures shown are illustrative estimates. Small succession affidavit: $200,000, no real estate, Louisiana domiciliary (§ 3421, effective Aug. 1, 2026). Louisiana has no estate or inheritance tax. Verify with the parish Clerk of Court or a licensed Louisiana attorney.