What to Do When Someone Dies in Louisiana

Louisiana is genuinely unlike every other U.S. state when it comes to inheritance law — worth understanding if you’re handling an estate here.

How do I get a death certificate in Louisiana?

Certified death certificates in Louisiana are issued through the Louisiana Department of Health Vital Records office. The funeral home typically handles ordering these on your behalf.

Why is Louisiana different from every other U.S. state?

Louisiana is the only U.S. state with a civil law legal system, rooted in French and Spanish legal traditions (via the Napoleonic Code), rather than the English common law system used in the other 49 states. This isn’t just a technicality - it shapes real, substantive differences in how inheritance works.

What is “forced heirship”?

Perhaps Louisiana’s most distinctive inheritance rule: forced heirship generally prevents a parent from fully disinheriting certain children - typically those under 24, or of any age if permanently disabled. These “forced heirs” are entitled to a minimum share of the estate, called the legitime, regardless of what a will states. This has essentially no equivalent in most other U.S. states and is genuinely important to understand if you’re planning an estate in Louisiana, or settling one involving children who may qualify.

What is a “succession” in Louisiana?

Louisiana uses its own terminology: the process other states call probate is called a succession in Louisiana, and the person managing it is a succession representative, rather than an executor or administrator - functionally similar roles, but distinct terms.

Is Louisiana a community property state?

Yes - Louisiana is also a community property state, similar to states like California and Texas, affecting how marital property is treated after a death.

Where can I get help?

Given how different Louisiana’s system is, working with a Louisiana-licensed attorney specifically experienced in succession law is particularly important here - general estate planning knowledge from other states doesn’t reliably transfer.

• Louisiana Department of Health for death certificate questions
• Louisiana State Bar Association for attorney referrals

Louisiana’s civil law system genuinely differs from other states. This is general educational information, not legal advice — please consult a Louisiana-licensed attorney for guidance specific to your situation.