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Bossier Parish, LA Probate Information
Quick facts
| Topic | Bossier Parish details |
|---|---|
| Court | Twenty-Sixth Judicial District Court |
| Filing office | Bossier Parish Clerk of Court, Civil Department |
| Courthouse address | 204 Burt Boulevard, Third Floor, Benton, LA 71006 |
| Mailing address | P.O. Box 430, Benton, LA 71006 |
| Phone | (318) 965-2336 |
| Fax | (318) 965-2713, listed by the Louisiana Clerks of Court Association |
| [email protected] | |
| Hours | 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays |
| Advance cost deposit | $350.00 with no service and $400.00 with one service, effective April 1, 2017. The clerk describes advance deposits as estimates. |
| Local succession forms | No succession form, checklist or petition template is published by the Bossier Parish Clerk of Court or the Twenty-Sixth Judicial District Court. |
| Electronic filing | The clerk publishes civil electronic filing through Clerk Connect. Attorney filings are governed by the Louisiana filing rule effective January 1, 2026. The original testament is filed in paper form and retained by the clerk. |
| Case lookup | The clerk publishes Clerk Connect links for Bossier Parish civil inquiry, record search and court event inquiry. The clerk also links the LCRAA statewide portal, but does not say what Bossier Parish exposes there. |
| Remote appearance | Neither the clerk nor the court publishes a Bossier Parish remote appearance practice for succession matters. Ask the clerk when anything is set. |
| Website | https://www.bossierclerk.com/ |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before filing anything in Benton, identify the decedent's assets, debts, heirs, legatees and any original testament. Louisiana succession choices depend on what property exists, whether immovable property is involved, whether everyone agrees and whether a succession representative must be appointed.
Sunset's estate settlement platform can search across more than 2,300 financial institutions to help families find accounts, balances and liabilities before they choose a filing path. That preparation matters locally because Bossier's advance deposits are estimates, costs can increase as filings and service are added, and unused deposit balances are refunded only on written request.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Successions for Bossier Parish are filed with the Bossier Parish Clerk of Court at the courthouse in Benton and heard in the Twenty-Sixth Judicial District Court, which also serves Webster Parish. The shared district is a shared bench, not a shared filing office. Do not use the Webster Parish courthouse or clerk for a Bossier Parish succession.
A succession is opened in the district court of the parish where the decedent was domiciled at death. If the decedent was not domiciled in Louisiana, the proceeding may be opened in a parish where the decedent owned immovable property, or where movable property is situated if there is no Louisiana immovable property (La. C.C.P. art. 2811). A decedent who lived in Bossier City, Benton, Haughton or Plain Dealing is still filed through the clerk's office in Benton.
The jurisdiction process
- Gather the death certificate, the original testament if one exists, asset information, debt information and the names and addresses of heirs and legatees. The Bossier Parish Clerk of Court does not issue death certificates, so obtain that document through the state's vital records office.
- Choose the Louisiana succession route before drafting. Common routes include a small succession affidavit when that route fits, possession without administration, administration, or independent administration.
- Draft the petition and supporting papers to the Louisiana Code. Neither the Bossier Parish Clerk of Court nor the Twenty-Sixth Judicial District Court publishes a local succession petition, checklist or template.
- File with the Civil Department of the Bossier Parish Clerk of Court on the third floor of the courthouse at 204 Burt Boulevard in Benton, or mail the filing to P.O. Box 430, Benton, LA 71006. The clerk's main number is (318) 965-2336.
- Pay the clerk's advance cost deposit. The clerk publishes $350.00 with no service and $400.00 with one service, effective April 1, 2017, plus $100.00 for each additional service, $50.00 for each additional paper issued and $2.00 for each name indexed beyond two, effective April 1, 2017. The clerk accepts cash, money order or credit card and states that personal checks are not accepted.
- File the original testament in paper form if there is one. The clerk retains the original testament in perpetuity after probate or an order to file and execute it (La. C.C.P. art. 2911).
- Address service, waivers, absent heirs or other notices only when your filing path requires them. Do not build in a creditor notice step unless a lawyer identifies a specific reason for one.
- For an uncontested matter, the clerk may handle unopposed probate of the testament and confirmation or appointment of the succession representative, and the clerk issues letters testamentary, letters of administration or letters of independent administration after qualification (La. C.C.P. arts. 282, 283, 3159).
- Administer the succession as needed, including inventory or a sworn detailed descriptive list, court authority for debt payment when required, and any written motion or request the court must consider.
- Close with a judgment of possession signed by the court. If Bossier Parish immovable property is involved, record the judgment in the conveyance records with the Bossier Parish Clerk of Court.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Bossier Parish
The Bossier Parish Clerk of Court publishes no succession form, checklist or petition template. The Twenty-Sixth Judicial District Court also publishes no succession form on its orders and forms page, and its online self-help center does not include a succession topic.
The local documents that may still help are procedural rather than succession-specific. The clerk publishes a self-represented filer information sheet that explains filing costs, payment methods and the office's legal-advice limits. The court's online self-help center publishes general court procedure materials and an In Forma Pauperis application for a filer asking to delay court costs.
The clerk's office states that its employees cannot provide legal advice, identify necessary documents or answer legal procedure questions. A Louisiana succession petition is usually drafted to the facts of the family, the property and the testament, if any.
Fees
| Cost item | Bossier Parish amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Succession advance cost deposit | $350.00 with no service, effective April 1, 2017 | The clerk's civil schedule labels advance deposits as estimates. |
| Succession advance cost deposit with one service | $400.00, effective April 1, 2017 | Prepayment is required on all filings. |
| Additional service | $100.00 each, effective April 1, 2017 | Useful when several people must be served. |
| Additional paper issued | $50.00 each, effective April 1, 2017 | Applies when extra issued papers are needed. |
| Additional indexed name beyond two | $2.00 per name, effective April 1, 2017 | Can matter in a succession with several heirs or legatees. |
| Curator fee | $350.00, effective April 1, 2017 | Relevant if an absent heir requires appointment of an attorney. |
| Recording an affidavit of small succession | $105.00 flat fee, on the clerk's current recording schedule with no effective date printed | This is a recording charge, not a civil suit deposit. |
| Recording a judgment of possession, one to five pages | $105.00, on the clerk's current recording schedule with no effective date printed | Includes indexing up to ten names, one certified copy and the statewide portal fee. |
| Mail copies | $1.00 per page, effective August 1, 2016 | Money must be received before mailing. |
| Certification from the records department | $5.00 per document plus copy charge, effective August 1, 2016 | Certified documents are often needed for banks and property work. |
Bossier's clerk states that refunds are given only on written request. If the deposit is not fully used, ask the clerk in writing about the balance.
If the advance deposit is a hardship, the Twenty-Sixth Judicial District Court's self-help center publishes an In Forma Pauperis application. The court describes it as a fee delayer, not a waiver, and states that the judge can deny the request and that costs may still have to be paid later.
Local nuance
Bossier Parish-specific considerations
| Local point | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Shared judicial district | Bossier Parish shares the Twenty-Sixth Judicial District with Webster Parish, but Bossier Parish filings go to the Bossier Parish Clerk of Court in Benton. |
| One Bossier filing location | The clerk publishes one location for succession filings: the Bossier Parish Courthouse, 204 Burt Boulevard, Third Floor, Benton. |
| Refunds require a written request | The clerk states that refunds are given only on written request, so follow up if an advance deposit balance remains. |
| No personal checks | The clerk's self-represented filer sheet states that the office accepts cash, money order or credit card and does not accept personal checks. |
| Court event lookup | The clerk publishes a Bossier Parish court event inquiry through Clerk Connect, which can help after something has been set. |
| Small succession affidavit recording price | The clerk publishes a $105.00 flat fee, on the current recording schedule with no effective date printed, for recording an affidavit of small succession. |
Recent updates
| Update | What changed |
|---|---|
| Small succession law | Act 293 of 2026, effective August 1, 2026, changed the statewide small succession ceiling for a Louisiana-domiciled decedent (La. C.C.P. art. 3421). |
| Attorney filing rule | The Louisiana filing rule effective January 1, 2026, addresses attorney filings through a clerk-established electronic system or the Louisiana Clerks' Remote Access Authority, while original testaments remain paper originals (La. C.C.P. art. 253). |
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Bossier Parish path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | This is often a community property and usufruct problem. The succession reaches the decedent's half of the community, and the surviving spouse's legal usufruct over that half ends at death or remarriage (La. C.C. art. 890). File in Benton, then record the judgment of possession if the home is Bossier Parish immovable property. | Sunset helps identify accounts, debts and property details before the petition is drafted, so the estate settlement starts with a complete asset picture. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small succession | If the affidavit route fits, Bossier publishes a $105.00 flat recording fee on its current recording schedule with no effective date printed. The clerk accepts mail at P.O. Box 430 in Benton and states that personal checks are not accepted. | Sunset helps gather balances, institution names and documents remotely, then organizes the information a Louisiana attorney or notary needs. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A sale of immovable property often points toward administration or independent administration. The Bossier filing starts with the clerk in Benton, with a $350.00 no-service deposit or $400.00 one-service deposit, effective April 1, 2017, and the eventual judgment of possession is recorded with the clerk. | Sunset helps locate assets, prepare the family for the succession representative's work and connect the family with local counsel when the sale requires court authority. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Bossier Parish Clerk of Court | Filing office for Bossier Parish successions. The clerk can answer office and filing questions, but the office states that employees cannot give legal advice or identify the documents you need. | (318) 965-2336, [email protected] |
| Twenty-Sixth Judicial District Court online self-help center | Provides general court procedure information and the fee delayer application. It does not publish a succession topic or succession form. | https://www.26thjdcselfhelp.com/ |
| Acadiana Legal Service Corporation | Free civil legal help for low-income Louisianians in its service area, subject to eligibility and case priorities. Bossier local materials point self-represented filers to ALSC, but ALSC does not advertise succession representation. | 1-866-275-2572, Shreveport office at 720 Travis Street |
| Shreveport Bar Foundation Pro Bono Project | Serves qualifying Caddo and Bossier Parish residents in civil matters. Its Ask a Lawyer clinic is held on the third Monday of each month at the Shreveport Bar Center, with intake starting at 4:30 p.m. | (318) 221-8104, 625 Texas Street, Shreveport |
| LouisianaLawHelp.org | Statewide legal information site with topics including estates, wills and guardianships and a directory searchable by parish. | https://louisianalawhelp.org/ |
| Law Library of Louisiana | Research resource for self-represented litigants, including wills and estates materials. | (800) 820-3038 |
When to hire an attorney
Consider a Louisiana succession attorney if the family disagrees, an heir cannot be located, an immovable must be sold, a succession representative must be appointed, independent administration is being considered, a bond issue arises, or the testament creates questions. Bossier's clerk states that employees cannot give legal advice or identify necessary documents, and neither the clerk nor the court publishes a local succession form, so the petition often needs legal drafting. Sunset connects you to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across more than 2,300 financial institutions to help identify accounts, balances and debts before the Bossier Parish succession is filed. That gives the family a clearer estate settlement picture before paying an advance deposit.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset organizes the facts, people, assets and documents needed for the Louisiana succession process. In Bossier Parish, that preparation helps a family or attorney draft the petition because the clerk does not publish a local succession form.
Find a local probate attorney. When a Bossier Parish estate settlement needs administration, a sale of immovable property, an absent-heir curator or a contested issue, Sunset can connect the family with a Louisiana attorney who handles successions.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to understand assets, organize documents and decide what help they need without paying Sunset a fee.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file a succession in Bossier Parish?
File with the Civil Department of the Bossier Parish Clerk of Court on the third floor of the Bossier Parish Courthouse, 204 Burt Boulevard, Benton, LA 71006. Mail filings go to P.O. Box 430, Benton, LA 71006.
Does Bossier Parish share its court with Webster Parish?
Yes. Bossier and Webster Parishes compose the Twenty-Sixth Judicial District, but each parish has its own clerk. A Bossier Parish succession is filed with the Bossier Parish Clerk of Court in Benton, not with the Webster Parish Clerk of Court.
Can I file a Bossier Parish succession electronically?
The Bossier Parish Clerk of Court publishes civil electronic filing through Clerk Connect, and Clerk Connect lists Bossier Parish electronic filing. The clerk does not publish whether a self-represented filer may open a succession through that system. Attorneys follow the Louisiana filing rule effective January 1, 2026, and an original testament is filed in paper form.
How much does it cost to open a succession in Bossier Parish?
The clerk publishes an advance cost deposit of $350.00 with no service and $400.00 with one service, effective April 1, 2017. The clerk states that advance deposits are estimates, prepayment is required and refunds are given only on written request.
Does Bossier Parish publish succession forms?
No. Neither the Bossier Parish Clerk of Court nor the Twenty-Sixth Judicial District Court publishes a succession form, checklist or petition template. The clerk does publish a self-represented filer information sheet, and the court publishes general procedure materials and a fee delayer application.
Can I look up a Bossier Parish succession online?
The clerk publishes Clerk Connect links for Bossier Parish civil inquiry, record search and court event inquiry, and also links the LCRAA statewide portal. The clerk does not say whether a succession will appear in either online system, so call (318) 965-2336 if a search does not find the matter.
Are Bossier Parish succession hearings remote?
Neither the Bossier Parish Clerk of Court nor the Twenty-Sixth Judicial District Court publishes a remote appearance practice for succession matters. Ask the clerk when anything is set. Many Louisiana successions are handled ex parte and do not produce a hearing.
Do I have to travel to Benton for a Bossier Parish succession?
Maybe. Filings are made with the Bossier Parish Clerk of Court in Benton, and the clerk accepts mail at P.O. Box 430. If something is set before the court, ask the clerk what the assigned division requires.
What if I cannot pay the Bossier Parish advance deposit up front?
The Twenty-Sixth Judicial District Court's self-help center publishes an In Forma Pauperis application. The court describes it as a fee delayer, not a waiver, and says the judge can deny the request and costs may still have to be paid later.
Shaped by the families we've helped
Thank you to the thousands of families who have trusted Sunset to help settle their loved ones' estates. This page is shaped by the questions they actually asked and the obstacles they actually hit — and that hard-won experience is what keeps it accurate, current, and genuinely useful to the families who come next.