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Caddo Parish, LA Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Caddo Parish details |
|---|---|
| Court | First Judicial District Court |
| Filing office | Caddo Parish Clerk of Court, Civil Filings Department |
| Courthouse address | Caddo Parish Courthouse, 501 Texas Street, Room 103, Shreveport, LA 71101 |
| Mailing address | Mail goes to the street address: 501 Texas Street, Room 103, Shreveport, LA 71101 |
| Phone | 318-226-6776 for Civil Filings |
| [email protected] | |
| Fax | 318-227-9080. The clerk states that filings by fax ended January 1, 2026. |
| Hours | 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. Death certificate service at the clerk's office runs 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. |
| Advance cost deposit | $450.00 for a new succession, effective January 1, 2026. Certified copies are separate at $5.00 each, effective January 1, 2026. |
| Local forms | Yes. The clerk publishes a Caddo succession bond and a succession oath, but not a petition packet. |
| E-filing | The clerk routes electronic civil filings through Clerk Connect. Attorneys follow the Louisiana filing rule that took effect January 1, 2026. An original testament is filed in paper form and kept by the clerk. |
| Case search | Caddo links to a free eClerks LA index search for civil, property, marriage, and criminal indexes. Paid Clerk Connect access has Caddo civil name index coverage from January 1, 1984, civil documents from November 15, 1994, and civil images back to roughly 1947. |
| Remote appearance | Ask the clerk when a matter is set. Caddo publishes no local succession remote-appearance rule, and many Louisiana successions are handled ex parte. |
| Website | https://www.caddoclerk.com/ |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file anything in Caddo Parish, identify the decedent's accounts, debts, immovable property, vehicles, and any original testament. That asset picture determines whether the family can use a small succession affidavit, possession without administration, or an administration with a succession representative.
For estate settlement, Sunset's 2,300-institution asset discovery can help locate accounts before you pay the Caddo Parish Clerk of Court's advance cost deposit or ask an attorney to draft the petition.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Successions for Caddo Parish are filed with the Caddo Parish Clerk of Court at the Caddo Parish Courthouse in Shreveport and heard in the First Judicial District Court. Louisiana venue is the district court of the parish where the decedent was domiciled at death, or, for a nonresident decedent, a parish where Louisiana immovable property is situated, or where movable property is situated if there is no Louisiana immovable property (La. C.C.P. art. 2811).
The First Judicial District is Caddo Parish only (La. R.S. 13:477). The parish includes Shreveport and communities such as Vivian, Oil City, Blanchard, Mooringsport, Greenwood, Keithville, Belcher, Gilliam, Rodessa, Ida, and Bethany. Succession filings go to Room 103 at 501 Texas Street, not to the juvenile office on Spring Street.
The jurisdiction process
- Collect the death certificate, asset information, debts, names and addresses of heirs or legatees, and the original testament if one exists. The Caddo Parish Clerk of Court issues Louisiana death certificates at the courthouse for eligible requesters from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., but does not take mail applications for that service.
- Choose the Louisiana succession route before filing: small succession affidavit, possession without administration, administration, or independent administration. A succession representative means an executor, administrator, or other representative described in Louisiana succession procedure (La. C.C.P. art. 2826).
- Prepare the petition and supporting documents for the First Judicial District Court. Caddo states that court rules require filings on legal-sized paper, and the clerk does not publish a succession petition template.
- File with the Civil Filings Department of the Caddo Parish Clerk of Court, Room 103, 501 Texas Street, Shreveport. Electronic civil filings are routed through Clerk Connect, but the original testament is delivered in paper form and retained by the clerk (La. C.C.P. arts. 253, 2911).
- Pay the advance cost deposit. Caddo lists a $450.00 deposit for a new succession, effective January 1, 2026, with $100.00 for each extra service, effective January 1, 2026, and certified copies separate at $5.00 each, effective January 1, 2026.
- Use Caddo's local forms when they fit the appointment step. The clerk publishes a Caddo succession bond and a succession oath, both captioned for the First Judicial District Court.
- If the testament is unopposed or a representative is being appointed without opposition, the clerk of court may handle the ex parte acts Louisiana law assigns to the clerk. Contested matters go before the court (La. C.C.P. arts. 282, 283).
- Obtain letters testamentary, letters of administration, or letters of independent administration after the appointed succession representative qualifies. The clerk issues the letters under the court seal (La. C.C.P. art. 3159).
- Prepare the inventory or sworn detailed descriptive list, handle creditor claims in writing, and seek court authority where Louisiana procedure requires it before paying estate debts.
- Close with a judgment of possession. If Caddo Parish immovable property is involved, record the judgment in the conveyance records. Caddo states that succession-deposit refunds are automatic at the time of the judgment of possession.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Caddo Parish
The Caddo Parish Clerk of Court publishes two succession-specific forms: Bond (Succession) and Succession Oath. Both are captioned for the First Judicial District Court and Caddo Parish, and both are on legal-sized paper.
The clerk does not publish a succession petition template, checklist, or full estate settlement packet. A Louisiana succession is opened by a petition drafted to the Code, and the local bond and oath are used when a succession representative is being appointed or confirmed.
| Form | Use | Local note |
|---|---|---|
| Bond (Succession) | Security for a succession representative when required | Captioned to the First Judicial District Court and Caddo Parish |
| Succession Oath | Oath by the person appointed to serve | Captioned to the First Judicial District Court, State of Louisiana, Parish of Caddo |
The clerk also states that employees are prohibited from giving legal advice, so ask an attorney which pleadings your succession needs.
Fees
Caddo publishes more fee detail than many Louisiana clerks. Treat the amount paid at opening as an advance cost deposit, not a final price. Costs draw against the deposit, and Caddo states that refunds are automatic when the judgment of possession is signed.
| Cost item | Amount | Effective date |
|---|---|---|
| New succession advance cost deposit | $450.00 | January 1, 2026 |
| Each extra service | $100.00 | January 1, 2026 |
| Certified copy in a civil matter | $5.00 each | January 1, 2026 |
| Conveyance or mortgage recording, one to five pages | $105.00 | August 1, 2017 |
| Conveyance or mortgage recording, six to twenty-five pages | $205.00 | August 1, 2017 |
| Conveyance or mortgage recording, twenty-six to fifty pages | $305.00 | August 1, 2017 |
| Additional page over fifty pages | $5.00 per page added to $305.00 | August 1, 2017 |
| Name indexing after the tenth name in a recorded document | $5.00 per name | August 1, 2017 |
| Document larger than 8.5 by 14 inches | $20.00 per page added | August 1, 2017 |
The clerk's Civil Deposit Cost Calculator can price services, certified copies, pages, exhibits, and other filing variables before you go to the courthouse.
Local nuance
Caddo Parish-specific considerations
| Local point | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Single-parish judicial district | Caddo Parish alone makes up the First Judicial District. File with the Caddo Parish Clerk of Court in Shreveport. |
| One succession deposit | Caddo lists a $450.00 new-succession deposit for estates of any size, effective January 1, 2026, and states that refunds are automatic at the judgment of possession. |
| Cost calculator | The clerk's Civil Deposit Cost Calculator includes succession entries and lets you estimate services, copies, and other add-ons before filing. |
| Local succession bond and oath | The clerk publishes two Caddo-captioned succession forms, a bond and an oath, which are useful when a succession representative is appointed or confirmed. |
| Fax filings ended | Caddo still lists a fax number, but the clerk states that filings by fax ended January 1, 2026. |
| Deep online record trail | Paid Clerk Connect access has a civil name index from January 1, 1984, civil documents from November 15, 1994, and older scanned civil images back to roughly 1947. |
| Language access | The First Judicial District Court's Language Access Office arranges interpreters for civil in-court proceedings. Requests should be made as soon as a hearing date is known. |
Recent updates
| Date | Update | Why it matters in Caddo Parish |
|---|---|---|
| August 1, 2026 | Act 293 of 2026 changed Louisiana's statewide small succession amount under La. C.C.P. art. 3421. | Older Caddo materials may use outdated wording, so check current Louisiana law before relying on an old small succession reference. |
| January 1, 2026 | Louisiana's filing rule for attorney filings took effect under La. C.C.P. art. 253. | Caddo routes electronic civil filings through Clerk Connect, while an original testament is filed in paper form. |
| January 1, 2026 | Caddo stopped accepting filings by fax, consistent with La. R.S. 13:850. | Do not rely on older fax-filing instructions or stale calculator options when opening a succession. |
| January 1, 2026 | Caddo's civil cost deposit list took effect. | The current new-succession deposit is $450.00, effective January 1, 2026. |
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Caddo Parish path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | This is often a community property and usufruct analysis. The surviving spouse already owns the spouse's half of the community, and the succession addresses the decedent's half. If the home is in Caddo Parish, the judgment of possession is recorded with the Caddo Parish Clerk of Court after signature. | Sunset helps identify accounts, debts, title issues, and the documents an attorney needs for estate settlement. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | Start by checking whether the Louisiana small succession affidavit route fits. In Caddo, a new succession has the same $450.00 advance cost deposit, effective January 1, 2026, regardless of size, and the Civil Deposit Cost Calculator can price add-ons before travel. For a death certificate, the clerk's office serves eligible in-person requesters only, so an out-of-state heir may need the state's online vital-records route. | Sunset helps find assets, organize heirs and account information, and prepare for a local attorney review without unnecessary courthouse trips. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A sale of immovable property often points toward administration or independent administration. File through the Caddo Parish Clerk of Court, use the local succession bond and oath if the appointment step requires them, and plan for recording the signed judgment or sale-related documents in Caddo conveyance records. | Sunset helps assemble the estate settlement file, locate accounts, and connect the family with a Louisiana succession attorney. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Acadiana Legal Service Corporation | Free civil legal help for low-income Louisianians in its service area, subject to eligibility and case priorities. It names estate planning among its service areas. | 1-866-275-2572. Shreveport office: 720 Travis Street, Shreveport, LA 71101. |
| Shreveport Bar Foundation Pro Bono Project | Free civil legal assistance by volunteer attorneys for qualified low-income Caddo Parish residents. It also hosts an Ask A Lawyer clinic on the third Monday of each month, with intake beginning at 4:30 p.m. at the Shreveport Bar Center. | 625 Texas Street, Shreveport, LA 71101. Phone: 318-221-8104. |
| Caddo Parish Clerk of Court self-represented links | The clerk links to Louisiana Law Help, Louisiana State Bar Association resources, Modest Means information, Free Legal Answers, and local bar resources. | Use the self-represented litigant links on caddoclerk.com. |
| First Judicial District Court Language Access Office | Interpreter help for civil in-court proceedings and court-sponsored events for people who are not proficient in English or who are deaf or hard of hearing. | 501 Texas Street, Suite 300, Shreveport, LA 71101. Phone: 318-677-5340. |
| LouisianaLawHelp.org | Statewide legal information site with sections for estates, wills, guardianships, legal-help organizations by parish, and online help tools. | louisianalawhelp.org |
| Law Library of Louisiana | Research guides and self-represented-litigant materials, including wills and estates resources. | lasc.org and the Law Library of Louisiana research guides. |
Clerk staff file and maintain court records, but they do not choose the correct succession route or draft your petition for you.
When to hire an attorney
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across thousands of institutions so families can see what exists before starting estate settlement in Caddo Parish.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset organizes the facts, heirs, assets, debts, and documents a Louisiana attorney needs to prepare the succession petition and related filings.
Find a local probate attorney. Sunset connects families with Louisiana counsel for succession questions, including administration, independent administration, immovable property, and judgment of possession issues.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize estate settlement, locate assets, and get matched with the right professional help without paying Sunset.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file a succession in Caddo Parish?
File with the Civil Filings Department of the Caddo Parish Clerk of Court in Room 103 of the Caddo Parish Courthouse, 501 Texas Street, Shreveport, LA 71101. Caddo Parish successions are heard in the First Judicial District Court.
What does it cost to open a succession in Caddo Parish?
The clerk lists a $450.00 advance cost deposit for a new succession, effective January 1, 2026. Extra service is $100.00 per service, effective January 1, 2026, and certified copies are $5.00 each, effective January 1, 2026.
Can I e-file a Caddo Parish succession?
The clerk routes electronic civil filings through Clerk Connect, and Louisiana's attorney filing rule took effect January 1, 2026. The clerk does not say whether a self-represented person may open a succession through that system. The original testament is filed in paper form and kept by the clerk.
Can I fax a succession filing to the Caddo Parish Clerk of Court?
No. The clerk states that filings by fax ended January 1, 2026. The fax number may still appear in older materials, but it is not a filing route for a succession.
Does Caddo Parish publish succession forms?
Yes, but only two local succession forms: a succession bond and a succession oath. The clerk does not publish a succession petition packet, so most families use an attorney to draft the petition.
How do I look up a Caddo Parish succession case?
Caddo links to a free eClerks LA index search for civil, property, marriage, and criminal indexes. Caddo handles successions as civil matters, but the clerk describes the free portal as an index, not a document library. Paid Clerk Connect access provides broader Caddo civil record access.
Do I have to travel to Shreveport for a Caddo Parish succession?
Not always. Many Louisiana successions are handled ex parte, and an attorney can often manage filings. If you need a death certificate from the Caddo clerk, that office serves eligible in-person requesters and does not take mail applications for that service.
Are remote hearings published for Caddo Parish successions?
Caddo publishes no local succession remote-appearance rule. If a matter is set for hearing, ask the Caddo Parish Clerk of Court at 318-226-6776 what the assigned section requires.
Where is a Caddo Parish judgment of possession recorded?
If the succession involves Caddo Parish immovable property, the judgment of possession is recorded in the conveyance records with the Caddo Parish Clerk of Court. The clerk states that the succession deposit is sized to include recording the judgment and that refunds are automatic at the judgment of possession.
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.