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LaSalle Parish, LA Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Court | Twenty-Eighth Judicial District Court |
| Filing office | LaSalle Parish Clerk of Court |
| Courthouse address | 1050 Courthouse Street, Jena, LA 71342 |
| Mailing address | P.O. Box 1316, Jena, LA 71342 |
| Phone | (318) 992-2158. The clerk's site does not list a separate civil or successions line. |
| Fax | (318) 992-2157 |
| Hours | Public counter hours are not posted online. Call before you go to the courthouse. |
| Filing fee | The clerk's undated prices page lists Civil Costs New Suit Charges of $400.00, undated by the clerk, for one defendant and $75.00, undated by the clerk, for each additional defendant. It also lists small successions as half cost for pleadings only, while still using a pre-Act-293 $125,000.00 eligibility label. Confirm the current advance cost deposit before filing. |
| Local forms | No local succession forms, checklists, petition templates, or succession cover sheets are posted on the LaSalle Parish Clerk of Court site. |
| E-filing | Attorney filings follow La. C.C.P. art. 253. The LaSalle Parish Clerk of Court site does not name a local e-filing vendor or system. A self-represented filer should call the clerk to ask what the office accepts. An original testament is delivered in paper form and retained by the clerk under La. C.C.P. art. 2911. |
| Online records | The clerk describes eClerksLA for LaSalle Parish land records and marriages. The site does not describe civil or succession search coverage for LaSalle Parish. |
| Remote appearance | The Twenty-Eighth Judicial District Court publishes a video conference option for pre-trial conferences and certain other matters when all parties agree. Call the court at (318) 992-2002 when a matter is set. |
| Website | http://www.lasalleclerk.com/ |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose a LaSalle Parish succession route, list the decedent's assets, debts, community property, separate property, and any immovable property. That inventory determines whether the family can use a small succession affidavit, a possession proceeding without administration, or an administration with a succession representative.
Sunset's estate settlement tools help families look for accounts and assets before papers are filed. Sunset's 2,300 institution asset discovery can reduce missed accounts, duplicate filings, and delays when the petition or sworn detailed descriptive list is prepared for the LaSalle Parish Clerk of Court.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Successions for LaSalle Parish are filed with the LaSalle Parish Clerk of Court at 1050 Courthouse Street in Jena and are heard in the Twenty-Eighth Judicial District Court. LaSalle Parish is the only parish in the Twenty-Eighth Judicial District, so the filing office and the judicial offices are in the same Jena courthouse building.
Louisiana venue starts with domicile. 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 where the decedent's immovable property is situated, or where movable property is situated if there is no Louisiana immovable property (La. C.C.P. art. 2811).
The jurisdiction process
- Collect the death certificate, the original testament if one exists, asset information, debts, family information, and any title information for immovable property in LaSalle Parish.
- Choose the local filing path. Common Louisiana paths include a small succession affidavit, a petition to send heirs or legatees into possession without administration, or an administration with an executor, administrator, dative testamentary executor, or independent administration when the estate needs a succession representative.
- Prepare the petition or affidavit package for the LaSalle Parish Clerk of Court. Louisiana does not provide a statewide succession form set, and LaSalle Parish does not post local succession templates.
- File with the LaSalle Parish Clerk of Court at the Jena courthouse or use the filing method the clerk authorizes for your filer status. Attorneys follow La. C.C.P. art. 253. Self-represented filers should call the clerk before filing.
- Pay the required advance cost deposit. The clerk's undated prices page lists Civil Costs New Suit Charges of $400.00, undated by the clerk, for one defendant and $75.00, undated by the clerk, for each additional defendant. Small succession pleadings are listed as half cost, but the clerk's eligibility label should be checked against the current law in La. C.C.P. art. 3421.
- Deliver any original testament in paper form. The clerk retains the original testament in perpetuity when it is probated or ordered filed and executed (La. C.C.P. art. 2911).
- For an uncontested testament or uncontested appointment, the clerk of court may handle the acts allowed by La. C.C.P. arts. 282 and 283. If a succession representative is confirmed or appointed and qualifies, the clerk issues letters testamentary, letters of administration, or letters of independent administration as applicable (La. C.C.P. art. 3159).
- Complete the inventory or sworn detailed descriptive list, obtain court authority when required to pay debts or sell property, and keep records for the estate settlement.
- When the succession is ready to close, submit the papers for a judgment of possession. The court signs the judgment of possession, and any transfer involving immovable property should be recorded where the property is located.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in LaSalle Parish
LaSalle Parish does not post local succession forms, petition templates, small succession affidavit forms, or a succession cover sheet on the LaSalle Parish Clerk of Court site. Louisiana also does not provide a statewide succession form set. Most succession filings are drafted to the Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure and tailored to the testament, heirs, debts, and property.
Call the LaSalle Parish Clerk of Court at (318) 992-2158 before filing to ask what the office wants included with the petition, how many copies are needed, and the current advance cost deposit.
Fees
| Fee item | LaSalle Parish detail |
|---|---|
| Civil new suit charge | The clerk's undated prices page lists $400.00, undated by the clerk, for one defendant. |
| Additional defendant | The same undated prices page lists $75.00, undated by the clerk, for each additional defendant. |
| Small succession pleadings | The same page lists small successions as half cost for pleadings only. The page still uses a pre-Act-293 $125,000.00 eligibility label, so confirm the deposit with the clerk and use the current small succession eligibility rule in La. C.C.P. art. 3421. |
| Advance costs | Louisiana succession filing costs are handled as advance cost deposits. The clerk can require additional costs when the deposit is exhausted under La. R.S. 13:842. |
Local nuance
LaSalle Parish-specific considerations
- LaSalle Parish is a single-parish judicial district. A LaSalle Parish succession is filed with the LaSalle Parish Clerk of Court and heard in the Twenty-Eighth Judicial District Court in Jena.
- The clerk's website is minimal. It posts the courthouse address, mailing address, phone, fax, eClerksLA land-records and marriage notice, and an undated prices page, but it does not post public counter hours, a local e-filing vendor, or succession forms.
- The clerk describes eClerksLA for LaSalle Parish land records and marriages. It does not describe civil or succession records for LaSalle Parish, so call the clerk about any case lookup.
- The Twenty-Eighth Judicial District Court publishes a video conference option for pre-trial conferences and certain other matters when all parties agree. Louisiana also allows remote appearance in certain non-evidentiary civil proceedings with written notice at least ten days before the hearing, subject to the court's technology and good-cause written refusal (La. C.C.P. art. 195.1).
Small-estate Alternatives
The LaSalle Parish Clerk of Court's undated prices page lists small successions as half cost for pleadings only. The same page still uses a pre-Act-293 $125,000.00 eligibility label. Current Louisiana law sets the Louisiana-domiciled small succession ceiling at $200,000, effective August 1, 2026, and keeps the nonresident ancillary ceiling at $125,000 under La. C.C.P. art. 3421. Do not rely on the clerk's old eligibility label without confirming the current deposit and route with the clerk or counsel.
Recent updates
| Date | Update |
|---|---|
| August 1, 2026 | Act 293 of 2026 changed La. C.C.P. art. 3421 by raising the Louisiana-domiciled small succession ceiling to $200,000. The LaSalle Parish Clerk of Court's undated prices page still uses a pre-Act-293 $125,000.00 eligibility label, so families should separate the clerk's posted deposit language from current eligibility under art. 3421. |
| January 1, 2026 | Attorney filing rules under La. C.C.P. art. 253 changed for Louisiana civil filings. The original testament remains a paper original for filing and retention under La. C.C.P. art. 2911. |
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Situation | Local path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | Identify what is community property, what is separate property, and whether the surviving spouse's usufruct affects the decedent's share of community property (La. C.C. art. 890). If the home title needs to be updated, the LaSalle Parish filing usually ends with a judgment of possession and any needed recordation for the immovable property. | Sunset helps gather property, mortgage, account, and debt information so the estate settlement papers reflect the correct assets before filing in Jena. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | Start by checking domicile, Louisiana property, and whether the small succession affidavit route fits. For a Louisiana-domiciled decedent, the current ceiling is $200,000 effective August 1, 2026 under La. C.C.P. art. 3421. If LaSalle Parish property is involved, call the clerk about the current deposit and recording steps. | Sunset helps organize accounts, property values, and family information, then helps generate a packet for attorney review or local filing. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A sale of immovable property often requires administration, independent administration, or court authority before closing. File the succession in Jena if LaSalle Parish is the proper venue, then work toward the authority needed to sell and a judgment of possession when the succession is ready to close. | Sunset helps identify assets and debts, prepare the estate settlement roadmap, and connect the family with a Louisiana succession attorney when a sale is involved. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| LaSalle Parish Clerk of Court | Accepts filings, collects advance cost deposits, issues letters when allowed by law, and provides office information. Staff cannot give legal advice or draft a petition. | 1050 Courthouse Street, P.O. Box 1316, Jena, LA 71342. Phone (318) 992-2158. Fax (318) 992-2157. |
| Twenty-Eighth Judicial District Court | Hears LaSalle Parish succession matters and publishes a video conference process for pre-trial conferences and certain other matters when all parties agree. | 1050 Courthouse Street, Room 4, Jena, LA 71342. Phone (318) 992-2002. |
| Acadiana Legal Service Corporation | Free civil legal help for low-income Louisianians in its service area, subject to eligibility and case-type priorities. The program does not advertise succession representation. | 1-866-ASK-ALSC, 1-866-275-2572. Website: https://www.la-law.org/ |
| LouisianaLawHelp.org | Public legal information site with an Estates, Wills, And Guardianships topic area and a legal aid directory searchable by parish. | https://louisianalawhelp.org/ |
| Law Library of Louisiana | Louisiana Supreme Court law library with self-represented-litigant research guides. It is a research resource, not legal advice. | https://www.lasc.org |
When to hire an attorney
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across more than 2,300 institutions to help identify accounts, insurance, investments, debts, and other assets that may belong in the LaSalle Parish estate settlement.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset helps organize the information needed for Louisiana succession papers, including heirs, legatees, asset values, debts, and the documents a local attorney or filer can use to prepare the petition or affidavit.
Find a local probate attorney. When the succession needs legal work, Sunset can connect the family with a Louisiana attorney who handles successions in or near LaSalle Parish.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to understand the estate settlement process, find assets, organize next steps, and decide when legal help is needed.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file a succession in LaSalle Parish?
File with the LaSalle Parish Clerk of Court at 1050 Courthouse Street in Jena. LaSalle Parish successions are heard in the Twenty-Eighth Judicial District Court.
Does LaSalle Parish share a judicial district with another parish?
No. LaSalle Parish is the only parish in the Twenty-Eighth Judicial District, so a LaSalle Parish succession is filed and heard in Jena.
What is the LaSalle Parish succession filing cost?
The clerk's undated prices page lists Civil Costs New Suit Charges of $400.00, undated by the clerk, for one defendant and $75.00, undated by the clerk, for each additional defendant. It also lists small successions as half cost for pleadings only. Call the clerk at (318) 992-2158 for the current advance cost deposit before filing.
Can I e-file a LaSalle Parish succession?
Attorneys follow the Louisiana filing rule in La. C.C.P. art. 253. The LaSalle Parish Clerk of Court site does not name a local e-filing vendor or system. Self-represented filers should call the clerk to ask what filing methods are accepted. The original testament is handled in paper form and retained by the clerk under La. C.C.P. art. 2911.
Are LaSalle Parish succession records searchable online?
The clerk describes eClerksLA for LaSalle Parish land records and marriages. The site does not describe civil or succession search coverage for LaSalle Parish. Call the clerk about a specific succession record.
Does LaSalle Parish publish local succession forms?
No local succession forms, checklists, petition templates, or succession cover sheets are posted on the LaSalle Parish Clerk of Court site. Louisiana succession papers are usually drafted for the specific family, property, testament, and route.
Can I appear remotely for a LaSalle Parish succession hearing?
The Twenty-Eighth Judicial District Court publishes a video conference option for pre-trial conferences and certain other matters when all parties agree. Louisiana also allows remote appearance in certain non-evidentiary civil proceedings with at least ten days' written notice, if the court has the technology and does not decline in writing for good cause (La. C.C.P. art. 195.1). Ask when the matter is set.
Do I have to travel to Jena for an uncontested succession?
Many uncontested succession steps are handled by submitted papers. If a hearing or conference is set, ask the clerk or the court how the matter will be handled and whether remote appearance is available for that setting.
What happens to the original testament in LaSalle Parish?
The original testament is delivered to the clerk in paper form. When it is probated or ordered filed and executed, the clerk retains the original in perpetuity (La. C.C.P. art. 2911).
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.