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Ouachita Parish, LA Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Ouachita Parish details |
|---|---|
| Court | The Fourth Judicial District Court |
| Filing office | Ouachita Parish Clerk of Court, Civil Department |
| Courthouse address | Ouachita Parish Courthouse, 301 South Grand Street, Room 104, Monroe, LA 71201 |
| Mailing address | P.O. Box 1862, Monroe, LA 71210 |
| Phone | (318) 327-1444 |
| Fax | (318) 327-1462. The office has published notice that an attorney's filing is no longer made by fax, so treat this as a contact number, not a filing route. |
| Hours | 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except legal holidays, as published by the clerk. |
| Advance cost deposit | $300.00 to open a succession and $250.00 for a small succession, as published by the Ouachita Parish Clerk of Court and read on August 24, 2026. The amount is a deposit, not a final price, and costs can require more under La. R.S. 13:842. Credit cards are not accepted for civil filing. |
| Local forms | No succession petition, checklist or packet is published by the clerk, the court or the district self-help site. The Return Date / Hearing Cover Sheet applies only when a matter needs a hearing date. |
| E-filing | The clerk routes electronic civil filings through ClerkConnect. The office has published notice that, effective January 1, 2026, attorney filings are delivered in person on paper or transmitted electronically through a system established by a clerk of court or by the Louisiana Clerks' Remote Access Authority. The original testament is filed on paper and retained by the clerk. |
| Case search | The clerk points users to a paid ClerkConnect subscription for civil inquiry, criminal inquiry and property records, with access priced at $20.00 for 24 hours, $75.00 for one month, $800.00 for one year and $0.50 per page, as published by the clerk and read on August 24, 2026. The clerk also links eClerks LA, the statewide clerks portal, but does not say what that portal returns for Ouachita Parish successions. |
| Remote appearance | The Fourth Judicial District Court publishes video conference instructions and issues meeting IDs itself. Whether a particular succession matter is set by video is decided by the allotted section, so ask when a matter is set. |
| Websites | Clerk: https://www.opclerkofcourt.com/. Court: https://www.4jdc.com/. |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file anything in Ouachita Parish, make a practical inventory of the assets, debts, accounts, real estate, vehicles and beneficiary designations. Louisiana succession papers depend on who inherits, whether property is community or separate, whether an original testament exists and whether immovable property must be transferred or sold.
Sunset's estate settlement process starts with asset discovery across more than 2,300 financial institutions, then helps organize the documents a local attorney or family filer needs for the Ouachita Parish Clerk of Court. Doing that work first makes the local filing, deposit and recording steps clearer.
Which court handles jurisdiction
One courthouse serves Ouachita Parish successions: the Ouachita Parish Courthouse in Monroe, where the Ouachita Parish Clerk of Court is in Room 104. The parish includes Monroe, West Monroe, Richwood and Sterlington, and a decedent who was domiciled anywhere in Ouachita Parish is routed to this courthouse for the succession filing.
Ouachita Parish is in the Fourth Judicial District Court with Morehouse Parish (La. R.S. 13:477). That shared district is a shared bench, not a shared filing counter. File an Ouachita Parish succession with the Ouachita Parish Clerk of Court in Monroe.
Louisiana venue is the district court of the parish where the decedent was domiciled at death. For a decedent domiciled outside Louisiana, venue can be a parish where immovable property is situated, or where movable property is situated if the decedent owned no Louisiana immovable property (La. C.C.P. art. 2811).
The jurisdiction process
- Gather the death certificate, the original testament if there is one, asset information, debt information and ownership documents for any immovable property. The Ouachita Parish Clerk of Court issues Louisiana death certificates to people who meet the office's entitlement rules, with the certificate priced at $26.00, or $27.50 when paid by credit card, as published by the clerk and read on August 24, 2026.
- Choose the Louisiana succession route with counsel or a qualified advisor: small succession affidavit, possession without administration, administration or independent administration. Ouachita Parish does not publish a local succession petition or checklist, so the petition is drafted to the Code rather than filled in from a local packet.
- File the petition with the Civil Department of the Ouachita Parish Clerk of Court at 301 South Grand Street, Room 104, Monroe. The clerk's current published advance cost deposit is $300.00 to open a succession and $250.00 for a small succession, as read on August 24, 2026. Credit cards are not accepted for civil filing.
- If there is an original testament, deliver it on paper. Louisiana law allows the original testament to be filed in paper form, and the clerk retains the original in perpetuity (La. C.C.P. arts. 253, 2911). The Ouachita office also states that originals deposited with it are not returned, so ask about certified copies when filing.
- The clerk files the initial pleading and randomly allots the matter to a numbered section of the Fourth Judicial District Court. After allotment, the civil judge of that section acts on filings requiring orders or settings, except for matters that may be presented to the duty judge.
- For an unopposed testament or appointment step, Louisiana law allows the clerk of court to act on certain uncontested matters, including probate of a testament and confirmation or appointment of a succession representative (La. C.C.P. arts. 282, 283). If authority is granted, letters testamentary, letters of administration or letters of independent administration are issued by the clerk (La. C.C.P. art. 3159).
- If an unassigned succession needs duty-judge action, the Fourth Judicial District Court's local rule allows unassigned successions and other authorized matters to be presented in chambers from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, with motion hour at 9:30 a.m.
- If a matter needs to be set for a hearing date, use the Return Date / Hearing Cover Sheet and deliver the original and one copy to the clerk. The clerk files the original and routes the copy to the civil judge of the assigned section.
- After authority issues, the succession representative gathers assets, prepares the inventory or sworn detailed descriptive list, seeks court authority where required to pay estate debts, and moves the matter toward a judgment of possession.
- When the court signs the judgment of possession, record it with the Ouachita Parish Clerk of Court's Recording Department if the succession transfers Ouachita Parish immovable property. The published recording charge for a document of one to five pages in one index type starts at $105.00, as read on August 24, 2026, and recording is separate from the succession deposit.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Ouachita Parish
Ouachita Parish does not publish a local succession petition, succession checklist or succession packet. The Ouachita Parish Clerk of Court's form library, the Fourth Judicial District Court's forms page and the district's joint self-help site do not provide a succession form set. Louisiana also does not use a statewide succession form set.
The one local form that can matter in a succession is conditional. If a succession matter needs a hearing date, the Fourth Judicial District requires the Return Date / Hearing Cover Sheet, known locally as the pink slip. The district's materials say it is required with requests for a hearing date in both parishes of the district, and the rule requires an original and one copy to be delivered to the clerk.
A person starting estate settlement may also use the clerk's Application for Certified Copy of Birth/Death Certificate and the accompanying entitlement materials. That is not a succession form, but it is often the first local paperwork needed before filing.
Fees
The Ouachita Parish Clerk of Court publishes advance cost deposits and related recording and copy charges, but the schedule does not print an effective date. The amounts below are the clerk's published amounts as read on August 24, 2026. Confirm current deposits with the clerk before filing.
| Cost item | Amount | Date for amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open a succession | $300.00 | Published amount read on August 24, 2026 | Advance cost deposit collected by the Civil Department. It is not the final total, and additional costs can be required under La. R.S. 13:842. |
| Small succession | $250.00 | Published amount read on August 24, 2026 | The clerk describes this as a one-time filing charge from petition through judgment, excluding recording and copies. |
| Civil filing payment rule | No credit card amount listed | Published rule read on August 24, 2026 | The civil fee page states that credit cards are not accepted for civil filing. The office does not list the payment methods accepted at that counter. |
| Record a judgment of possession or other one-index document, one to five pages | $105.00 | Published amount read on August 24, 2026 | Separate from the succession deposit. Recording charges increase for longer documents. |
| Record a one-index document, six to twenty-five pages | $205.00 | Published amount read on August 24, 2026 | Separate recording charge. |
| Record a one-index document, twenty-six to fifty pages | $305.00 | Published amount read on August 24, 2026 | Separate recording charge. |
| Record a one-index document, more than fifty pages | $305.00 plus $5.00 for each page over fifty | Published amount read on August 24, 2026 | Separate recording charge. |
| Names after the first ten indexed names | $5.00 per name | Published amount read on August 24, 2026 | Applies to the clerk's recording schedule. |
| Copies | $1.00 per page | Published amount read on August 24, 2026 | Copy charge. |
| Conformed copy | $5.00 plus the copy fee | Published amount read on August 24, 2026 | Ask at filing if you need a filing-stamped copy. |
| Certified copy | $10.00 plus the copy fee | Published amount read on August 24, 2026 | Useful when originals are retained by the clerk. |
| Louisiana death certificate | $26.00, or $27.50 when paid by credit card | Published amount read on August 24, 2026 | The clerk issues Louisiana certificates only and publishes entitlement rules for who may request one. |
Timeline
- File the initial succession pleading with the Ouachita Parish Clerk of Court. The clerk presents initial pleadings for filing and random allotment to a numbered section of the Fourth Judicial District Court.
- After allotment, the civil judge assigned to that section acts on filings requiring orders or settings, except for pleadings that may be presented to the duty judge.
- For an unassigned succession or another authorized duty-judge matter, the Fourth Judicial District Court's local rule allows presentation in chambers from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and from 1:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Motion hour is at 9:30 a.m.
- The court publishes a monthly judges' calendar showing which civil section is on motion hour and order-signing duty for that week. Check the court's Schedules page before relying on a rotation.
- If a matter needs to be set, the request is made in writing through the clerk with the Return Date / Hearing Cover Sheet. The civil judge then has thirty days to schedule a conference or issue a scheduling order under the district rule.
Local nuance
Ouachita Parish-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means for an Ouachita Parish succession |
|---|---|
| Shared Fourth Judicial District | Ouachita and Morehouse Parishes share the Fourth Judicial District Court, but an Ouachita Parish succession is filed with the Ouachita Parish Clerk of Court in Monroe. |
| Random allotment | Initial pleadings are filed with the clerk and randomly allotted to a numbered section. After that, the civil judge of that section handles orders and settings unless the matter may go to the duty judge. |
| Duty-judge chambers window | The district rule specifically includes unassigned successions among matters that may be presented to the civil duty judge in chambers from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. |
| One courthouse, two street frontages | The clerk's address is 301 South Grand Street, Room 104. The court also uses 300 St John Street for the same courthouse building and directs the public to the front entrance facing the river on South Grand, with the St. John Street entrance for disabled access. |
| Originals and copies | The clerk states that originals deposited with the office become part of the parish archives and are not returned. Ask about certified copies at the time of filing or recording. |
| Payment rules differ by counter | Credit cards are not accepted for civil filing. The recording and vital-records counters accept credit cards with a 4 percent processing fee, as published by the clerk and read on August 24, 2026. |
Recent updates
| Date | Update | Why it matters in Ouachita Parish |
|---|---|---|
| January 1, 2026 | The Ouachita Parish Clerk of Court published notice implementing the attorney filing rule in La. C.C.P. art. 253. | For attorney filings, the office says filings are delivered in person on paper or transmitted electronically through an approved system, and that faxed or standard-mail filings from an attorney are no longer treated as valid filings. |
| 2023 | The clerk states that civil inquiry, criminal inquiry and property records moved to ClerkConnect. | The office states that its prior hosting is no longer updated with current records, so older bookmarks may not show current Ouachita Parish records. |
| August 1, 2026 | Act 293 of 2026 changed Louisiana's small succession ceiling for a Louisiana-domiciled decedent (La. C.C.P. art. 3421). | Ouachita Parish's local page focuses on the clerk's local deposit and filing rules. The statewide eligibility rule is governed by the Code article. |
| January 1, 2026 | Louisiana's filing rule for attorney filings took effect under La. C.C.P. art. 253. | The original testament remains a paper document under the statute and is retained by the clerk. |
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely Ouachita Parish path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | Louisiana community property rules matter first. The surviving spouse already owns an undivided half of community property, and the succession reaches the decedent's half. If descendants survive, the surviving spouse may have a usufruct over the decedent's share of the community that ends at death or remarriage (La. C.C. arts. 2336, 890). In Ouachita Parish, the filing is made with the clerk in Monroe, and a judgment of possession affecting an Ouachita Parish home is recorded with the same office. | Sunset helps identify accounts, debts, real estate and title issues so the estate settlement plan reflects what is actually owned before a petition is drafted. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small succession | The child should confirm the correct Louisiana small succession route before filing. Locally, the Ouachita Parish Clerk of Court publishes a $250.00 small succession advance deposit, as read on August 24, 2026, and describes it as a one-time charge from petition through judgment, excluding recording and copies. The civil counter does not accept credit cards. | Sunset helps gather financial information and documents remotely, then organizes the packet for local review or attorney filing in Ouachita Parish. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate when a home must be sold | A sale of immovable property often points toward administration or independent administration, with authority documented by letters issued through the clerk. In Ouachita Parish, the clerk's published advance deposit to open a succession is $300.00, as read on August 24, 2026. The petition is randomly allotted to a numbered section, and the final judgment affecting the home is recorded in the parish conveyance records. | Sunset helps find assets, identify financial institutions, prepare estate settlement materials and connect the family with a local attorney for sale authority and closing steps. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Fourth Judicial District Court legal self-help site | A joint site from the Fourth Judicial District Court and the Louisiana State Bar Association for self-represented litigants in Ouachita and Morehouse Parishes. It provides general court procedure information and forms for several topics, but it does not provide a succession topic or succession forms. | https://www.4thjdcselfhelp.com/ |
| Ouachita Parish Clerk of Court | The filing and recording office for Ouachita Parish successions. The clerk can answer questions about the office, filing counter, deposits, records and copies, but the office states that it cannot respond to general or specific legal questions. | (318) 327-1444 |
| Acadiana Legal Service Corporation | Free civil legal assistance and community education for eligible low-income applicants in its service area. The organization names estate planning among its work, but it does not advertise succession representation. It lists a Monroe office. | 1-866-275-2572, also written by the organization as 1-866-ASK-ALSC; https://www.la-law.org/ |
| Louisiana State Bar Association find legal help | The district self-help site directs people looking for an attorney to the Louisiana State Bar Association's Find Legal Help page. | 1-800-421-5722 |
| LA.FreeLegalAnswers.org | An online program for people who meet financial eligibility requirements, listed by the district self-help site. | https://la.freelegalanswers.org/ |
| LouisianaLawHelp.org | Statewide legal information site with sections for Estates, Wills, And Guardianships, a Legal Aid Organizations directory by parish, and online free legal help application links. | https://louisianalawhelp.org/ |
| Law Library of Louisiana | A research resource operated by the Louisiana Supreme Court. The district self-help site lists the Law Library of Louisiana for legal information research. | (800) 820-3038 |
| Ouachita Parish Public Library | The district self-help site tells readers who need to print forms to use a local library if they do not have printer access. | Main library number listed by the district self-help site: (318) 327-1490 |
When to hire an attorney
An attorney is especially useful in Ouachita Parish when the succession involves a testament, a house or land, a sale of immovable property, disagreements among heirs or legatees, a nonresident succession representative, creditor issues, or a request for independent administration. The clerk's office states that it cannot answer general or specific legal questions, and no local succession petition or checklist is published by the clerk, the court or the district self-help site. 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 assets that may belong in the estate settlement.
Generate the probate packet. For Louisiana, that means organizing the information needed for a succession, including heirs, legatees, assets, debts, testament information and documents a local attorney can use to draft the petition.
Find a local probate attorney. Sunset can connect families with a vetted Louisiana attorney for Ouachita Parish succession filings, judgment of possession work, independent administration questions and immovable property transfers.
Sunset is free for families. Sunset helps families understand the estate settlement path, prepare information and decide when local legal help is needed.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file a succession in Ouachita Parish?
File with the Civil Department of the Ouachita Parish Clerk of Court at the Ouachita Parish Courthouse, 301 South Grand Street, Room 104, Monroe, LA 71201. Ouachita Parish is in the Fourth Judicial District Court with Morehouse Parish, but an Ouachita Parish succession is filed with the Ouachita Parish Clerk of Court in Monroe.
What is the Ouachita Parish succession deposit?
The clerk publishes an advance cost deposit of $300.00 to open a succession and $250.00 for a small succession, as read on August 24, 2026. The amount is a deposit, not the final total, and additional costs can be required under La. R.S. 13:842. Credit cards are not accepted for civil filing.
Does Ouachita Parish have succession forms?
No local succession petition, checklist or packet is published by the Ouachita Parish Clerk of Court, the Fourth Judicial District Court or the district self-help site. If a matter needs a hearing date, the district requires the Return Date / Hearing Cover Sheet with the request.
Can a lawyer file electronically in Ouachita Parish?
The clerk routes electronic civil filings through ClerkConnect. The clerk has published notice that, effective January 1, 2026, attorney filings are made in person on paper or transmitted electronically through an approved system under La. C.C.P. art. 253. The original testament is still filed on paper and retained by the clerk.
Can I look up an Ouachita Parish succession online?
The clerk points users to ClerkConnect for civil inquiry, criminal inquiry and property records, with paid access priced at $20.00 for 24 hours, $75.00 for one month, $800.00 for one year and $0.50 per page, as read on August 24, 2026. The clerk also links eClerks LA. The clerk does not say exactly what either system returns for Ouachita Parish successions, so call (318) 327-1444 if the online tools do not answer your question.
Are Ouachita Parish succession hearings by video?
The Fourth Judicial District Court publishes video conference instructions and issues meeting IDs itself. Nothing published states which succession matters are set by video. If your matter is set, ask the clerk's office or the judge's office for the section-specific instructions.
What are the local chambers times for an unassigned succession?
The Fourth Judicial District Court's local rule says unassigned successions and other authorized duty-judge matters may be presented in chambers from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and from 1:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Motion hour is at 9:30 a.m.
Do I have to travel to Monroe for an Ouachita Parish succession?
The filing office is in Monroe. Many uncontested Louisiana succession steps are handled through filings and orders rather than a full hearing, but travel needs depend on the filing method, whether originals must be delivered, whether a matter is set and whether the allotted section gives video instructions. Ask the Ouachita Parish Clerk of Court at (318) 327-1444 before making travel plans.
Where do I record a judgment of possession for an Ouachita Parish home?
Record it with the Ouachita Parish Clerk of Court's Recording Department. The clerk's published recording charge for a one-index document of one to five pages starts at $105.00, as read on August 24, 2026, and recording is separate from the succession deposit.
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.