Back to Louisiana
St. Bernard Parish, LA Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | St. Bernard Parish information |
|---|---|
| Court | Thirty-Fourth Judicial District Court |
| Filing office | St. Bernard Parish Clerk of Court |
| Courthouse address | 1101 W. St. Bernard Highway, Chalmette, LA 70043 |
| Mailing address | P.O. Box 1746, Chalmette, LA 70044 |
| Civil filings phone | (504) 271-3434 |
| Civil fax | (504) 278-4380. Attorney fax filing was discontinued effective January 1, 2026. |
| Hours | 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Call before visiting to confirm open days, holidays, and filing cutoffs. |
| Filing fee | A succession is charged as an advance cost deposit. St. Bernard Parish does not publish a succession-specific dollar amount on its civil fees page, so call Civil Filings at (504) 271-3434 before filing. |
| Local forms | No succession-specific petition or checklist is published. An Administrator's Bond form is published. |
| E-filing | CottFile is the civil and criminal e-filing vendor. Tybera has been discontinued. Attorney pleadings may be submitted electronically or in person under the January 1, 2026 filing rule, with original testaments handled in paper form under La. C.C.P. art. 253. |
| Case search | St. Bernard Parish operates a paid eSearch portal with a Civil subscription tier. The portal description does not name succession coverage specifically. |
| Remote appearance | No civil or succession video policy is posted. Ask the clerk when a matter is set. |
| Website | stbclerk.com and 34thjdc.org |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose a succession route in St. Bernard Parish, build a working list of the decedent's assets, debts, testament, heirs, legatees, and any immovable property. Louisiana succession procedure turns on facts such as domicile, whether there is a testament, whether an administration is needed, and whether the property includes a home or other immovable property.
Sunset can start the estate settlement work before filing by helping identify accounts and assets across more than 2,300 financial institutions, then organizing the information a lawyer or succession representative needs for the St. Bernard Parish filing.
Which court handles jurisdiction
St. Bernard Parish successions are filed with the St. Bernard Parish Clerk of Court at the courthouse in Chalmette and heard in the Thirty-Fourth Judicial District Court. St. Bernard Parish is the only parish in that judicial district, so there is no neighboring parish courthouse for a St. Bernard Parish succession filing.
Venue is based on Louisiana's succession venue rule. A proceeding to open a succession is brought in the district court of the parish where the decedent was domiciled at death. If the decedent was not domiciled in Louisiana, the succession may be opened in a parish where Louisiana immovable property is located, or where movable property is located if the decedent owned no Louisiana immovable property (La. C.C.P. art. 2811).
The jurisdiction process
- Collect the death certificate, the original testament if one exists, a list of heirs and legatees, known debts, and a preliminary inventory of movable and immovable property.
- Choose the Louisiana succession route with counsel or careful legal review. Common routes include a small succession affidavit, possession without administration, administration, or independent administration, depending on the testament, assets, debts, and family facts.
- Prepare the petition and supporting documents for the Thirty-Fourth Judicial District Court and file them with the St. Bernard Parish Clerk of Court at 1101 W. St. Bernard Highway in Chalmette or through an accepted electronic filing path.
- Pay the advance cost deposit requested by the clerk. St. Bernard Parish does not publish a succession-specific deposit amount, so call Civil Filings at (504) 271-3434 before filing.
- If there is an original testament, submit the original in paper form. Louisiana allows an original testament to be filed in paper form even when other pleadings are filed electronically, and the clerk retains the original testament in perpetuity (La. C.C.P. arts. 253 and 2911).
- For an uncontested testament or appointment, the clerk of court may handle certain ex parte steps, including probate of an unopposed testament and confirmation or appointment of a succession representative, within the limits of Louisiana law (La. C.C.P. arts. 282 and 283).
- When a succession representative is confirmed or appointed, the clerk issues letters testamentary, letters of administration, or letters of independent administration, depending on the authority granted (La. C.C.P. art. 3159).
- Prepare the inventory or sworn detailed descriptive list, address debts through the required court process, and obtain any needed authority before paying estate debts (La. C.C.P. arts. 3191 and 3301).
- When the succession is ready to close or possession can be granted without administration, present the proposed judgment of possession to the court. The judgment of possession is the document that places heirs or legatees into ownership and possession under Louisiana procedure.
- If immovable property is involved, record the necessary judgment or small succession affidavit in the conveyance records where required so title can be updated for sale, refinance, insurance, or continued family ownership.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in St. Bernard Parish
St. Bernard Parish does not publish a succession-specific petition, checklist, or cover sheet. The clerk's Civil Forms page includes civil and family forms, plus an Administrator's Bond form that may be useful when an administrator must furnish security under La. C.C.P. art. 3151.
The Civil Case Cover Sheet listed on the same page is tied to tort litigation under La. Dist. Ct. R. 9.6, not a St. Bernard Parish succession. A Louisiana succession petition is drafted to the facts and the Code of Civil Procedure rather than completed from a local packet.
Local nuance
St. Bernard Parish-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means for a St. Bernard Parish succession |
|---|---|
| Single-parish judicial district | St. Bernard Parish is the sole parish of the Thirty-Fourth Judicial District. File with the St. Bernard Parish Clerk of Court in Chalmette. |
| CottFile e-filing | The clerk identifies CottFile as the civil and criminal e-filing vendor and states that Tybera has been discontinued. |
| Attorney fax filing | The clerk states that attorney fax filing was discontinued effective January 1, 2026, and that attorney pleadings can be submitted electronically or in person. |
| Published civil fees | The civil fees page does not list a succession-specific advance cost deposit. Call Civil Filings at (504) 271-3434 for the current deposit before filing. |
| Administrator's Bond form | The clerk publishes an Administrator's Bond form, but not a succession petition or checklist. |
| Paid eSearch portal | The clerk's eSearch portal has a Civil subscription tier. The portal does not state by name whether succession filings are included, so confirm with the clerk if you need a particular filing or image. |
Recent updates
| Change | What changed |
|---|---|
| St. Bernard Parish e-filing vendor | The clerk identifies CottFile as the civil and criminal e-filing vendor and states that Tybera has been discontinued. |
| Attorney fax filing discontinued | Effective January 1, 2026, the clerk states that attorney fax filing was discontinued and attorney pleadings can be submitted electronically or in person. |
| Louisiana attorney filing rule | Effective January 1, 2026, attorney filings are governed by La. C.C.P. art. 253, with electronic or in-person filing paths and a paper exception for original testaments. |
| Small succession ceiling | Effective August 1, 2026, Act 293 raised the Louisiana-domiciled small succession ceiling to $200,000 under La. C.C.P. art. 3421. |
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely St. Bernard Parish path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | Start by identifying what is community property and what is the decedent's half. If descendants survive, the spouse's usufruct over the decedent's share of community property may matter under La. C.C. art. 890. A St. Bernard Parish judgment of possession may be needed to update title. | Sunset helps organize the home, mortgage, bank accounts, debts, and family information so the estate settlement path is clearer before filing in Chalmette. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | If the decedent was domiciled in Louisiana and the property fits the small succession rules, the $200,000 ceiling effective August 1, 2026, is governed by La. C.C.P. art. 3421. If filing is needed in St. Bernard Parish, use the Chalmette clerk's office and confirm whether any in-person step is required. | Sunset helps locate accounts, prepare an asset list, and connect the family with a Louisiana attorney if the child is outside Louisiana. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A sale of immovable property often requires clear authority, a judgment of possession, or administration. File the succession with the St. Bernard Parish Clerk of Court if venue belongs in St. Bernard Parish under La. C.C.P. art. 2811. | Sunset helps collect asset information, generate a working packet, and find a local probate attorney for sale authority and closing logistics. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps |
|---|---|
| St. Bernard Parish Clerk of Court, Civil Department | Accepts civil filings at 1101 W. St. Bernard Highway in Chalmette. Civil Filings phone: (504) 271-3434. Civil fax: (504) 278-4380, with attorney fax filing discontinued effective January 1, 2026. Clerk staff may answer office and filing questions but may not provide legal advice. |
| St. Bernard Parish eSearch | Paid public search portal with a Civil subscription tier, plus Land and Criminal categories. The portal does not state by name whether succession filings are included. |
| Thirty-Fourth Judicial District Court | Serves St. Bernard Parish alone and publishes court division pages, a holiday schedule, and orders and forms at 34thjdc.org. |
| Southeast Louisiana Legal Services | Free civil legal help for eligible low-income residents in its service area. SLLS states that it helps with uncontested successions, subject to eligibility. Intake: 1-844-244-7871. |
| LouisianaLawHelp.org | Public legal information site with topics including Estates, Wills, And Guardianships and a legal aid directory searchable by parish. |
| Law Library of Louisiana | Research resource operated by the Louisiana Supreme Court, with guides for self-represented litigants. |
When to hire an attorney
A St. Bernard Parish succession is often worth discussing with a Louisiana attorney when there is immovable property, a testament, heirs who do not agree, a nonresident succession representative, debts that need court approval, a sale before the judgment of possession, or questions about usufruct, forced heirs, or independent administration. Sunset connects to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across more than 2,300 institutions to help families identify bank, investment, retirement, insurance, and other accounts that may affect a St. Bernard Parish estate settlement.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset organizes the information needed for a Louisiana succession, including family details, known assets, debts, and documents, so the filing packet is easier for counsel or the succession representative to review.
Find a local probate attorney. When the St. Bernard Parish filing needs legal judgment, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted Louisiana attorney who handles successions.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset's estate settlement tools without paying Sunset, and attorney services are separate if the family chooses to work with counsel.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file a succession in St. Bernard Parish?
File with the St. Bernard Parish Clerk of Court at 1101 W. St. Bernard Highway in Chalmette. St. Bernard Parish is the sole parish in the Thirty-Fourth Judicial District.
What phone number should I call for St. Bernard Parish succession filing questions?
Call Civil Filings at (504) 271-3434. The clerk publishes that number for civil filings.
Does St. Bernard Parish publish a succession filing fee?
St. Bernard Parish publishes a civil fees page, but it does not list a succession-specific advance cost deposit. Call Civil Filings at (504) 271-3434 for the current deposit before filing.
Can attorneys e-file succession pleadings in St. Bernard Parish?
The clerk identifies CottFile as the civil and criminal e-filing vendor. Effective January 1, 2026, the clerk states that attorney fax filing was discontinued and attorney pleadings can be submitted electronically or in person.
Can I fax a succession filing to the St. Bernard Parish Clerk of Court?
The clerk publishes a civil fax number, but also states that attorney fax filing was discontinued effective January 1, 2026. Self-represented filers should call the clerk before relying on fax for any filing.
Does St. Bernard Parish have local succession forms?
The clerk does not publish a succession petition or checklist. It does publish an Administrator's Bond form, which may matter when an administrator must furnish security.
How do I look up a St. Bernard Parish succession case?
The clerk operates a paid eSearch portal with a Civil subscription tier. The portal description does not name succession filings specifically, so call the clerk if you need to know whether a particular succession filing or image is available.
Can I attend a St. Bernard Parish succession hearing by phone or video?
No civil or succession video policy is posted on the Thirty-Fourth Judicial District Court site. Ask the clerk when the matter is set, because many uncontested succession steps are handled by submission rather than a routine hearing.
Do I have to travel to Chalmette for a St. Bernard Parish succession?
It depends on the filing method, whether an original testament must be delivered in paper form, and whether the court sets a hearing. Attorneys have electronic and in-person filing paths for pleadings, but an original testament is handled in paper form under La. C.C.P. art. 253.
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.