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Union Parish, LA Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Union Parish details |
|---|---|
| Court | Third Judicial District Court, serving Union Parish and Lincoln Parish |
| Filing office | Union Parish Clerk of Court. Civil and succession filings are currently directed to 207 East Bayou Street, Farmerville, LA 71241, described by the clerk as temporary. Call before traveling. |
| Courthouse address | 100 East Bayou Street, Suite 105, Farmerville, LA 71241 |
| Mailing address | No separate post office box is published. Use the Clerk of Court street address unless the clerk gives different mailing instructions. |
| Phone | (318) 368-0692 for civil, juvenile and non-support. Main line: (318) 368-3055. |
| Fax | (318) 368-3861 for civil filings |
| Hours | Weekdays, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| Advance deposit | $425, effective July 20, 2023, for the clerk's published probate, adoption, interdiction and judicial commitment category. Additional costs may be charged on an actual basis. |
| Local forms | Yes. The clerk publishes an Affidavit of Small Succession form. No general succession petition form is published. |
| E-filing | Union Parish uses eClerksLA / eFileLA. The clerk describes the portal as available to attorneys, self-represented litigants and government agencies. Attorney filing is also governed by La. C.C.P. art. 253(B)(2), effective January 1, 2026. |
| Case search | ClerkConnect is linked for civil and criminal searches. eClerksLA is linked for land and marriage searches. The clerk's search page does not state that succession filings are separately indexed online. |
| Remote appearance | Ask the clerk when a matter is set. La. C.C.P. art. 195.1 may allow remote appearance in some civil proceedings without witness testimony or evidence, with timely written notice and court technology, unless the court declines for good cause. |
| Website | Union Parish Clerk of Court: upclerk.com |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file anything in Union Parish, make a working list of the decedent's assets, debts, account holders, immovable property, heirs, legatees, and whether there is an original testament. That list determines whether the estate settlement can use a small succession affidavit, a petition for possession without administration, or an administration with letters.
Sunset helps families organize that first step by searching more than 2,300 financial institutions for accounts and assets, then turning the results into a practical estate settlement checklist for Union Parish filings.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Union Parish successions are filed with the Union Parish Clerk of Court in Farmerville and heard in the Third Judicial District Court. The Third Judicial District also serves Lincoln Parish, but Union Parish has its own clerk and its own filing counter. Do not take a Union Parish succession filing to Lincoln Parish.
Louisiana venue turns on the decedent's 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 succession may be opened in a parish where the decedent had immovable property, or where movable property is located if there is 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, names and addresses of heirs or legatees, and any documents showing title to immovable property in Union Parish.
- Choose the succession path before filing. Louisiana routes include a small succession affidavit, possession without administration, administration, or independent administration. The route depends on the property, debts, testament, heirs, and whether a succession representative is needed.
- Prepare the petition or affidavit. Union Parish publishes an Affidavit of Small Succession form, but it does not publish a general succession petition form. A petition is drafted to the Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure.
- File with the Union Parish Clerk of Court. Civil and succession filings are currently directed to 207 East Bayou Street in Farmerville, described by the clerk as temporary. The regular courthouse address is 100 East Bayou Street, Suite 105.
- Pay the local advance deposit. Union Parish lists a $425 advance deposit, effective July 20, 2023, for its probate, adoption, interdiction and judicial commitment filing category, with other costs charged on an actual basis.
- Handle the original testament carefully. La. C.C.P. art. 253(B)(3)(a) permits an original testament to be delivered in paper form, and the clerk retains the original testament in perpetuity once it is filed or probated under La. C.C.P. art. 2911.
- For an uncontested testament or appointment, the clerk of court may probate an unopposed testament and confirm or appoint a succession representative when Louisiana law allows that ex parte action (La. C.C.P. arts. 282 and 283).
- If administration is opened, the clerk issues letters testamentary, letters of administration, or letters of independent administration after the succession representative qualifies (La. C.C.P. art. 3159).
- Prepare the inventory or sworn detailed descriptive list, address debts with any needed court authorization, and complete administration tasks. A succession representative has a duty to close the succession as soon as advisable (La. C.C.P. arts. 3191 and 3197).
- Close with a judgment of possession when the matter is ready. If immovable property is involved, make sure the judgment or affidavit is recorded where Louisiana law requires it.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Union Parish
Union Parish publishes an Affidavit of Small Succession form on the clerk's Download Forms page. That local form can be useful when the facts fit Louisiana's small succession affidavit procedure.
The clerk does not publish a general succession petition form. For a petition for possession, administration, independent administration, or probate of a testament, the pleading is drafted to the Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure and filed with the Union Parish Clerk of Court. Call the Civil Department at (318) 368-0692 to confirm the current filing location and current local filing instructions before submitting documents.
Do not treat the clerk's Return Date / Hearing Cover Sheet or Article 3945 Compliance Sheet as a succession requirement unless the clerk specifically asks for it in your matter.
Fees
Union Parish publishes a Civil Fee Schedule effective July 20, 2023. Under the clerk's probate, adoption, interdiction and judicial commitment category, the listed advance deposit is $425. The same schedule says filings not listed are charged on an actual basis, including page, service, mailing and similar costs.
This is a Union Parish advance deposit, not a Louisiana-wide total. Louisiana clerk costs draw against deposits, and the clerk may require additional costs as the matter proceeds under the advance-cost structure in La. R.S. 13:842.
Local nuance
Union Parish-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means for a Union Parish filing |
|---|---|
| Temporary civil filing location | The clerk currently directs civil and succession filings to 207 East Bayou Street in Farmerville and describes that move as temporary. Call (318) 368-0692 before traveling. |
| Shared judicial district | Union Parish shares the Third Judicial District Court with Lincoln Parish, but Union Parish filings stay with the Union Parish Clerk of Court in Farmerville. |
| Nearby district administration address | The district court's administrative office is also at 100 East Bayou Street, in a different suite. Succession filings go to the Clerk of Court, not to that administrative office. |
| Self-represented e-filing offered | The Union Parish Clerk of Court describes eClerksLA / eFileLA as serving attorneys, self-represented litigants and government agencies. A self-represented filer may use the portal, but should still call about any original testament or local filing question. |
Recent updates
| Change | What changed |
|---|---|
| Small succession ceiling | Act 293 of 2026, effective August 1, 2026, raised the Louisiana-domiciled small succession ceiling to $200,000 under La. C.C.P. art. 3421. |
| Attorney filing rule | La. C.C.P. art. 253(B)(2), effective January 1, 2026, changed how attorney filings may be delivered or electronically transmitted. Union Parish also describes its e-filing portal as available to self-represented litigants. |
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Persona | Likely Union Parish path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | Start by separating the surviving spouse's community property half from the decedent's half. If descendants survive, Louisiana's usufruct rules may affect the decedent's community share (La. C.C. art. 890). A judgment of possession is often needed to make title clear for Union Parish immovable property. | Sunset identifies accounts, helps organize title and debt information, and prepares a packet for attorney review or filing support. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | If the decedent was domiciled in Louisiana and the facts fit the small succession rules in La. C.C.P. art. 3421, Union Parish's Affidavit of Small Succession form may be the starting point. If the decedent was not domiciled in Louisiana, venue depends on Louisiana property under La. C.C.P. art. 2811. | Sunset helps confirm assets and liabilities, gather signer information, and connect the family with local help if the affidavit route is not enough. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A sale of immovable property usually needs clear authority. The family may need administration, independent administration, or a judgment of possession before the property can be sold cleanly. | Sunset builds the estate settlement inventory, flags accounts to close or transfer, and connects the family to a vetted Louisiana succession attorney. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Union Parish Clerk of Court | Accepts filings, states the current advance deposit, provides access to published local forms, and can confirm the current civil filing location. Staff cannot give legal advice or draft a petition for you. | Civil Department: (318) 368-0692. Main: (318) 368-3055. Civil fax: (318) 368-3861. |
| Acadiana Legal Service Corporation | Free civil legal help for low-income Louisianians in its service area, subject to eligibility and case priorities. The program does not advertise succession representation. | 1-866-275-2572 |
| LouisianaLawHelp.org | Statewide legal information site with an Estates, Wills, And Guardianships topic and a parish-searchable legal aid directory. | louisianalawhelp.org |
| Law Library of Louisiana | Research resource for self-represented litigants, operated through the Louisiana Supreme Court. | lasc.org |
When to hire an attorney
Union Parish families should consider a Louisiana succession attorney when there is immovable property to sell, a testament, disagreement among heirs or legatees, creditor pressure, a nonresident succession representative, forced heir questions, or a need for independent administration. Sunset connects to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches more than 2,300 financial institutions to help identify accounts, balances, and property that belong in the estate settlement plan.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the family's information into an organized succession packet, including asset lists, debt details, heir and legatee information, and next-step checklists tailored for a Union Parish filing.
Find a local probate attorney. When the matter needs legal judgment, Sunset connects families with a vetted Louisiana succession attorney who understands Union Parish filings and Third Judicial District Court practice.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize the estate settlement, locate assets, understand the filing path, and get matched with help without paying Sunset a fee.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file a succession in Union Parish?
File with the Union Parish Clerk of Court in Farmerville. Civil and succession filings are currently directed to 207 East Bayou Street, which the clerk describes as temporary. The regular courthouse address is 100 East Bayou Street, Suite 105.
Does Union Parish share a court with Lincoln Parish?
Yes. Union Parish and Lincoln Parish are both in the Third Judicial District Court. That does not move Union Parish filings to Ruston. A Union Parish succession is filed with the Union Parish Clerk of Court in Farmerville.
What is the Union Parish succession filing deposit?
The Union Parish Clerk of Court lists a $425 advance deposit, effective July 20, 2023, for its probate, adoption, interdiction and judicial commitment category. Additional costs may be charged on an actual basis.
Does Union Parish have local succession forms?
Yes. The Union Parish Clerk of Court publishes an Affidavit of Small Succession form. The clerk does not publish a general succession petition form.
Can I e-file a Union Parish succession?
Union Parish uses eClerksLA / eFileLA, and the clerk describes the portal as available to attorneys, self-represented litigants and government agencies. The original testament needs special handling because La. C.C.P. art. 253(B)(3)(a) permits it to be delivered in paper form, and La. C.C.P. art. 2911 says the clerk retains it in perpetuity.
Can I look up a Union Parish succession online?
The clerk links ClerkConnect for civil and criminal searches and eClerksLA for land and marriage searches. The online search page does not state that succession filings are separately indexed online, so call the Civil Department if you need to confirm how to find a specific succession.
Can I attend a Union Parish succession hearing by video?
Ask the clerk when the matter is set. La. C.C.P. art. 195.1 may allow remote appearance in certain civil proceedings that do not require witness testimony or evidence, if timely written notice is given and the court has the technology, unless the court declines for good cause.
Do I have to travel to Farmerville for every step?
Not always. Some uncontested Louisiana succession steps are handled through filings rather than hearings. Union Parish also offers e-filing access. Call the Civil Department before traveling, especially because the civil and succession filing location is currently listed as temporary.
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.