Louisiana Succession Attorney | Estate Administration | Gretna
A succession is the legal process that transfers a deceased person's assets to their heirs — the only way to clear real estate title, settle accounts, and formally close an estate under Louisiana law. I handle this process personally for families across the West Bank and greater New Orleans area, on a flat fee.
A modern, family-focused estate planning practice
At the Law Office of Johann Chau, we help families plan for the future with care and clarity. Since 2011, we’ve guided clients across Chicago and the suburbs through wills, trusts, probate, and more. Johann leads every case with experience and compassion as your attorney, while Mina, our paralegal, provides hands-on support to make every step simple and stress-free. Together, we’ve built a warm, approachable law practice designed to help you protect what matters most.
About the Law Office of Johann Chau
Louisiana's standard will form requires specific witness and notary execution formalities. A will that doesn't meet these requirements can be invalidated at succession.
Notarial wills
Louisiana Calls It a Succession. Here's What That Means for Your Family.
Every other state calls it probate. Louisiana calls it a succession — the formal legal proceeding that transfers a deceased person's assets to the people entitled to inherit them. It resolves outstanding debts, clears real estate title, and closes the estate under state law. Nothing legally transfers until this process is complete.
Most families come to this page with two concerns: how complicated will this be, and how long will it take. The honest answer depends on whether a valid will exists and whether the heirs are in agreement. Most uncontested successions are simpler than families expect, and most can be resolved without a formal court hearing.
There are two starting points depending on whether your loved one left a will.
Testate succession
When the deceased left a valid Louisiana will — proceeds according to the will's terms, subject to forced heirship rules when applicable.
Learn more about testate succession →
Intestate succession
When no valid will exists — follows Louisiana's statutory formula for determining who inherits and in what proportions. This is the starting point when someone dies without a will or when a will fails Louisiana's execution requirements.
Learn more about intestate succession →
The Louisiana Succession Matters I Handle Personally
The Louisiana Succession Process
An overview of how succession works in Louisiana from opening the estate to the final judgment of possession — what documents are required, when court involvement is necessary, and what the process looks like from start to finish.
Testate Succession (Died With a Will)
When a valid Louisiana will exists, succession proceeds according to its terms. Executor powers, usufruct arrangements, and forced heirship obligations all shape how the estate is administered and how assets transfer to heirs.
Intestate Succession (Died Without a Will)
Without a valid will, Louisiana law determines who inherits — and the result sometimes surprises families. Intestate succession follows a fixed statutory formula that doesn't account for relationships, circumstances, or what the deceased may have wanted.
Small Successions
Louisiana provides a simplified process for estates that meet specific value thresholds. Qualifying estates can often be handled through an affidavit procedure without formal court proceedings, reducing both time and cost for the heirs.
Jefferson Parish Succession
Succession proceedings for Jefferson Parish residents are filed at the 24th Judicial District Court in Gretna. I handle Jefferson Parish successions regularly and know the 24th JDC's specific filing procedures well — because my office is three blocks away.
Local Succession Guidance Near the 24th JDC
Succession matters are often handled through the local court system, and practical familiarity with that process can make a meaningful difference.
My office is located at The Primary Workspace in Gretna, just three blocks from the 24th Judicial District Court. For Jefferson Parish succession matters, that proximity supports a more hands-on, local approach to filings, court procedures, and the steps involved in moving an estate toward a judgment of possession.
I work directly with families in Gretna, Metairie, Terrytown, New Orleans, Chalmette, and surrounding communities across Jefferson, Orleans, and St. Bernard Parish. From the first conversation through the final judgment, your matter is handled personally, with clear communication and local attention at every stage.
What to Expect During a Louisiana Succession
Most families overestimate the expense and difficulty of the succession process. Here's what actually affects the timeline.
Whether a valid will exists. A testate succession proceeds according to the will's terms. An intestate succession requires the court to determine heirship under Louisiana's statutory formula, which adds procedural steps.
The nature and clarity of the assets. Real estate with title complications takes longer than a straightforward financial account transfer. Business interests, retirement accounts, and property held in multiple names each carry their own requirements.
Heir agreement. An uncontested succession where all parties are cooperative and aligned moves faster than one with unresolved disagreements among heirs.
Outstanding debts and creditor claims. Known creditors must be notified and their claims addressed before the estate can distribute to heirs.
A simple, uncontested succession in Jefferson Parish with clear heirship and organized records can often be completed in a few weeks, and many are resolved without a formal court hearing. Complex matters take longer.
Most of my succession engagements are structured as flat-fee matters. The total cost is agreed on before work begins, and I cover it during the discovery call. You won't receive a bill for every phone call and email while you're already managing a loss.
Discovery Call and Estate Assessment
We talk through the estate — what assets exist, whether a valid will is present, who the heirs are, and whether there are any complications. I give you a realistic picture of the process and the fee before any engagement begins.
Document Preparation and Asset Inventory
I gather the required documentation: death certificate, asset records, existing will if applicable, and information on outstanding debts and creditor obligations. Every document is prepared personally by me.
Creditor Notification
Louisiana law requires formal notification to known creditors of the estate. This step protects the heirs from personal liability for estate debts and is a required part of the succession process before distribution.
Court Filings at the 24th JDC
Jefferson Parish successions are filed at the 24th Judicial District Court in Gretna. Many uncontested matters are resolved through the court's expedited procedures — no formal hearing required.
Judgment of Possession
The court issues a judgment of possession, which legally transfers title of estate assets to the heirs. This document clears real estate title, authorizes financial account transfers, and formally closes the estate.
When the Heirs Aren't Completely on the Same Page
Family disagreements during a succession are common. They don't automatically make the matter contested or put you on a path toward litigation.
Most heir disputes come down to miscommunication, unequal expectations, or confusion about what the law actually requires. A disagreement over personal property — who gets the furniture, who gets the car — is a different situation than a formal challenge to the will's validity or a dispute over real estate title. Most of the former resolve through a process everyone understands. The latter carries a different timeline and cost.
I assess the nature and degree of any conflict during intake, before any engagement begins. If your matter qualifies as an uncontested succession, it proceeds on that path. If the situation involves a dispute that changes the scope of the work, I'll tell you clearly what that means for the process, the timeline, and the fee.
Don't assume the worst before we've talked.
What Families Ask When
a Louisiana Succession Begins
What is a succession in Louisiana?
A succession is Louisiana's legal proceeding for transferring a deceased person's assets to their heirs — what other states call probate. It is the required legal process for clearing real estate title, closing financial accounts, and formally settling the estate. Most assets cannot legally transfer to heirs without it.
Do I need an attorney for a Louisiana succession?
Louisiana law doesn't require an attorney for every succession, but the process involves court filings, creditor notifications, heirship determinations, and title transfer documents that carry real consequences if handled incorrectly. Errors can delay the estate, create title problems, or expose heirs to liability. An attorney familiar with the 24th JDC and Louisiana succession law makes the process faster and more reliable.
How long does a Louisiana succession take?
A straightforward, uncontested succession with organized records and cooperative heirs can often be completed in a few weeks. Complex matters — those involving real estate title complications, creditor disputes, or heir disagreements — take longer. I give every client a specific timeline assessment during the discovery call based on the estate's actual situation.
What is the difference between a testate and an intestate succession in Louisiana?
A testate succession occurs when the deceased left a valid Louisiana will. The succession proceeds according to the will's terms, subject to forced heirship rules. An intestate succession occurs when there is no valid will, or when a will fails Louisiana's form requirements. Louisiana's intestate succession statutes then determine who inherits and in what proportions, regardless of what the deceased may have intended.
Can a Louisiana succession be completed without going to court?
In many cases, yes. Louisiana allows simplified procedures for qualifying estates, and many uncontested Jefferson Parish successions are resolved through court filings that don't require the heirs to appear before a judge. Whether your matter qualifies depends on the assets involved, the estate's size, and whether all heirs are in agreement.
You Don't Have to Figure This Out While You're Grieving
The succession process has clear steps. The first one is a conversation. Tell me what the estate looks like and where things stand — I'll give you a plain-language picture of what the process requires and what it will cost before anything else happens.
