Louisiana Notary Search

Louisiana Secretary of State's Office to see if the testator registered the will in the state's central registry of wills. Parish to see if the will was filed with the clerk of the court or in the notarial archives.

How Long Do You Have to File Probate After a Death in Louisiana? There is technically no deadline for when you must file probate or succession in Louisiana. You can file a will up to five years after succession has been opened.

In order to satisfy legal requirements in Louisiana, a will must be signed by two (2) witnesses who have attested the testator's signature. In addition, a will must be notarized by a state-authorized individual and registered with the Secretary of State's Office.

Wills are public documents. Contact the probate court in the county where your father lived and see whether there is a will on file. Court clerks should be able to track wills by date of death and name.

The registry is strictly confidential until the death of the testator. Upon the death of the testator, a copy can be provided to anyone who presents a death certificate, affidavit of death and heirship or other satisfactory evidence of the testator's death.

If Probate is needed to administer your Estate after you die, then your Will becomes a public document and anyone can apply for a copy. It's important to bear this in mind when you write your Will, and avoid including any information that you wish to keep private.

Form a Last Will in Louisiana Witnesses: At least two people must sign a declaration signifying that they have witnessed the testator signing the will or declaring the document to be his will. This must be done in the presence of a notary. Writing: A Louisiana will must be in writing to be valid.

Technically, there is no time limit on opening a succession in Louisiana. It can be done months or even years after a person's death. However, it's recommended that the probate process be started soon as possible.