Louisiana estate planning
Make a will, living trust & powers of attorney in Louisiana
Louisiana sets its own rules for who can make a will, how it must be signed and witnessed, whether it needs a notary, and how estates are taxed. Estateur drafts your Louisiana will, revocable living trust, and powers of attorney through a guided interview, then validates every document against Louisiana law before you ever see it. It is a self-help document-preparation service, not a law firm.
Louisiana estate planning at a glance
| Will witnesses required | two witnesses |
|---|---|
| Will must be notarized | Yes |
| Self-proving affidavit | Available (recommended) |
| Handwritten (holographic) wills | Recognized |
| Electronic wills | Not permitted |
| State estate tax | None |
| State inheritance tax | None |
| Community property | Yes |
General information, not legal advice. Figures such as tax exemptions change; confirm current requirements with the Louisiana courts or department of revenue.
How to make a valid will in Louisiana
A Louisiana will must be in writing and signed by you in front of two witnesses. The will itself must be notarized. Louisiana recognizes handwritten (holographic) wills, but a properly witnessed will is far stronger and easier to probate.
Spousal protection. Civil law: community property + FORCED HEIRSHIP for certain heirs. A will can't fully disinherit a surviving spouse in most states — Estateur's interview flags this for you.
Living trusts & avoiding probate in Louisiana
A will still has to pass through Louisiana probate — a public, court-supervised process — before your assets reach your heirs. A revocable living trust holds your assets during life and transfers them at death without probate, which is usually faster and stays private. A trust is not right for everyone; it depends on whether you own real estate, the size and complexity of your estate, and your goals.
Estateur's free quiz recommends whether a will-based or trust-based plan fits your Louisiana situation, and every trust-based plan includes a pour-over will as a companion document.
Powers of attorney & healthcare directives in Louisiana
Estateur builds your financial power of attorney to Louisiana's signing rules and includes execution instructions; because requirements vary, have it notarized so banks and title companies will honor it.
Louisiana sets its own signing rules for a healthcare directive, which Estateur builds into your documents and signing instructions.
A complete plan also includes a HIPAA authorization so your healthcare agent can actually get your medical information. Estateur builds each of these to Louisiana's signing rules and includes execution instructions.
Louisiana estate & inheritance tax
Louisiana has no state estate tax and no state inheritance tax. Only the federal estate tax can apply, and it affects very few estates.
Estate-tax exemption amounts are 2025 figures and change annually. Confirm current thresholds with the Louisiana department of revenue.
Louisiana statutes referenced
- La. Civ. Code art. 1577
Louisiana estate planning: common questions
- Is an online will legal in Louisiana?
- Yes. Louisiana does not care who typed your will — it cares that the will meets Louisiana's execution rules. A will is valid in Louisiana when it is in writing, signed by you, and witnessed by two people and notarized (La. Civ. Code art. 1577). Estateur builds each Louisiana will to those rules and includes step-by-step signing instructions, so an online will you sign correctly is just as valid as one prepared any other way.
- How many witnesses does a will need in Louisiana?
- Louisiana requires two witnesses to sign your will, and the will must also be notarized. Adding a notarized self-proving affidavit is optional but recommended — it lets the will be admitted to probate without tracking down your witnesses. Louisiana also recognizes handwritten (holographic) wills, though a witnessed will is stronger.
- Do I need a lawyer to make a will in Louisiana?
- No. Louisiana law does not require a lawyer to make a valid will — you can prepare and sign your own. Estateur is a self-help document-preparation service (not a law firm, and no attorney personally reviews each plan) that drafts your Louisiana documents against the state's verified rules and validates them before you see them. For complex situations — large or taxable estates, blended families, special-needs beneficiaries, or business succession — consulting a licensed Louisiana attorney is wise.
- Does Louisiana have an estate tax or inheritance tax?
- Louisiana has no state estate tax and no state inheritance tax. Only the federal estate tax can apply, and it affects very few estates.
- How much does an online will cost in Louisiana?
- Estateur uses flat, one-time pricing that is the same in Louisiana as in every other state: a single Last Will & Testament is $79, or the full Will Plan (seven documents) is $99, with no subscription required.
Create your Louisiana estate plan
Take the free 2-minute quiz for a personalized recommendation, or go straight to the plan you need — built for Louisiana, at a flat one-time price.
Estateur is a self-help document preparation service, not a law firm, and does not provide legal advice. Information on this page reflects Louisiana law in general terms and may change.
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