Estate Planning Law in Louisiana

What it means in Louisiana:
Estate planning in Louisiana is governed by a civil law system, rather than common law, which affects how property is transferred during life and after death.

Key points:

• Governed by the Louisiana Civil Code
• Applies to individuals and families at all asset levels
• Estate planning concepts differ from most other U.S. states

Louisiana-specific considerations:

• Louisiana does not use Transfer on Death (TOD) deeds in the same manner as common-law states
• Property transfers are often handled through donations, usufructs, and trusts
• Louisiana follows forced heirship rules in certain cases, requiring a portion of an estate to pass to protected heirs
• Trusts are commonly used to manage assets and reduce succession complexity
• Powers of attorney (mandates) are used for incapacity planning