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Louisiana Last Will and Testament

Quick answer: the standard Louisiana will is a notarial testament, executed before a notary public and two witnesses (La. Civ. Code art. 1577). The sections below walk through the ceremony and the contents.

A last will and testament lets you name an executor, a guardian for minor children, and the people who inherit your estate. In Louisiana, a will generally is typically executed as a notarial testament, signed before a notary public and two witnesses (La. Civ. Code art. 1577).

This template walks you through your executor, your beneficiaries, and any specific gifts, then produces a Louisiana will ready to print and sign following the requirements below, in Word and PDF.

Create your Louisiana last will and testamentRead the full Last Will and Testament guide

Louisiana will signing requirements

Louisiana last will and testament requirements at a glance
WitnessesTwo witnesses
NotarizationYes for the standard notarial testament: signed before a notary public and two witnesses
Self-proving affidavitRecognized: see your state statute for the affidavit form
Holographic (handwritten) willsRecognized (La. Civ. Code art. 1575)
StatuteLa. Civ. Code art. 1577

The notarial testament is signed before a notary public and two competent witnesses in a single sitting.

A Louisiana notarial testament is self-proving by design: it is probated without witness testimony, so no separate affidavit is needed.

Louisiana calls it an olographic testament: entirely written, dated, and signed in the testator's handwriting.

Verify before you rely on it

Wills statutes change, and probate courts apply them strictly. Confirm the current Louisiana requirement in the statute cited above (or with your state's self-help resources) before signing your will.

Last will and testament requirements in Louisiana

The formalities come first, because probate courts apply them strictly. In Louisiana, a will must be signed by the testator and two witnesses (La. Civ. Code art. 1577). The notarial testament is signed before a notary public and two competent witnesses in a single sitting. Choose witnesses who take nothing under the will: it keeps the execution clean and unchallengeable on that ground.

Louisiana is the special case among the states: its standard form is the notarial testament, executed before a notary public and two witnesses in a single ceremony where the testator declares the document to be their testament. Because the ceremony itself is the safeguard, following the statutory script exactly matters more here than anywhere else.

Louisiana recognizes self-proving wills: a Louisiana notarial testament is self-proving by design: it is probated without witness testimony, so no separate affidavit is needed. Years or decades can pass between signing and probate, and witnesses move, forget, or die; the affidavit removes that entire risk for the cost of a few extra signatures.

Louisiana recognizes holographic (handwritten, unwitnessed) wills (La. Civ. Code art. 1575), provided that Louisiana calls it an olographic testament: entirely written, dated, and signed in the testator's handwriting. Treat that as an emergency option, not a plan: handwritten wills invite disputes over handwriting, completeness, and intent that a properly witnessed, typed will never faces.

Substance matters too: name an executor and a backup, designate a guardian for minor children, and describe who takes what in terms a stranger could apply without guessing. Remember that beneficiary-designated assets such as life insurance and retirement accounts pass outside the will entirely; reviewing those designations is part of writing a coherent Louisiana estate plan.

Step by step: preparing your Louisiana last will and testament

Here is the path from first draft to a will a Louisiana probate court will accept without friction.

  1. Inventory what the will controls. List your assets and mark which pass by beneficiary designation (life insurance, retirement accounts, transfer-on-death titles) rather than by will. The will governs the rest, and knowing the boundary prevents contradictory instructions.
  2. Choose the executor and guardians. Name an executor you trust with paperwork and deadlines, plus an alternate. If you have minor children, name a guardian and a backup: this designation alone is reason enough for many parents to write a will.
  3. Decide the distribution. Set out beneficiaries and shares in plain terms, including what happens if a beneficiary does not survive you. Specific gifts (a vehicle, an heirloom, a sum of money) come first, then the residuary clause sweeps up everything else.
  4. Complete the will with the guided form. The questionnaire on the main page walks through executor, guardians, beneficiaries, and specific gifts, and assembles the will as you answer. Download it in Word and PDF, then read the whole document once before the signing.
  5. Hold the signing ceremony. Execute it as a Louisiana notarial testament: before a notary public and two witnesses, in one ceremony that follows the statutory script.
  6. Add the self-proving affidavit and store the will. Sign the self-proving affidavit at the same sitting, then store the original will where your executor can find it and tell them where it is. Do not lock the only copy where nobody can reach it.

How this template works in Louisiana

Answer guided questions about your executor, guardians for minor children, and beneficiaries, and the will writes itself in front of you. Then print it and sign it with your witnesses following the Louisiana requirements above; a will has no effect until it is properly signed.

The form, the live preview, and the full guide live on the main Last Will and Testament page.

Louisiana last will and testament FAQ

How many witnesses does a will need in Louisiana?

The standard Louisiana notarial testament is executed before a notary public and two witnesses in one ceremony (La. Civ. Code art. 1577).

Does a will have to be notarized in Louisiana?

In Louisiana, the standard notarial testament is executed before a notary public and two witnesses, so a notary is part of the normal ceremony (La. Civ. Code art. 1577).

Is a handwritten will valid in Louisiana?

Yes, Louisiana recognizes holographic wills (La. Civ. Code art. 1575), provided that Louisiana calls it an olographic testament: entirely written, dated, and signed in the testator's handwriting. They remain an emergency option: a typed, witnessed will is far harder to challenge.

What happens if I die without a will in Louisiana?

Your estate passes under the Louisiana intestacy statutes, which distribute property to relatives in a fixed order that may not match your wishes, and the probate court chooses the administrator and any guardians without your input. A valid will replaces that default scheme with your own decisions, which is the core reason to write one.

Last Will and Testament in other states