The Louisiana Final Account and Petition for Distribution are the closing court papers an estate’s executor or administrator files to show every dollar that moved through the succession and to ask the judge to release the leftover property to the heirs. You file these papers in the district court of the parish where the succession is open, and they are governed by the Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure, mainly Articles 3303 through 3337 and Article 3396.19.
Getting these papers right matters because Louisiana law makes the succession representative personally answerable for money that is paid out wrong. Around 35,000 successions open across Louisiana courts each year, and a large share stall at the closing stage because the account does not balance or the heirs were never served the way the law demands. This guide walks you through the final account statute, the tableau of distribution, and the petition that sends heirs into possession, line by line, in plain words.
Here is what you will learn:
- 📋 What the Final Account and the Petition for Distribution each do, and why they are two separate papers that work together
- 🗂️ Every document, date, and dollar figure you must gather before you start typing
- ✍️ A line-by-line walkthrough of each section, with sample entries you can copy the format of
- 👨👩👧 Three full filled-out examples that follow real Louisiana families through the whole process
- ⚠️ The field-level mistakes that get accounts rejected, and how to dodge each one
What These Papers Are and Who Must File Them
A succession is Louisiana’s word for what most states call probate. It is the legal process that pays a dead person’s debts and moves their property to the right heirs or legatees. When a succession is “administered,” the court appoints a succession representative, called an executor when there is a will and an administrator when there is not, to run the estate.
The Petition for Authority with a Tableau of Distribution comes first. Under Code of Civil Procedure Article 3303, the representative files this petition and attaches a chart, the tableau, that lists every estate debt to be paid and shows where the money comes from. The judge must approve, or homologate, this tableau before the representative pays a single creditor.
The Final Account comes later. Under Article 3332, the representative may file the final account after the final tableau is homologated and all estate debts and legacies are paid. The final account is a head-to-toe summary of every receipt and every disbursement during the whole administration. After the court approves it, the representative asks for discharge and the heirs are sent into possession.
Two paths exist. In a dependent administration, the representative needs court approval for most acts, so the tableau and account are filed and homologated by the judge. In an independent administration, allowed by Article 3396.19, the representative acts with far less court oversight, but still must file a final account unless the heirs and legatees waive it in writing. You must file these papers if you are the appointed representative and the estate held assets that needed managing, sold property, or paid creditors during administration. You are not off the hook just because the estate was small; if you were appointed and you handled money, you owe an accounting.
Before You Start: Documents and Information You Need
Pull every record together before you open a blank pleading. A final account is a math document, and Louisiana judges reject accounts that do not balance to the penny. Gather these items first.
- The succession’s docket number and parish court name. Every paper you file must carry the exact caption and number, or the clerk will not match it to your open case.
- The Sworn Detailed Descriptive List. This earlier filing lists the estate’s assets and debts and is your starting balance; without it your account has no opening figure.
- The will and the order appointing you, if any. These prove your authority to act and tell you who the legatees are; a missing letters testamentary means the court may question your standing.
- Every bank statement for the estate account. You must show each deposit and each check; gaps in the statements create gaps in the account that the judge will flag.
- All paid creditor invoices and receipts. Each disbursement on the tableau needs backup, because an heir can demand proof of any payment you made.
- Funeral, last-illness, and tax records. These are high-ranking debts under Louisiana privilege law and must be listed in the correct order of rank.
- The full names and current addresses of every heir and residuary legatee. Article 3335 requires you to serve each of them, and a wrong address voids the service.
- Receipts for your own fees and the attorney fees. The representative’s commission and lawyer fees are debts of the estate and must appear on the tableau to be paid.
- Proof of newspaper publication. The clerk arranges publication of the notice, and you need the publisher’s affidavit before the judge can homologate.
- Real estate legal descriptions. If land passes to heirs, the judgment of possession needs the exact legal description, not just a street address, so it can be recorded in the parish conveyance records.
If any item is missing, stop and find it. An account filed with a hole in it does not just get rejected; it can expose you to a personal claim from an heir who says you cannot account for estate money.
Where to Get the Forms and How to Access Them
Louisiana does not publish one statewide fill-in-the-blank PDF for the Final Account or the Petition for Distribution. These are pleadings, meaning they are typed documents drafted to fit your case, not boxes you check on a state form. The rules they must follow live in the Code of Civil Procedure on the Legislature’s website, which is free to read.
Most filers use one of three sources for a template. Many parish Clerk of Court offices, such as the Orleans Parish Civil District Court, post sample succession pleadings or local rules that show the required format. Self-represented filers often use the free templates and step-by-step guidance in the Loyola Pro Bono Desk Manual on Louisiana Successions. Attorneys use commercial form books built to track the current statute.
Because there is no official revision date printed on a state form, confirm you are working from the current statute. The Articles cited in this guide reflect the 2024 and 2025 versions of the Code, including the 2023 amendment to Article 3335 on service of the final account. Whatever template you start from, you must edit it to match your exact parish, docket number, and facts. A template is a skeleton; the flesh is your estate’s real numbers and names.
Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out the Petition for Distribution and Final Account Line by Line
This is the heart of the process. Work through it in the order the papers are filed: first the Petition with Tableau, then the Final Account, then the Petition for Possession and Judgment. Each field below tells you what it asks, how to answer, a sample entry, an edge case, the common mistake, and the myth to drop.
Caption and Docket Number
What it asks in plain English. The caption is the heading at the top of every page that names the court, the dead person, and the case number.
How to answer it. Type the full parish court name, then the words Succession of followed by the decedent’s full legal name in all caps, then the docket number and division assigned when the case opened.
A specific example answer. Janet, the administrator of her late husband’s estate, types Succession of ROBERT EARL THIBODEAUX, then No. 2024-1187, Division C, Civil District Court for the Parish of Orleans.
A nuance or edge case. If the decedent used a different name on some assets, such as a nickname or a maiden name, use the legal name in the caption and note the other names later in the body so the bank records match.
A common mistake on this field and its direct consequence. Filers copy an old docket number from a different relative’s succession, and the clerk files the account in the wrong case, leaving your real succession with no final account on record.
A misconception people hold about this field. People think the caption is just a label that does not matter. It is the address that tells the court which case the paper belongs to, and a wrong caption means your paper may never reach the right judge.
Petition for Authority Body (Article 3303)
What it asks in plain English. This is the part where you formally ask the judge for permission to pay the estate’s debts.
How to answer it. Write numbered paragraphs stating who you are, that you are the appointed representative, that estate debts are now due, and that you ask authority to pay the debts listed on the attached tableau.
A specific example answer. Marcus, the executor, writes: Petitioner is the duly qualified executor of this succession and now desires authority to pay the estate debts set forth on the Tableau of Distribution annexed hereto as Exhibit A.
A nuance or edge case. If the cash on hand is not enough to pay everyone, Article 3303(B) requires you to say so and to list payments in the order of the creditors’ ranks, paying the highest-ranked first.
A common mistake on this field and its direct consequence. Filers ask to pay debts that are not yet due or not yet proven, and the judge strikes those line items, delaying the whole homologation.
A misconception people hold about this field. People believe they can pay creditors first and ask the court later. In a dependent administration you must get the tableau homologated before you pay, or you risk paying out of your own pocket.
Tableau of Distribution (Exhibit to the Petition)
What it asks in plain English. The tableau is the chart listing each debt you want to pay and the money available to pay it.
How to answer it. Make two clear parts: total funds on hand, then each proposed payment with the creditor’s name, the reason, the amount, and the rank if funds are short.
A specific example answer. Marcus lists Funds on hand: $48,200.00, then Jefferson Funeral Home, funeral charges, $9,500.00 (privileged) and Capital One, credit card, $3,100.00 (ordinary).
A nuance or edge case. When funds fall short, Louisiana privilege law pays funeral costs, last-illness expenses, and law charges before ordinary unsecured creditors; rank them wrong and a senior creditor can oppose.
A common mistake on this field and its direct consequence. Filers leave their own commission and the attorney fee off the tableau, then cannot legally pay themselves, because only listed and homologated debts may be paid.
A misconception people hold about this field. People think the tableau is the same as the final account. The tableau is a forward-looking plan to pay debts; the final account is a backward-looking record of everything that happened.
Notice of Filing and Publication (Article 3304)
What it asks in plain English. This is the public notice that tells creditors and heirs the tableau has been filed so they can object.
How to answer it. Under Article 3303(A) no court order is needed to publish the tableau notice; you request publication through the clerk, who runs it in the parish’s official journal.
A specific example answer. The clerk publishes Notice is given that a Tableau of Distribution has been filed in the Succession of ROBERT EARL THIBODEAUX, and may be homologated after seven days from publication.
A nuance or edge case. Under Revised Statute 43:203, the single publication must run at least ten days before the opposition delay expires, so timing the publication early protects your schedule.
A common mistake on this field and its direct consequence. Filers move to homologate before the publication affidavit is in the record, and the judge refuses to sign because proof of notice is missing.
A misconception people hold about this field. People think publication is optional for small estates. It is not; the public notice is what cuts off later objections, and skipping it leaves the homologation open to attack.
Homologation of the Tableau (Article 3307)
What it asks in plain English. Homologation is the judge’s act of approving the tableau so you may pay the debts.
How to answer it. After the delay runs with no opposition, you file a short motion and proposed judgment homologating the tableau, citing Article 3307.
A specific example answer. Marcus files a Motion to Homologate Tableau of Distribution and a proposed judgment stating no opposition having been filed and more than seven days having elapsed since publication.
A nuance or edge case. Article 3307 lets the court grant authority only after seven days from publication or from the mailed notice under Article 3306, whichever is later, so count from the later date.
A common mistake on this field and its direct consequence. Filers count the seven days from the filing date instead of the publication date, move too early, and the judgment gets denied as premature.
A misconception people hold about this field. People think homologation is automatic. The judge reviews the tableau and can amend or reject items, so a sloppy tableau still gets corrected on the bench.
Final Account Heading and Period Covered (Article 3332)
What it asks in plain English. This is the opening of the final account, stating that it is final and the time span it covers.
How to answer it. Title it Final Account, state that the final tableau has been homologated and all listed debts and legacies are paid, and give the dates from your appointment to the present.
A specific example answer. Janet writes Final Account of the Administratrix, covering the period from March 4, 2024 through May 28, 2026.
A nuance or edge case. Article 3332(B) lets an heir or residuary legatee who is already in possession force you to file a final account, and it is also required when a court removes a representative.
A common mistake on this field and its direct consequence. Filers label an interim account as “final,” triggering the stricter final-account service rules and the personal-discharge effect before the estate is truly closed.
A misconception people hold about this field. People think the final account is just a formality. It is the document that, once homologated, supports your discharge and protects you from later claims.
Schedule of Receipts
What it asks in plain English. This part lists every dollar that came into the estate while you ran it.
How to answer it. Itemize each receipt by date, source, and amount, starting from the descriptive list value and adding income, sale proceeds, and refunds.
A specific example answer. Janet lists 04/12/2024, Liberty Bank checking balance, $22,450.00 and 09/03/2024, sale of 2019 Ford F-150, $18,000.00.
A nuance or edge case. If estate property earned rent or interest during administration, that income is a receipt too, and leaving it out makes your account fail to balance.
A common mistake on this field and its direct consequence. Filers list only the opening balance and forget asset sales, so the receipts total is too low and an heir can claim you hid proceeds.
A misconception people hold about this field. People think only cash counts. Sale proceeds, refunds, and earned income all count as receipts and must appear.
Schedule of Disbursements
What it asks in plain English. This part lists every dollar that left the estate.
How to answer it. Itemize each disbursement by date, payee, reason, and amount, matching the debts the court homologated on the tableau.
A specific example answer. Janet lists 06/15/2024, Jefferson Funeral Home, funeral, $9,500.00 and 07/01/2024, Clerk of Court, filing fees, $410.00.
A nuance or edge case. Your representative commission and attorney fee belong here, but only at the amounts the court allowed; padding them invites an opposition.
A common mistake on this field and its direct consequence. Filers pay a debt that was never homologated and list it here anyway, and the judge disallows it, leaving the representative owing the estate that amount personally.
A misconception people hold about this field. People think estimates are fine. Every disbursement must be the exact paid amount with a receipt behind it, because heirs may demand the backup.
Recapitulation and Proposed Distribution
What it asks in plain English. This is the bottom-line math: receipts minus disbursements equals what is left to give the heirs.
How to answer it. Subtract total disbursements from total receipts, state the remaining balance, then show how that balance and any remaining property is split among the heirs or legatees.
A specific example answer. Janet writes Total receipts $40,450.00, less total disbursements $19,910.00, leaving $20,540.00 for distribution to the surviving spouse and two children in legal proportions.
A nuance or edge case. If a will leaves specific things to specific people, match the property to the legatee named in the will rather than splitting everything by fractions.
A common mistake on this field and its direct consequence. The receipts and disbursements do not net to the cash actually on hand, and the judge bounces the account until the penny gap is explained.
A misconception people hold about this field. People think rounding is acceptable. Louisiana accounts must balance exactly, and a single mismatched cent can delay homologation.
Service on Heirs and Residuary Legatees (Article 3335)
What it asks in plain English. This step proves you gave every heir a copy of the account and told them they can object.
How to answer it. Under Article 3335, serve each heir and residuary legatee a copy of the final account with notice that it may be homologated after ten days from service and that opposition must be filed before homologation.
A specific example answer. Janet’s attorney sends the account to each child by certified mail and files the attorney’s certificate plus the signed return receipts before homologation.
A nuance or edge case. For the final account specifically, service must be made under Article 1314, or by certified mail or a signed-receipt courier; ordinary mail is allowed only for non-final accounts.
A common mistake on this field and its direct consequence. Filers serve the final account by regular mail to save money, the service is defective, and the homologation is void as to the unserved heir.
A misconception people hold about this field. People think telling the family verbally is enough. The statute demands written service with proof in the record, or the judge cannot homologate.
Judgment of Homologation and Discharge
What it asks in plain English. This is the order approving the final account and releasing you as representative.
How to answer it. After the ten-day delay runs with no opposition, file a motion to homologate the final account and a proposed judgment that homologates it and discharges you.
A specific example answer. Janet’s proposed judgment reads the Final Account is homologated and the Administratrix is discharged from her duties and her bond is cancelled.
A nuance or edge case. In an independent administration, Article 3396.19 says that after homologation of the final account the court enters the discharge order, unless the heirs waived the accounting entirely.
A common mistake on this field and its direct consequence. Filers forget to ask for cancellation of the bond, so the surety bond stays open and the representative keeps paying premiums.
A misconception people hold about this field. People think discharge happens by itself. You must request it in writing, and without the order you remain legally responsible for the estate.
Petition for Possession and Judgment of Possession (Article 3061)
What it asks in plain English. This final paper asks the judge to formally hand the leftover property to the heirs.
How to answer it. File a verified petition stating the date of death, domicile, whether testate or intestate, and naming each heir, then attach a proposed judgment of possession.
A specific example answer. Janet’s petition states Robert Earl Thibodeaux died domiciled in Orleans Parish on February 28, 2024, testate, and asks that the named heirs be sent into possession.
A nuance or edge case. Under Article 3061, the judgment must include the last known address of at least one heir, and it recognizes any surviving spouse’s usufruct over community property.
A common mistake on this field and its direct consequence. Filers describe real estate by street address only, and the judgment cannot be recorded in the conveyance records, leaving the heirs unable to sell or mortgage the land.
A misconception people hold about this field. People think the judgment of possession only names heirs. It actually transfers title, so the legal property description must be exact.
Three Filled-Out Examples Using Real Scenarios
These three scenarios follow named Louisiana filers through the process so you can see how the pieces fit different estates.
Scenario 1: Small testate estate, one heir, no debt fight. Aisha is the executrix of her late aunt’s estate in East Baton Rouge Parish, with one house and one bank account left to Aisha alone.
| Form Section | What Aisha Enters |
|---|---|
| Caption | Succession of CLAUDETTE MARIE BERNARD, No. 2025-0442, 19th JDC, East Baton Rouge |
| Petition for Authority | Asks authority to pay funeral and final tax debts from the bank account |
| Tableau of Distribution | Funds on hand $31,000; funeral $7,200 (privileged); property taxes $1,400 |
| Publication | Clerk runs notice in The Advocate, the parish official journal |
| Final Account receipts | Bank balance $31,000; tax refund $620 |
| Final Account disbursements | Funeral $7,200; taxes $1,400; attorney fee $2,500; commission $940 |
| Recapitulation | Receipts $31,620 less disbursements $12,040, leaving $19,580 plus the house |
| Service on heirs | Serves herself as sole legatee and files the certificate |
| Judgment of Possession | Sends Aisha into possession of the house with full legal description |
Scenario 2: Multi-heir intestate estate with creditors and a short tableau. Marcus is the administrator of his father’s intestate estate in Caddo Parish, with three siblings and more debts than cash.
| Form Section | What Marcus Enters |
|---|---|
| Caption | Succession of LEON DUPRE, No. 2024-3310, 1st JDC, Caddo Parish |
| Petition for Authority | States funds are insufficient and lists payments by rank under 3303(B) |
| Tableau of Distribution | Funds $48,200; funeral $9,500 (rank 1); last illness $6,300 (rank 2); cards $3,100 (ordinary) |
| Publication | Clerk runs notice in the Caddo official journal |
| Final Account receipts | Bank $30,200; sale of truck $18,000 |
| Final Account disbursements | Funeral, last illness, law charges, then ordinary creditors in rank order |
| Recapitulation | Remaining $21,300 split one-fourth to each of four children |
| Service on heirs | Certified mail to all four siblings with signed receipts filed |
| Judgment of Possession | Recognizes four children as heirs in equal shares |
Scenario 3: Independent administration with heirs waiving the final account. Janet is the independent administratrix of her husband’s estate in Orleans Parish, and the two adult children agree to waive the formal accounting.
| Form Section | What Janet Enters |
|---|---|
| Caption | Succession of ROBERT EARL THIBODEAUX, No. 2024-1187, Div. C, CDC Orleans |
| Authority to act | Acts independently without homologating each act, per the will |
| Waiver of final account | Both children sign a written waiver under Article 3396.19 |
| Tableau (if filed) | Lists funeral, taxes, and attorney fee for payment |
| Final Account | Skipped because heirs waived it in writing |
| Discharge | Court enters discharge order after the waiver is filed |
| Service / proof | Files the signed waivers in place of service certificates |
| Petition for Possession | States date of death, domicile, testate, names spouse and two children |
| Judgment of Possession | Recognizes spouse’s usufruct over the community half |
Across these examples, five named filers, Aisha, Marcus, Janet, plus their attorneys and the clerks, show how the same statutes flex around a small clean estate, a debt-heavy estate, and a streamlined independent administration.
How to File the Completed Papers
You file the Final Account, the Petition for Distribution, and the Judgment of Possession with the Clerk of Court in the parish where the succession is open. Louisiana offers more than one channel, and the details vary by parish.
- In person or by mail. Bring or mail the signed originals to the parish Clerk of Court’s civil division. For example, the Orleans Parish Civil District Court Clerk accepts succession filings at 421 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans. Filing fees vary by parish and by the number of pages and certified copies, often running a few hundred dollars; pay by check, money order, or card per the clerk’s rules, and keep your stamped copy as proof of filing.
- By e-filing. Many parishes accept electronic filing through their clerk’s portal or a statewide service. Check your parish clerk’s website for whether succession pleadings may be e-filed, the per-filing fee, and accepted payment cards. Save the electronic confirmation as your proof.
- Publication. The clerk arranges publication of the tableau and account notices in the parish’s official journal. You pay the publisher’s charge, and the publisher’s affidavit goes into the record as proof; without it the judge cannot homologate.
Expect processing to take days to a few weeks per step, because the statutory delays, seven days after tableau publication and ten days after final-account service, must run before the judge signs. Always keep stamped copies, mailing receipts, and the publication affidavit, because these are your proof that each step was done on time.
What Happens After You File
Once you file the tableau and the notice publishes, a waiting period opens for objections. Under Article 3307, if no opposition is filed, the judge may homologate the tableau after seven days from publication or mailed notice, whichever is later, and you then pay the approved debts.
After you file the final account and serve the heirs, Article 3335 gives them ten days from service to oppose. If someone opposes, the court hears it as a summary proceeding, which can add weeks. If no one opposes, the judge homologates the final account, and a homologated account other than a final one is prima facie proof of its correctness under Article 3337.
The last step is the judgment of possession. Under Article 3061, the court signs it once the petition and record show the heirs are entitled to the property, and that judgment transfers title. If real estate is involved, record the judgment in the conveyance records of each parish where the land sits, or the heirs cannot prove clear title.
Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out the Papers
- Using the wrong docket number in the caption, which files your paper in the wrong case and stalls everything.
- Listing a debt on the tableau before it is due or proven, which gets the line item struck.
- Ranking creditors out of order when funds are short, which lets a senior creditor oppose and delay payment.
- Leaving your commission or the attorney fee off the tableau, which means you cannot legally be paid.
- Paying a creditor before the tableau is homologated, which can make you personally liable for the payment.
- Counting the seven-day delay from filing instead of publication, which gets your homologation denied as premature.
- Forgetting to file the publication affidavit, which leaves the judge unable to homologate.
- Serving the final account by ordinary mail, which is defective service and voids homologation as to that heir.
- Omitting asset-sale proceeds from the receipts schedule, which makes the account fail to balance.
- Listing estimated rather than exact disbursement amounts, which invites an heir to demand proof.
- Mislabeling an interim account as “final,” which triggers the strict final-account rules too early.
- Describing estate land by street address only, which blocks recording of the judgment of possession.
Do’s and Don’ts
Do’s
- Do gather every bank statement first, because your account must trace every dollar.
- Do match each disbursement to a homologated tableau item, because only approved debts may be paid.
- Do serve the final account exactly as Article 3335 requires, because defective service voids the result.
- Do wait the full statutory delay before moving to homologate, because early motions get denied.
- Do request your discharge and bond cancellation in writing, because neither happens on its own.
- Do use exact legal property descriptions, because the judgment transfers title and must be recordable.
Don’ts
- Don’t pay creditors before homologation in a dependent administration, because you may owe the money personally.
- Don’t round figures, because Louisiana accounts must balance to the penny.
- Don’t skip publication for a small estate, because notice cuts off later objections.
- Don’t pad your commission or fees, because that invites an opposition and delay.
- Don’t forget heirs who live out of state, because they still must be served with proof.
- Don’t record a judgment of possession with a vague property description, because the land title stays clouded.
Pros and Cons of Filing on Your Own vs. With Help
Pros of hiring a succession attorney
- A lawyer drafts the pleadings to fit current statute, because there is no official fill-in form.
- The attorney certifies service of the final account, which Article 3335 ties to the lawyer’s certificate.
- A lawyer ranks creditors correctly when funds fall short, avoiding oppositions.
- Professional help reduces the risk of personal liability for a botched payment.
- An attorney can record the judgment of possession properly so heirs get clean title.
Cons of hiring an attorney
- Attorney fees are an estate debt that reduces what heirs receive.
- You give up some direct control over timing.
- A busy lawyer may move slower than a motivated filer.
- Communication gaps can leave heirs feeling out of the loop.
- Costs can feel heavy for a small, simple estate.
Pros of filing pro se
- You save the attorney fee, leaving more for the heirs.
- You control the pace yourself.
- You learn the estate’s finances inside and out.
- A simple one-heir estate may be manageable with the free Loyola pro bono templates.
- You avoid scheduling around a third party.
Cons of filing pro se
- One service or publication misstep can void a homologation.
- You bear personal liability for payments made wrong.
- Drafting pleadings from statute is hard without legal training.
- Clerks cannot give you legal advice on how to fill the papers.
- Mistakes often cost more time and money to fix than a lawyer would have charged.
Standard vs. Independent Administration
| Feature | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Court oversight | Standard administration needs the judge to homologate most acts; independent administration, under Article 3396.19, needs far less |
| Final account | Standard always files and homologates one; independent may skip it if heirs waive in writing |
| Speed | Independent is usually faster because fewer steps need court approval |
| Best fit | Standard fits contested or debt-heavy estates; independent fits cooperative families with a clear will |
Tableau of Distribution vs. Final Account
| Feature | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Direction in time | The tableau is a forward plan to pay debts; the final account is a backward record of all activity |
| Governing article | The tableau follows Article 3303; the final account follows Article 3332 |
| Opposition delay | Tableau, seven days from publication under Article 3307; final account, ten days from service under Article 3335 |
| Effect when approved | Tableau lets you pay debts; final account supports your discharge |
FAQs
Do I file the Final Account and the Petition for Distribution as one paper?
No. They are separate filings. The Petition for Authority with the tableau comes first to pay debts, and the Final Account comes later to summarize the whole administration before discharge.
Do I have to file a final account in an independent administration?
No. Not if every heir and legatee waives it in writing under Article 3396.19. If they do not waive it, you must file and homologate the final account before the court discharges you.
Do I list my own commission as a debt on the tableau?
Yes. Your representative commission and the attorney fee are estate debts. List them on the tableau, because only homologated debts may legally be paid from estate funds.
Do I write the decedent’s nickname or legal name in the caption?
No. Use the full legal name in the caption, in all caps. You may note other names the decedent used in the body so bank and property records line up.
Do I count asset-sale proceeds as receipts on the final account?
Yes. Sale proceeds, rent, interest, and refunds all count as receipts. Leaving them out makes the account fail to balance and invites an heir to claim hidden money.
Do I have to serve the final account by certified mail?
Yes. For the final account, Article 3335 requires service under Article 1314 or by certified mail or a signed-receipt courier. Ordinary mail is allowed only for non-final accounts.
Do I count the seven-day delay from the date I filed the tableau?
No. Count it from the date of publication or the mailed notice, whichever is later, under Article 3307. Filing date does not start the clock, and counting wrong gets the homologation denied.
Do I need a court order before publishing the tableau notice?
No. Article 3303(A) says no court order is required to publish the notice of filing of a tableau of distribution. You request publication through the clerk.
Do funeral costs get paid before credit card debt when funds are short?
Yes. Funeral and last-illness expenses are privileged and rank ahead of ordinary unsecured debts like credit cards. List payments in rank order when the estate cannot pay everyone in full.
Do I need to ask for my discharge, or is it automatic?
No. It is not automatic. You must request discharge and bond cancellation in writing, and the court enters the order after homologating the final account.
Do I need an exact legal description for estate land in the judgment?
Yes. The judgment of possession transfers title, so it needs the exact legal description to be recorded in the parish conveyance records. A street address alone clouds the heirs’ title.
Do heirs who live in another state still have to be served?
Yes. Every heir and residuary legatee must be served the final account with proof in the record, whether resident or nonresident. Skipping an out-of-state heir voids homologation as to that person.
Do I have to publish notice for a small estate?
Yes. Publication of the tableau and account notices is required regardless of estate size. The public notice cuts off later objections, so skipping it leaves the homologation open to attack.
Related reading
- How to Fill Out the Louisiana Inventory and Appraisement of the Estate (Sworn Detailed Descriptive List) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out the Louisiana Notice to Creditors (w/ Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out a Louisiana Petition for Probate of Will (w/ Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out the Louisiana Small Estate Affidavit (w/Examples) + FAQs
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