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Alexandria Succession Attorney
Guiding Families Through Estate Matters

Louisiana's succession law is unlike any other state. Adam Huddleston ensures your family's estate is settled correctly, your loved one's wishes are honored, and the process moves forward without unnecessary conflict or delay.

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Louisiana Succession Law

Settling an Estate the Right Way

Louisiana follows the Napoleonic Code, which makes its succession (estate) law fundamentally different from every other U.S. state. Forced heirship rules, usufruct rights, and particular Louisiana procedures mean that settling an estate in Louisiana requires an attorney who understands this unique legal framework.

Losing a loved one is difficult enough without navigating a confusing legal process. Adam Huddleston handles succession proceedings with both efficiency and sensitivity — moving the estate through the courts correctly while giving your family the time and space to grieve.

Whether your loved one died with a will (testate) or without one (intestate), whether the estate is simple or complex, Adam provides clear guidance on every step: identifying and valuing assets, notifying creditors, handling debts, and ensuring the final distribution is carried out correctly and legally.

Attorney Adam Huddleston
Adam Huddleston
Attorney at Law · Alexandria, LA

Handling a Loved One's Estate?

Louisiana succession law is complex. Let Adam guide your family through the process correctly. Free consultations available.

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Services

Succession Legal Services

Testate Succession

When a person dies with a valid will, Adam guides the family through the probate process — validating the will, identifying assets, paying debts, and distributing property according to the deceased's wishes.

Intestate Succession

When a person dies without a will, Louisiana law determines who inherits. Adam helps families understand the intestate succession rules and ensures assets are distributed correctly under state law.

Succession Disputes

When heirs disagree about the estate, a will is contested, or someone believes they have been wrongfully excluded, Adam provides skilled representation to protect your inheritance rights.

Forced Heirship

Louisiana's forced heirship laws protect certain heirs from being completely disinherited. Adam advises families on how these unique rules apply and ensures the estate is distributed in compliance with Louisiana law.

Simple Successions

For smaller or straightforward estates, Louisiana allows a simplified small succession process. Adam handles these efficiently, saving families time and expense when the situation allows.

Usufruct & Naked Ownership

Louisiana's usufruct concept — where a surviving spouse may have the right to use property without owning it outright — creates unique situations that require careful legal navigation.

Common Questions

Succession FAQ

If someone dies without a will (intestate) in Louisiana, their property passes to their heirs according to Louisiana's intestate succession laws. Generally, community property passes to the surviving spouse, while separate property passes to children or other heirs. Louisiana's forced heirship rules also apply, protecting certain children's right to a portion of the estate. An attorney can help determine exactly how the estate will be distributed based on the specific family circumstances.
The timeline varies depending on the size and complexity of the estate. A simple succession with minimal assets and no disputes can sometimes be completed in a few months. Larger or more complex estates — those with significant real property, business interests, or family disagreements — can take a year or more. Adam works to move the process forward as efficiently as possible while ensuring everything is done correctly.
Not always. Louisiana allows for a simplified "small succession" process for estates where the total assets fall below a certain threshold and meet other requirements. This allows heirs to transfer property without full court proceedings. For larger estates or those with real property, court proceedings are typically required. Adam evaluates each situation to determine the most efficient path forward.
Louisiana's forced heirship law protects certain children from being disinherited. Children under age 24, or children of any age who are permanently incapacitated, are "forced heirs" — entitled to a specific portion of the estate (called the "forced portion") regardless of what the will says. This is a unique feature of Louisiana law that does not exist in other states, and it is an important consideration in estate planning and succession proceedings.
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Free Consultation
Discuss your estate or probate matter with Adam.

Honor Your Loved One's Legacy

Louisiana succession law is complex, but you don't have to navigate it alone. Call Adam or a member of his team for a free, compassionate consultation about your family's situation.

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