Legal Question in Wills and Trusts in Louisiana

Louisiana is a civil law jurisdiction, while the other states are common law jurisdictions. The laws for successions, divorce, property, and family law are especially different here than in other jurisdictions. There are very few forms available to the public for Louisiana. That is just the nature of the beast.

That being said, even in states where a form is available, I would STRONGLY recommend that you speak to a lawyer to draft your will. There are issues of law that only an attorney would know to address and if you make a will that is not in a valid format, the will is a nullity and will not be probated.

Most attorneys charge very little for a simple will. I usually charge $150, as do many attorneys I know. That includes one or more consultations to address your needs and wishes, as well as drafting and notarizing the will itself and keeping a copy of the will for you and your heirs in case the original is ever lost. You should call a few attorneys in your area to find one to draft the will for you. The cost is well worth it.

If you absolutely do not want to spend the money for an attorney (and I again strongly recommend that you do), you can always draft a will by hand completely in your own handwriting and that will be a valid will. It must be completely written in your own hand (not typed) and signed by you. If there is a fight over your assets, though, or if the will makes illegal donations (or fails to leave forced portions), it still may be thrown out. Thus the need for consultation.