When a loved one passes away, how their belongings will be distributed may not be at the forefront of your mind. However, it is a necessary step to tie up loose ends, especially if you are their next of kin. This can be a daunting process, especially if they died without a will, but it may be less so if they have few possessions. In Louisiana, the special procedure for small estates is called small succession.
Per Louisiana law, you do not have to go through probate court to determine how the deceased’s possessions will be distributed if the following is true:
- The value of their property does not exceed $125,000 (updated from $75,000, since 2017)
- Their estate was of any value in which the deceased died more than 20 years prior
- They died intestate (without a will)
You may wish to file an affidavit of small succession, a written legal document, if this is your situation. Those who are eligible to file these documents include the decedent’s surviving spouse or at least one of their adult heirs.
Contact Law Office of Wendra J. Moran
If you are the heir of a small estate, this can help you avoid a time-consuming, expensive probate process. Because not all estates qualify for the process, you will want to have a skilled estate planning attorney familiar with Louisiana law to help you avoid probate court. As a skilled, qualified succession attorney, Wendra J. Moran can help you with the often complicated stipulations and legal requirements of this process.
Contact Law Office of Wendra J. Moran for experienced counsel, or to learn more about small succession law in Louisiana. Call (225) 228-4445 or fill out our online contact form for a speedy response.