Louisiana Will Signing Day Kit: Louisiana's Witness and Notary Rules, Signing-Day Checklist, Witness Sheet and Original-Will Record

Who it is for

Anyone signing a will in Louisiana, and the family member, friend or office helping set up the signing. Who can make a will, per the official page: 16 or older. Under 16, a minor can't make a donation mortis causa (a testament) except to a spouse or children; from 16 a minor may make one (Civil Code art. 1476).

Not the right fit if

The person signing isn't in Louisiana, you still need the will written (that's a lawyer's job), or someone may contest it. Not a will form or a legal service.

Why it is different

• Built only from our Louisiana will signing data file, checked November 2026 against La. Civil Code art. 1576, Notarial testament; requirements of form (Louisiana Legislature); La. Civil Code art. 1575, Olographic testament; requirements of form (Louisiana Legislature); La. Code of Civil Procedure art. 2887, Notarial testament (Louisiana Legislature); La. Civil Code art. 1577 (repealed by Acts 2025, No. 30), Louisiana Legislature; Louisiana Civil Code art. 1582, Effect of witness or notary as legatee (Louisiana State Legislature); La. Civil Code art. 1476, Minors; incapacity to make donations, exceptions (Louisiana Legislature).
• 2 facts aren't stated on those pages, so the kit leaves them out and lists them once to look up, instead of guessing.
• Also from the file: Louisiana uses civil-law forms of will. The notarial testament needs a notary as well as two witnesses; the rules were rewritten by Acts 2025, No. 30, which repealed former Civil Code article 1577 and moved the notarial testament to article 1576.
• For the estate side in Louisiana, the Louisiana Executor and Estate Kit: For a person who died domiciled in Louisiana, property with a gross value of $200,000 or less at the date of death; $125,000 for Louisiana property of a person domiciled elsewhere; any value if the death was at least 20 years before the affidavit.

What is inside

• Start here. The 5 confirmed Louisiana facts at a glance; to look up on the official page: electronic wills, remote witnessing.
• Louisiana signing-day checklist. Bring 2 witnesses. The rule: Two witnesses and a notary. A notarial testament is signed before a notary public in the presence of two witnesses, and the testator, each witness and the notary sign it. Pick witnesses who get nothing under the will and aren't married to someone who does. If a beneficiary would have to witness, stop and call the lawyer first: The testament stays valid, but a legacy to a witness or to the notary is invalid. A witness who would inherit with no will can still take the smaller of that share or the legacy (Civil Code art. 1582). Have a notary there for the self-proving affidavit. The official page we read names a notary public. Built into the notarial testament: signed on each page with a declaration signed by the notary and the witnesses, it can be accepted without further proof (Code of Civil Procedure art. 2887).
• Witness information sheet. One block per Louisiana witness (2 required, plus a spare).
• Original-will storage and location record. Where the original is and who has copies. Handwritten wills in Louisiana: Recognized as an olographic testament if entirely written, dated and signed in the testator's handwriting.
• Louisiana will signing tracker (Excel). Steps, ID, copies and review dates.