Louisiana (LA) eviction guide
Quick answer
To evict a tenant in Louisiana, serve a written Notice to Vacate giving the tenant at least 5 days to leave, then file a Rule for Possession at the local justice court if they stay. The court schedules a hearing within a few days, and if the judge rules in your favor, you can request a Writ of Possession the same day. The full process typically takes 2 to 6 weeks from notice to lockout.
| Legal grounds | Nonpayment of rent, lease violation, end of lease term, or any lawful termination |
|---|---|
| Minimum notice | 5 days (written lease, nonpayment or termination) |
| Where to file | Justice court (or city court) in the parish where the property is located |
| Filing fee | About $100 to $200 to file; roughly $225 extra for the Writ of Possession |
| Typical timeframe | 2 to 6 weeks notice to lockout |
Required for written leases when rent is unpaid or any other lawful termination; Louisiana notices are unconditional (no cure option unless the lease provides one).
Used for month-to-month tenancies to terminate the tenancy without a specific lease violation.
Required when the tenancy is based on a verbal agreement rather than a written lease.
Used for leases longer than one month when the landlord chooses not to renew at the end of the term.
| Step | Timeframe | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Serve the Written Notice to Vacate | 5 to 30 days | Deliver written notice personally or by posting; if mailed, add 3 days to the required notice period. |
| 2. File a Rule for Possession at Justice Court | 1 to 3 days | If the tenant does not leave by the deadline, file the eviction petition (Rule for Possession) at the parish justice court and pay the filing fee. |
| 3. Serve the Rule for Possession on the Tenant | At least 2 days before hearing | The sheriff or constable delivers the court summons to the tenant; the hearing cannot be held until at least 2 days after service. |
| 4. Attend the Court Hearing | Within about 1 to 2 weeks of filing | Present your evidence to the judge; the tenant may appear and raise defenses, and the burden of proof is on you as the landlord. |
| 5. Obtain a Writ of Possession | Same day as judgment or within days | If the court rules in your favor, request the Writ of Possession immediately; the writ gives the tenant 24 hours to vacate voluntarily. |
| 6. Sheriff Executes the Lockout | 7 to 10 days after writ is issued | If the tenant remains after 24 hours, the sheriff or constable removes them and their belongings by force; self-help eviction is illegal. |
Filing the Rule for Possession costs about $100 to $200 depending on the parish, plus roughly $225 more if you request a Writ of Possession. Total out-of-pocket including sheriff service fees typically runs $300 to $500; attorney fees, if you hire one, add more.
After the judge rules for the landlord, a Writ of Possession can be issued the same day and gives the tenant 24 hours to vacate. If the tenant refuses, the sheriff or constable executes the lockout, typically within 7 to 10 days of the writ being served. Self-help eviction (changing locks, removing belongings, or cutting utilities yourself) is illegal in Louisiana and exposes the landlord to damages of up to twice the monthly rent or $500, whichever is greater.
General information, not legal advice. Governing statute: Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure, Articles 4701 to 4735. Self-help eviction is illegal everywhere; always follow the court process.
Louisiana eviction FAQ
Most Louisiana evictions take **2 to 6 weeks** from serving the notice to the final lockout. The notice period alone is 5 to 30 days, then court scheduling and the writ process add another 1 to 3 weeks. Tenant appeals or contested hearings can push the timeline past 6 weeks.
Expect to spend about **$300 to $500** total for a straightforward eviction: roughly $100 to $200 to file the Rule for Possession and about $225 more to request the Writ of Possession, plus sheriff service fees. Hiring an attorney adds several hundred dollars or more depending on complexity.
No. Louisiana law requires a court order before you can remove a tenant. The only exception is when you have a **reasonable belief the tenant has already abandoned** the premises, such as when they have returned their keys, removed their belongings, and stopped occupying the unit. Changing locks or removing property yourself without a court order is illegal.
**No.** Louisiana's Notice to Vacate is unconditional. The landlord does not have to give the tenant an opportunity to cure the default or pay overdue rent unless the lease itself includes that right. Once the notice period expires, the landlord can file immediately.
Evictions are filed in the **justice court** (or city court) of the parish where the rental property is located. There is no single statewide eviction court; you file locally, which is why filing fees and processing times vary by parish.
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