Louisiana law
Wrongful Death Laws in Louisiana.
Louisiana wrongful-death actions are governed by La. Civ. Code art. 2315.2 (wrongful death) and art. 2315.1 (survival action), with a 1-year delictual prescription. The civil-law framework defines statutory beneficiaries differently than common-law states, with a specific order of classes permitted to bring the action.
Last verified: 2026-04-17
State law
Statute of Limitations
Louisiana wrongful-death and survival actions must generally be filed within 1 year of the decedent’s death.
State law
Key Louisiana Statutes
The Civil Code’s wrongful-death and survival articles define who may sue, the damages available, and the order of classes of permitted plaintiffs in Louisiana.
State law
Official Sources
Not Legal Advice
This page summarizes publicly available statutes and rules for informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice, and no attorney-client relationship is created by viewing this content. Laws change — always verify with the primary source or consult a licensed attorney in Louisiana.
Next step
Move from state law into guided help or attorney search.
If you want help applying this information to your situation, start with guided help or browse attorneys for this issue in Louisiana.
More in Louisiana
Other state law topics.
Personal Injury Laws·Criminal Defense Laws·Family Laws·Immigration Laws·Employment Laws·Bankruptcy Laws·Medical Malpractice Laws·Workers' Compensation Laws·Social Security Disability Laws·Product Liability Laws·Long-Term Disability & ERISA Laws·Estate Planning Laws·Probate Laws·Real Estate Laws·Landlord & Tenant Laws·Business Laws·Intellectual Property Laws·Tax Laws·Elder Laws·Nursing Home Abuse & Neglect Laws·Civil Rights Laws·Domestic Violence Laws·Veterans Legal Services Laws·Healthcare & Benefits Laws·Construction Defect Laws·Insurance Disputes Laws·Premises Liability Laws·Commercial Litigation Laws·Environmental Laws·Securities & Finance Laws·Municipal Laws·Administrative Laws