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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

1 year from date of deathLa. Civ. Code arts. 2315.1, 2315.2

Louisiana wrongful-death and survival actions must generally be filed within 1 year of the decedent’s death.

State law

Key Louisiana Statutes

Louisiana Wrongful Death and Survival ActionsLa. Civ. Code arts. 2315.1, 2315.2

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.

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