By Perkins Road Notary
You can help your parent arrange a will appointment and gather information. The decisions in the will must remain your parent’s own. Having a family member prepare instructions without the parent’s participation is not a substitute for understanding and voluntary choices.
How family members can help
Offer to schedule the appointment, provide transportation, organize existing documents, and help list accurate names and contact information. Ask your parent what they want to accomplish rather than assuming how they want property divided.
Our staff may need to speak directly and privately with the person making the will. That helps confirm their instructions and gives them room to ask questions without pressure.
Who can prepare a Louisiana will?
Louisiana notaries have statutory authority to receive wills and other specified acts. Perkins Road Notary offers simple will preparation. An attorney should address legal advice and more complex planning, including family disputes, forced-heirship concerns, trusts, or special-needs planning.
The identity of the preparer alone does not make a will valid. The document and execution must satisfy Louisiana law. Under current Civil Code article 1576, a notarial testament must be written, dated, and executed before a notary and two witnesses with the required signatures. Louisiana revised these formalities in 2025.
Capacity and voluntary instructions matter
Civil Code article 1477 requires a person making a testamentary disposition to generally understand its nature and consequences. Age alone does not answer that question. If illness, medication, confusion, pressure, or a disagreement raises concerns, tell the professional before scheduling the signing. Do not wait until an emergency to address capacity issues.
Plan the appointment with your parent
Bring current identification, existing estate-planning documents, and your parent’s choices about beneficiaries and an executor. Ask in advance about signing accommodations and witnesses. Use our will appointment checklist.
For a straightforward will, call us about preparation and an appointment. For legal advice about a disputed or complex plan, contact Field Law.
Official sources
R.S. 35:2: Notarial powers; Civil Code article 1477: Capacity; Civil Code article 1576: Notarial testament.
Get help in Baton Rouge
Call Perkins Road Notary at (225) 341-3828 or visit 6161 Perkins Road, Suite 1C, Baton Rouge. See our notary services. Curbside service is available at our office; call when you arrive. We do not provide mobile visits.
Updated October 8, 2026: This article was revised to reflect current Louisiana law, agency procedures, and Perkins Road Notary service information, as applicable.