Which Louisiana court hears your civil case
Civil jurisdiction thresholds with statutory authority. Source: 1Court Directory, verified 2026-08-20 (official source).
| Tier | Court | Amount in controversy | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small claims | City Court / Parish Court: Small Claims Division | Up to $5,000 | La. R.S. 13:5200 |
| Limited civil | City / Parish Court City court civil limits range roughly $15,000-$50,000 by city; JP courts $5,000 (La. R.S. 13:2586). | Up to $50,000 | La. R.S. 13:2561 et seq. |
| General civil | District Court General jurisdiction. | No limit | La. Const. art. V, § 16 |
Lower-court civil limits vary significantly by city/parish.
Answer deadline after service
A defendant generally has 21 days after service of the summons and complaint to file an answer (La. C.C.P. art. 1001). Note: 30 days if discovery was served with the petition.
11 Louisiana forms SimpleCase prepares
Generated from your uploaded complaint, with captions and terminology matched to Louisiana practice. Every document is a draft for attorney review.
- CitationLa. C.C.P. art. 1201, 21-day answer (art. 1001)
- Civil Case Cover SheetLouisiana Judicial District Court, filed with petition
- Sheriff's Return / Affidavit of ServiceLa. C.C.P. arts. 1231-1293, service by sheriff
- Affidavit to Proceed In Forma PauperisLa. C.C.P. arts. 5181-5188, fee waiver
- Motion and Order of Voluntary DismissalLa. C.C.P. art. 1671, voluntary dismissal
- Motion for Default JudgmentLa. C.C.P. arts. 1701-1702, 21-day default
- Affidavit of Non-Military ServiceSCRA, 50 U.S.C. § 3931
- Default JudgmentLa. C.C.P. arts. 1701-1702, judicial interest (La. R.S. 13:4202)
- Petition for Garnishment (Wages)La. C.C.P. arts. 2411-2417, 75% exempt / 30x fed min wage (La. R.S. 13:3881)
- Petition for Garnishment (Accounts / Property)La. C.C.P. arts. 2411-2417, financial institution garnishee
- Judgment Debtor ExaminationLa. C.C.P. arts. 2451-2456, post-judgment asset discovery
Filing packages
One click assembles the forms a Louisiana matter typically needs at each stage.
General Civil
Citation · Civil Case Cover Sheet · Sheriff's Return / Affidavit of Service
Collections: File & Serve
Citation · Civil Case Cover Sheet · Sheriff's Return / Affidavit of Service
Collections: Default Judgment
Motion for Default Judgment · Affidavit of Non-Military Service · Default Judgment
Collections: Enforce Judgment
Petition for Garnishment (Wages) · Petition for Garnishment (Accounts / Property) · Judgment Debtor Examination
Fee Waiver
Affidavit to Proceed In Forma Pauperis
Voluntary Dismissal
Motion and Order of Voluntary Dismissal
County-level court details
Filing fees, clerk contacts, e-filing portals, and courthouse addresses for every Louisiana county are in the 1Court Directory: Louisiana.
How it works
Upload your case document
PDF, Word, image, or text. SimpleCase extracts parties, claims, amounts, and dates.
Confirm venue and court
For unfiled cases, SimpleCase suggests the county, court level, and courthouse, with the statutory basis shown.
Generate the package
Every required form, filled and assembled as a ZIP, ready for attorney review and filing.
Turn a complaint into a filing-ready case
Your first 3 cases are free. No card required.
Try SimpleCase freeSimpleCase prepares document drafts for attorney review; it is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice, and no attorney-client relationship is created by using it. Court data on this page is sourced from the 1Court Directory with the verification date shown, and statutes and court rules change: always confirm current requirements, deadlines, and fees with the clerk of the court before filing.