Unless otherwise limited by order of the court in accordance with this Chapter, the scope of discovery is as set forth in this Article and in Articles 1423 through 1425. Parties may obtain discovery regarding any matter, not privileged, which is relevant to the subject matter involved in the pending action, whether it relates to the claim or defense of the party seeking discovery or to the claim or defense of any other party, including the existence, description, nature, custody, condition, and location of any books, documents, or other tangible things and the identity and location of persons having knowledge of any discoverable matter. It is not ground for objection that the information sought will be inadmissible at the trial if the information sought appears reasonably calculated to lead to the discovery of admissible evidence.
Art. 1422.Scope of Discovery; In General
Book II. Ordinary Proceedings · Title III. Production of Evidence · Chapter 3. Discovery · Enacted 1976 · no amendments on record · Last verified July 30, 2026
In one sentenceArticle 1422 sets the general boundary of discovery in a Louisiana lawsuit: any non-privileged matter relevant to the subject matter of the pending action, whether it helps the requesting party's own claim or defense or someone else's, and information doesn't have to be admissible at trial to be discoverable.
Full Text of Art. 1422
Amendment History
Acts 1976, No. 574, §1.
Plain-English Summary
Article 1422 supplies the general rule that everything else in this Chapter builds on. Discovery reaches any matter, not privileged, that's relevant to the subject matter of the pending action -- not just the requesting party's own claim or defense, but any party's claim or defense. That includes the existence, description, nature, custody, condition, and location of documents or things, and the identity and location of people who know something relevant.
Relevance for discovery purposes is broader than relevance at trial. Information doesn't have to be admissible evidence to be discoverable -- it's enough that seeking it appears reasonably calculated to lead to the discovery of admissible evidence. That standard lets parties chase down leads that might not pan out, without having to prove in advance that what they find will be usable at trial.
This general scope is a starting point, not the whole picture. Articles 1423 through 1425 add more specific rules for particular categories -- insurance agreements, trial-preparation materials, and expert disclosures -- and a court can always narrow discovery further with a protective order under Article 1426.
Frequently Asked Questions
What counts as 'relevant' for discovery purposes in Louisiana?
Anything, not privileged, that relates to the subject matter of the pending action -- a broader standard than relevance to any one party's specific claim or defense.
Does information have to be admissible at trial to be discoverable?
No. It's enough that the information appears reasonably calculated to lead to the discovery of admissible evidence; inadmissibility at trial isn't a valid objection by itself.
Can I get discovery about my opponent's defense, not just my own claim?
Yes. Article 1422 reaches any party's claim or defense, not only the claim or defense of the party seeking discovery.
Is the general scope of discovery in Article 1422 unlimited?
Source & verification. Article text is reproduced verbatim from
the Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure (legis.la.gov). Enacted by the Louisiana Legislature.
Last verified July 30, 2026.
· Official source
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