The court shall give preference in scheduling upon the motion of any party to the action who presents to the court documentation to establish that the party has reached the age of seventy years or who presents to the court medical documentation that the party suffers from an illness or condition because of which he is not likely to survive beyond six months, if the court finds that the interests of justice will be served by granting such preference.
Art. 1573.Assignment of Trials; Preference; Terminally Ill
Book II. Ordinary Proceedings · Title V. Trial · Chapter 2. Assignment of Cases For Trial · Enacted 1990 · no amendments on record · Last verified July 30, 2026
In one sentenceArticle 1573 lets a Louisiana court give scheduling preference to a party who is at least seventy years old or who has medical documentation of an illness unlikely to allow survival beyond six months, but only on that party's motion and only if the court finds the interests of justice are served by moving the case ahead.
Full Text of Art. 1573
Amendment History
Acts 1990, No. 106, §1.
Plain-English Summary
Ordinary docket order can be unfair to a litigant who may not live to see a case reach its normal place in line. Article 1573 lets that litigant ask the court to move the case ahead.
Two paths qualify a party for preference: documentation establishing the party has reached the age of seventy, or medical documentation that the party suffers from an illness or condition making survival beyond six months unlikely.
Qualifying age or health is not enough by itself. The party has to move for the preference, and the court still has to find that granting it serves the interests of justice before scheduling preference is given.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can ask for trial-scheduling preference under Article 1573?
A party who has reached seventy years of age, or a party with medical documentation of an illness or condition making survival beyond six months unlikely.
Is scheduling preference automatic just from being elderly or seriously ill?
No. The party seeking it has to file a motion, and the court must also find that the interests of justice are served by granting the preference.
What proof does a party need to submit to get this preference?
Documentation establishing the party has reached seventy, or medical documentation of the qualifying illness or condition.
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
Also known as: elderly party trial preference louisianaterminally ill litigant trial priority louisianala code civil procedure article 1573expedited trial date louisiana age 70trial scheduling preference terminal illness