Art. 1912.Final Judgment

Book II. Ordinary Proceedings · Title VI. Judgments · Chapter 3. Rendition · Last amended 2023 · Last verified July 30, 2026

In one sentenceArticle 1912 lets a judge sign a final judgment wherever the judge happens to be physically located, rather than requiring the judge to be at the courthouse or in the parish where the case is pending, and requires that signed judgment to be sent to the clerk of that court.

Full Text of Art. 1912

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A final judgment may be signed in any place where the judge is physically located and shall be sent to the clerk of the court in which the case is pending.

Amendment History

Amended by Acts 2023, No. 5, §1, eff. 8/1/2023. Amended by Acts 1974, No. 242, §1.

Plain-English Summary

Louisiana judges travel, sit by assignment in other courts, and work from chambers away from the courthouse where a particular case is filed. Article 1912 removes any question about whether that matters for signing a final judgment: the judge can sign it wherever the judge is physically located at the time, not only at the courthouse handling the case.

That flexibility comes with a corresponding obligation. Once signed, the judgment has to be sent to the clerk of the court where the case is pending, so it becomes part of that court's official record. From there, the signing starts the notice process under Article 1913 and the appeal rules under Article 1911, regardless of where the judge's pen touched the page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a Louisiana judgment need to be signed in the parish where the case was filed?

No. Article 1912 lets the judge sign a final judgment anywhere the judge is physically located, not only in the parish or courthouse where the case is pending.

What happens after a judge signs a judgment somewhere other than the courthouse handling the case?

The judge must send the signed judgment to the clerk of the court where the case is pending, so it becomes part of the official record there.

Why does it matter where a judgment gets signed if it ends up in the same court file either way?

Article 1912 makes clear that the place of signing does not delay or change anything about the judgment's effect. Once it reaches the clerk of the proper court, the notice rules in Article 1913 and the appeal rules in Article 1911 apply the same as if the judge had signed it on the bench.

Does Article 1912 apply to interlocutory judgments as well as final judgments?

No. Article 1912 addresses a final judgment specifically. Article 1914 sets out a separate notice scheme for interlocutory judgments.

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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