Art. 1917.Findings of the Court and Reasons For Judgment
Book II. Ordinary Proceedings · Title VI. Judgments · Chapter 3. Rendition · Last amended 2006 · Last verified July 30, 2026
In one sentenceArticle 1917 lets a party in an appealable nonjury case request written findings of fact and reasons for judgment within ten days after notice of the judgment is mailed, and separately requires the court to make specific, itemized damage findings in a nonjury injury, death, or loss case whether or not anyone asks for them.
Full Text of Art. 1917
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A. In all appealable contested cases, other than those tried by a jury, the court when requested to do so by a party shall give in writing its findings of fact and reasons for judgment, provided the request is made not later than ten days after the mailing of the notice of the signing of the judgment.
B. In nonjury cases to recover damages for injury, death, or loss, whether or not requested to do so by a party, the court shall make specific findings that shall include those matters to which reference is made in Paragraph C of Article 1812 of this Code. These findings need not include reasons for judgment.
After a bench trial, a judge is not required to explain a ruling in writing unless a party asks. Article 1917, Paragraph A, gives a party in an appealable contested case, tried without a jury, the right to request written findings of fact and reasons for judgment, as long as the request comes within ten days after notice of the signing of the judgment was mailed. A jury trial works differently: a jury does not give reasons for its verdict, and this article does not require the judge to supply them either.
Paragraph B stands apart from that request-based rule. In a nonjury case seeking damages for injury, death, or loss, the court must make specific findings covering the same categories of damages a jury would have to itemize, whether or not either party asks. This gives the parties, and any reviewing court, a clear breakdown of what was awarded for each type of loss, which matters when deciding whether a particular category of the award was too high or too low.
Notice that Paragraph B's itemized findings are not the same thing as reasons for judgment. The court has to state the damage figures by category, but the article does not require the court to explain the reasoning behind them unless a party separately requests reasons under Paragraph A.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I automatically get written reasons after a bench trial in Louisiana?
No. Article 1917 requires a request. A party in an appealable nonjury case can ask for written findings of fact and reasons for judgment, but must do so within ten days after notice of the judgment's signing was mailed.
Is there a deadline for requesting findings of fact and reasons for judgment?
Yes. The request must be made within ten days after the mailing of the notice of the signing of the judgment described in Article 1913.
If I win a nonjury personal injury case, do I get an itemized breakdown of my damages automatically?
Yes. Article 1917(B) requires the court to make specific findings covering the relevant damage categories in a nonjury case for injury, death, or loss, regardless of whether either party requested them.
Do written reasons for judgment apply to cases tried by a jury?
No. Article 1917(A) applies to appealable cases tried without a jury. A jury does not give reasons for its verdict, so this article does not create a right to request reasons in a jury trial.
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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