An opposition to the petition, motion, or other application of a party to a succession proceeding for an order or judgment of the court shall be in writing and be filed within the delay allowed. It shall comply with the provisions of Articles 853 through 863; shall state the name, surname, and domicile of the opponent; shall allege the interest of opponent in filing the opposition, and the grounds for opposing the petition, motion, or other application; and shall conclude with a prayer for appropriate relief.
Art. 2972.Oppositions
Book VI. Probate Procedure · Title I. General Dispositions · Chapter 6. General Rules of Procedure · Amendment history unavailable · Last verified July 30, 2026
In one sentenceArticle 2972 requires a written opposition to a petition, motion, or other application in a succession proceeding to be filed within the applicable delay, comply with the Code's general pleading rules, identify the opponent and the opponent's interest, state the grounds for opposing, and close with a prayer for relief.
Full Text of Art. 2972
Plain-English Summary
Someone who wants to contest a step in a succession proceeding, whether it is another party's petition for possession, an application to be appointed succession representative, or some other request for a court order, does so by filing an opposition. Article 2972 sets what that opposition has to contain and by when.
The opposition must be written and filed within whatever delay the law allows for that particular step, and it has to comply with Book II's general pleading rules on caption, form, and signature. Beyond that baseline, Article 2972 layers on content specific to successions: the opponent's name, surname, and domicile; an allegation of the opponent's interest in filing the opposition, meaning why that person has a stake in the outcome; and the specific grounds for opposing the petition, motion, or application at issue.
An opposition also has to end with a prayer for appropriate relief, telling the court what the opponent wants done. Together, these requirements keep an opposition from being a bare objection with nothing behind it, forcing the opponent to show standing, explain the dispute, and ask for a concrete result.
Frequently Asked Questions
What form must a Louisiana succession opposition take?
It must be written, filed within the delay the law allows, and comply with the Code's general pleading rules on caption, form, and signature.
Does an opposition have to explain why the opponent is contesting the petition?
Yes. Article 2972 requires the opposition to allege the opponent's interest in filing it and the specific grounds for opposing.
What has to be included about the opponent personally?
The opponent's name, surname, and domicile.
Does an opposition need to ask the court for anything specific?
Yes. It has to conclude with a prayer for appropriate relief.
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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