Mandamus is a writ directing a public officer, a corporation or an officer thereof, or a limited liability company or a member or manager thereof, to perform any of the duties set forth in Articles 3863 and 3864.
Art. 3861.Definition
Book VII. Special Proceedings · Title III. Extraordinary Remedies · Chapter 3. Mandamus · Last amended 2017 · Last verified July 30, 2026
In one sentenceArticle 3861 defines mandamus as a writ directing a public officer, a corporation or its officer, or a limited liability company or its member or manager, to perform one of the specific duties that Articles 3863 and 3864 identify.
Full Text of Art. 3861
Amendment History
Amended by Acts 2017, No. 419, §1, eff. 8/1/2017.
Plain-English Summary
Article 3861 opens the mandamus chapter with a definition built around who can be ordered to act rather than what mandamus generally accomplishes. It names three possible targets: a public officer, a corporation or an officer of one, and a limited liability company or one of its members or managers.
Rather than describing the duties mandamus can enforce in this article itself, Article 3861 points ahead to Articles 3863 and 3864, which spell out exactly what each of these targets can be compelled to do. That structure keeps the definition clean: mandamus is the tool, and the following articles supply the specific duties the tool can reach.
The inclusion of limited liability companies alongside corporations reflects how Louisiana business entities have diversified since this chapter's older core was written. A member or manager of an LLC faces the same potential exposure to a mandamus action that a corporate officer does, when the underlying duty falls within what Articles 3863 and 3864 describe.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is mandamus under Louisiana law?
A writ directing a public officer, a corporation or its officer, or a limited liability company or its member or manager, to perform a duty that Articles 3863 and 3864 identify.
Can mandamus be directed at a private business, not just a government official?
Yes. Article 3861 includes corporations and their officers, and limited liability companies and their members or managers, alongside public officers as possible targets.
Where do I find what duties mandamus can enforce?
Articles 3863 and 3864, which Article 3861 references, set out the specific duties that can support a writ of mandamus against each kind of target.
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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