An unincorporated association has the procedural capacity to sue to enforce its rights in its own name, and appears through and is represented by its president or other authorized officer.
Art. 689.Unincorporated Association
Title III. Parties · Chapter 2. Parties Plaintiff · Amendment history unavailable · Last verified July 30, 2026
In one sentenceArticle 689 gives an unincorporated association the procedural capacity to sue in its own name to enforce the association's rights, appearing in court through its president or another authorized officer.
Full Text of Art. 689
Plain-English Summary
An unincorporated association — a club, society, or similar group that has not organized as a corporation — still functions as an organization with its own interests to protect. Article 689 lets that association sue to enforce its rights in its own name, sparing its members from having to appear individually as plaintiffs for a claim that belongs to the group.
As with a partnership, an association needs a real person to carry out the litigation. Article 689 has the association appear and be represented through its president or another officer authorized to act for it, so the organization can litigate as a single entity while a specific, accountable person handles the suit on its behalf.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can an unincorporated club or association sue in Louisiana without incorporating first?
Yes. Article 689 gives an unincorporated association procedural capacity to sue in its own name to enforce its rights.
Who represents an unincorporated association in a lawsuit?
Its president or another officer the association has authorized to act on its behalf represents it in the litigation.
Do individual members of the association need to join the lawsuit personally?
No. The association sues in its own name under Article 689, rather than requiring its members to appear individually.
Source & verification. Article text is reproduced verbatim from
the vLex (Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure, 2026 Edition). Enacted by the Louisiana Legislature.
Last verified July 30, 2026.
· Official source
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