In pleading an official document or official act, it is sufficient to allege that the document was issued or the act done in compliance with law.
Art. 858.Same; Official Document Or Act
Book II. Ordinary Proceedings · Title I. Pleading · Chapter 1. General Dispositions · Amendment history unavailable · Last verified July 30, 2026
In one sentenceArticle 858 allows a party relying on an official document or an official act to allege only that the document was issued or the act performed in compliance with law, without pleading the specific facts that show that compliance.
Full Text of Art. 858
Plain-English Summary
An official document or act covers records and actions taken by a government office or official — a recorded deed, a certificate, a sheriff's return, or a notarial act, among others. Litigation often needs to reference these without turning the pleading into a recitation of every formality behind them.
Article 858 supplies the shortcut: a party can allege that the document was issued, or the act performed, in compliance with law, without spelling out the specific statutory steps that made it valid. The allegation stands unless someone disputes it.
That keeps pleadings from getting bogged down in procedural detail that is rarely in dispute, while still leaving room for a genuine challenge. If the other side believes a document or act did not comply with the law that governs it, the burden falls on them to raise that specific defect.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I plead reliance on a public record or official document in Louisiana?
By alleging that the document was issued in compliance with law. Article 858 does not require pleading the specific facts establishing that compliance.
Do I need to prove every formality behind a government act in my petition?
No. A general allegation that the act was done in compliance with law satisfies Article 858.
What if the other side disputes whether the document complied with the law?
They can raise that specific challenge themselves; Article 858 only relieves the pleading party of spelling out the compliance details upfront.
Does Article 858 apply to acts by courts and agencies as well as individual officials?
Yes. It covers any official document or official act, which includes actions taken by government offices, agencies, and officials generally.
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
Also known as: pleading official documents LouisianaArticle 858 Louisianaofficial act compliance with law pleadingpleading government records Louisianapublic document pleading civil procedure