A. Every pleading of a party represented by an attorney shall be signed by at least one attorney of record in his individual name, whose physical address and email address for service of process shall be stated. A party who is not represented by an attorney shall sign his pleading and state his physical address and email address, if the party has an email address, for service of process. If mail is not received at the physical address for service of process, a designated mailing address shall also be provided. A party or attorney may sign a pleading by electronic signature in accordance with Article 253. B. Pleadings need not be verified or accompanied by affidavit or certificate, except as otherwise provided by law, but the signature of an attorney or party shall constitute a certification by him that he has read the pleading, and that to the best of his knowledge, information, and belief formed after reasonable inquiry, he certifies all of the following:
Art. 863.Signing of Pleadings; Effect
Book II. Ordinary Proceedings · Title I. Pleading · Chapter 1. General Dispositions · Last amended 2025 · Last verified July 30, 2026
In one sentenceArticle 863 requires every pleading to be signed by an attorney or, if unrepresented, by the party, sets out what that signature certifies about the pleading's purpose, legal basis, and factual support, and authorizes sanctions, including attorney fees, when a signer violates those certifications.
Full Text of Art. 863
(1) The pleading is not being presented for any improper purpose, such as to harass, cause unnecessary delay, or needlessly increase the cost of litigation.
(2) Each claim, defense, or other legal assertion in the pleading is warranted by existing law or by a nonfrivolous argument for the extension, modification, or reversal of existing law.
(3) Each allegation or other factual assertion in the pleading has evidentiary support or, for a specifically identified allegation or factual assertion, is likely to have evidentiary support after a reasonable opportunity for further investigation or discovery.
(4) Each denial in the pleading of a factual assertion is warranted by the evidence or, for a specifically identified denial, is reasonably based on a lack of information or belief. C. If a pleading is not signed, it shall be stricken unless promptly signed after the omission is called to the attention of the pleader. D. If, upon motion of any party or upon its own motion, the court determines that a certification has been made in violation of the provisions of this Article, the court shall impose upon the person who made the certification or the represented party, or both, an appropriate sanction which may include an order to pay to the other party the amount of the reasonable expenses incurred because of the filing of the pleading, including reasonable attorney fees. E. A sanction authorized in Paragraph D shall be imposed only after a hearing at which any party or his counsel may present any evidence or argument relevant to the issue of imposition of the sanction. F. A sanction authorized in Paragraph D of this Article shall not be imposed with respect to an original petition that is filed within sixty days of an applicable prescriptive date and then voluntarily dismissed or transferred to a court of proper venue within ninety days after its filing or on the date of a hearing on the pleading, whichever is earlier. G. If the court imposes a sanction, it shall describe the conduct determined to constitute a violation of the provisions of this Article and explain the basis for the sanction imposed.
Amendment History
Amended by Acts 2025, No. 250, §2, eff. 8/1/2025. Amended by Acts 2024, No. 371, §1, eff. 8/1/2024. Amended by Acts 2021, No. 68, §1, eff. 1/1/2022. Amended by Acts 2020, No. 13, §1, eff. 8/1/2020. Acts 1988, No. 442, §1, eff. 1/1/1989; Acts 2010, No. 540, §1.
Plain-English Summary
Every Louisiana pleading needs a signature. A represented party's pleading is signed by at least one attorney of record, who states a physical address and an email address for service; an unrepresented party signs personally and provides the same information. Either can sign electronically under Article 253. Signing does not, by itself, require a verification or affidavit unless some other law demands one.
The signature does real work. By signing, the attorney or party certifies, after a reasonable inquiry, that the pleading is not filed to harass, delay, or run up the cost of litigation; that every claim or defense rests on existing law or a good-faith argument for changing it; that every factual assertion has evidentiary support, or is likely to after further investigation; and that every denial is either supported by the evidence or a reasonable statement that there is not yet enough information to admit it.
An unsigned pleading gets struck unless the omission is fixed promptly after someone points it out. A court, on a party's motion or on its own initiative, can sanction a violation of these certifications, but only after a hearing at which the accused attorney or party can respond; a sanction may include the other side's reasonable expenses and attorney fees, and the court has to describe the conduct it found and explain why it chose that sanction.
The article also protects an attorney racing a deadline: no sanction applies to an original petition filed within sixty days of a prescriptive date that the attorney then voluntarily dismisses or transfers to the proper court within ninety days of filing, or by the hearing date, whichever comes first. That safe harbor rewards a quick self-correction rather than punishing a lawyer for filing fast to beat the clock.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has to sign a Louisiana pleading?
An attorney of record if the party is represented, or the party personally if not, each stating a physical address and an email address for service.
What am I certifying when I sign a pleading?
That, after reasonable inquiry, the pleading is not filed for an improper purpose, every claim or defense has a legal basis, every factual assertion has or is likely to have evidentiary support, and every denial is either evidence-based or a reasonable statement of insufficient information.
What happens if my pleading is not signed?
It gets struck, unless the missing signature is added promptly once the omission is brought to the pleader's attention.
Can I be sanctioned for violating Article 863, and how?
Yes, on a party's motion or the court's own initiative, but only after a hearing where you can respond; sanctions can include paying the other side's reasonable expenses and attorney fees.
Is there any protection for filing quickly to beat a prescriptive deadline?
Yes. Article 863 shields an original petition filed within sixty days of a prescriptive date from sanctions if it is voluntarily dismissed or transferred to the proper court within ninety days of filing, or by the hearing date, whichever is earlier.
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: signing pleadings LouisianaArticle 863 LouisianaLouisiana pleading certification sanctionssanctions for frivolous pleading Louisianaprescriptive deadline safe harbor Louisiana