SB 140 Louisiana Senate · 2026 Regular Session

CIVIL PROCEDURE: Provides for multiple successions in the same proceeding. (8/1/26)

SB 140 (Louisiana) allows probate courts to handle multiple inheritance cases (successions) for related deceased individuals in a single legal proceeding. It specifically applies when the deceased were spouses or siblings at the time of death, provided the court already has jurisdiction over each case under existing rules. The bill streamlines administrative processing by eliminating the need for separate court filings for these connected cases. This affects probate courts and families managing inheritances after multiple deaths within close family relationships. The change is procedural, focusing on court efficiency rather than altering inheritance laws.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

May 2026

Senate Passage

Apr 2026

House Passage

May 2026

Signed into Law

May 2026

Introduced Feb 24, 2026 Signed May 15, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB140 Original → SB140 Act · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill enacts a new section in the Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure allowing multiple deceased people to be processed in a single legal proceeding. This change streamlines probate for families where spouses or siblings die around the same time, reducing the need for separate court cases for each person.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of probate proceedings to include multiple deceased persons in one case, whereas previously each succession would typically require its own proceeding.

SCOPE

Creates a new legal provision (Art. 2813) that permits opening multiple successions in the same proceeding.

ELIGIBILITY

Limits this combined proceeding to cases where the deceased individuals were spouses or siblings at the time of their deaths.

REQUIREMENT

Requires that the court must have jurisdiction over each individual succession under existing rules for the combined proceeding to be valid.

TECHNICAL

Updates the bill's title and summary to reflect the new focus on multiple successions rather than just general probate procedure.

Floor votes · Senate Apr 21, 2026 · House May 12, 2026

How they voted

38–0

Passed · 2 other

Total votes 40

Apr 21, 2026

D Democratic12

11 Yea 1

91% Yea

R Republican28

27 Yea 1

96% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

May 12, 2026

Lower · Passed

Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 98, nays 0. Finally passed, ordered to the Senate.

lower

May 6, 2026

Introduced

Reported without Legislative Bureau amendments.

lower

May 5, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported favorably (8-0). Referred to the Legislative Bureau.

lower

Apr 23, 2026

Committee

Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Civil Law and Procedure.

lower

Apr 21, 2026

Upper · Passed

Senate floor amendments read and adopted. Read by title and passed by a vote of 37 yeas and 0 nays; ordered reengrossed and sent to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

upper

Mar 10, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported favorably.

upper

Mar 9, 2026

Committee

Introduced in the Senate; read by title. Rules suspended. Read second time and referred to the Committee on Judiciary A.

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors