Louisiana House Bill HCR6

Louisiana 2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/9/26
• Refer: 3/10/26
• Report Pass: 3/30/26
• Engrossed: 4/14/26
• Refer: 4/15/26
• Report Pass: 5/5/26
• Passed: 5/18/26

Caption

SUCCESSIONS: Authorizes the La. State Law Institute to study intestate succession proceedings

Summary

House Concurrent Resolution 6 directs the Louisiana State Law Institute to study intestate succession in Louisiana, with a focus on how property passes when someone dies without a valid will and whether there should be mechanisms to prevent an estranged heir from inheriting in that situation. The resolution is framed around existing Civil Code rules on succession and disinherison, noting that current law allows a parent to disinherit a child only through a will and only for legally recognized just causes, but does not provide a comparable way to block inheritance when the decedent dies intestate. The study is specifically aimed at examining intestate succession proceedings and possible legal tools to exclude an estranged successor from inheriting, and the Law Institute must report its findings to the Legislature by February 4, 2027. The resolution also requires the report to be transmitted to the legislative research library, but it does not itself change the Civil Code or succession law; it only commissions research and recommendations for possible future legislation.

Impact

HCR 6 has no immediate effect on Louisiana statutes or court procedures because it is a study resolution rather than a substantive law change. Its practical impact is to task the Louisiana State Law Institute with reviewing intestate succession rules, forced heirship concepts, and potential reforms related to estranged heirs, which could inform later amendments to the Civil Code or succession statutes. The resolution primarily affects the Law Institute and, indirectly, heirs, descendants, and estate planners if future legislation follows from the study.

Sentiment

The bill appears to have broad bipartisan support and little visible opposition. It passed the House, Senate, and House concurrence on Senate amendments unanimously, with 90-0 in the House, 37-0 in the Senate, and 87-0 on final House concurrence. The unanimous votes suggest general agreement that the issue merits study, even if lawmakers have not yet committed to changing the law.

Contention

The main policy issue underlying the resolution is whether Louisiana should allow a person who dies without a will to prevent an estranged child or other intestate heir from inheriting. Supporters of the study appear to be responding to situations where parents are estranged from adult children and current law still allows inheritance absent a will. The resolution itself does not resolve that question, and no committee debate is provided, but any future reform could raise concerns about inheritance rights, the stability of intestate succession rules, and how to define estrangement or justify exclusion without a testament.