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Foreclosure and tax sales in Louisiana

What our research shows about Louisiana's rules. General information with sources — not legal advice, and not a reading of your papers.

BasicThe essentials, each with its source. General deadlines only.Research last reviewed 2026-09-22

Your state

How foreclosure works

Usual process: Judicial (through court)
From a reputable summary[1]
Allowed processes: Judicial (through court)
From a reputable summary[1][2]
Main statutes: La. Code Civ. Proc. arts. 2634, 2638, 2721, 2722, 2771, 2772; La. Rev. Stat. § 13:3852; La. Rev. Stat. § 13:4106
From a reputable summary[1]
Typical length (estimate): About 60–180 days
An executory proceeding can take about 2–6 months when it moves efficiently; contested cases take much longer.
From a reputable summary[1]

+At least 120 days
Federal rule: the servicer generally cannot make the first foreclosure notice or filing until you are more than 120 days behind
Applies to most home loans in every state. A complete loss-mitigation application sent more than 37 days before a sale also triggers federal protections.
Checked against the official text12 CFR § 1024.41(f)(1)
Lawsuit filed and you are served with the summons and complaint
From a reputable summary
Answer the lawsuit by the deadline on your summons
Read the summons: it states the deadline. Missing it can mean a default judgment.
Not confirmed — check it
Court judgment of foreclosure (if the lender wins)
From a reputable summary
+At least 60 days
Sheriff’s / court sale
The first sheriff’s sale date cannot be earlier than 60 days after the court signs the order of seizure and sale. You are served a notice of seizure with the sale date; the sale is advertised at least twice.
From a reputable summary
No right to redeem after the sale
No redemption after the sheriff’s sale.
From a reputable summary

A general sequence built from the rules above. "At least" periods are the shortest we found; your case can take longer.

Notice before foreclosure: Not researched yet for this state.
Notice of sale: At least 60 daysThe first sheriff’s sale date cannot be earlier than 60 days after the court signs the order of seizure and sale. You are served a notice of seizure with the sale date; the sale is advertised at least twice.
La. Rev. Stat. § 13:3852; La. C.C.P. arts. 2721, 2722
From a reputable summary[1]
Publication: At least two advertisements, starting at least three days after the notice of seizure.
From a reputable summary[1]
When sales happen: Not researched yet for this state.
Time to answer the lawsuit: Not researched yet for this state.
Court confirms the sale: Not researched yet for this state.

Catching up (reinstatement): No statutory right; you can stop the sale by paying the sheriff the judgment, interest and costs.
From a reputable summary[1][2]
Buying the home back (redemption): NoNo redemption after the sheriff’s sale.
From a reputable summary[1][2]
Owing money after the sale (deficiency): LimitedAllowed only if the property was appraised before the sale as the law requires (the mortgage may waive appraisal).
La. C.C.P. arts. 2723, 2771, 2772
From a reputable summary[1]
Mediation: Not researched yet for this state.

Tax sale system: Redeemable tax deed
Tax sale certificate conveying “tax sale title,” subject to redemption. Rules revised effective January 1, 2026 (SB 55).
From a reputable summary[3]
How it works: Annual tax sales (usually May–June). Bidding may be on the smallest share of the property or on the redemption penalty rate. You can stop the sale by paying until the day before.
From a reputable summary[3]
Redeeming after a tax sale: Three years after the tax sale certificate is recorded (18 months if blighted or abandoned), paying the price, a 5% penalty (or less) and 1% interest per month.
La. Const. art. VII, § 25
From a reputable summary[3]
Relief programs: Not researched yet for this state.
Payment plans: Not researched yet for this state.
Surplus after a tax sale: Not researched yet for this state.

Federal exemption list: State list only (opted out)
This state has opted out: in bankruptcy you use the state exemption list (plus federal non-bankruptcy exemptions), not the federal § 522(d) list.
From a reputable summary[4]
Homestead exemption: $35,000$35,000 (cap lifts for debt from catastrophic or terminal illness or injury).(La. Rev. Stat. § 20:1)
From a reputable summary[5]

Free legal aid (LSC-funded): Acadiana Legal Service Corporation
Southeast Louisiana Legal Services Corporation
Checked against the official text[7]
Legal help website: LouisianaLawHelp.org
The official site blocked our automated check on 2026-09-22; confirm the page before relying on it.
Not confirmed — check it[8]
State housing agency: Louisiana Housing Corporation
Checked against the official text[6]
Attorney general / consumer protection: Louisiana Attorney General — Consumer Protection
Checked against the official text[9]
Court self-help: Louisiana Supreme Court
Checked against the official text[10]
HUD-approved housing counselors: HUD-approved housing counseling agencies — Free or low-cost, HUD-approved housing counselors in every state. Call or search by ZIP code.

Retrieved 2026-09-22. Official texts are marked “official”; summaries are marked “summary”.