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Louisiana · Understand the process

How long does foreclosure take in Louisiana?

A Louisiana sheriff's sale cannot happen sooner than about 6 months after your first missed payment. That is the federal 120-day wait, plus at least 60 days from the judge's order to the first sale date. This is a minimum, not a prediction. Re-advertised sales, injunctions, appeals and loss mitigation reviews often add months.

The short answer: At the very least, about six months from the first missed payment to a sheriff's sale: the federal 120-day wait, plus a first sale date that cannot be set sooner than 60 days after the judge signs the order. This is a minimum, not a prediction, and many cases take longer.

Ask for help in Louisiana Free HUD counselor: (800) 569-4287

Reviewed against Louisiana law and official sources on October 12, 2026. General information, not legal advice.

The foreclosure timeline in Louisiana, phase by phase

  1. Missed payments and the federal wait

    Day 1 to day 120

    After the federal 120-day wait, the lender can file its petition. This is the best time to apply for help with your servicer and a free counselor through the Louisiana Housing Corporation.

    12 C.F.R. § 1024.41(f)

  2. Petition, order and notice of seizure

    After day 120; the order can be signed soon after filing

    There is no answer period or hearing in executory process. Once the judge signs the order, the sheriff seizes the home on paper and serves the notice of seizure.

    La. C.C.P. arts. 2638, 2640, 2721

  3. Suspensive appeal window

    15 days after the notice of seizure is served

    A suspensive appeal stops the sale but needs security of the full balance due plus one half. Most homeowners cannot post that, which is why an injunction is the more common route.

    La. C.C.P. art. 2642(B)

  4. Judge's order to first sale date

    At least 60 days

    The sheriff cannot schedule the first sale earlier than 60 days after the signed order. Inside that window the sale must be advertised twice, the first time at least 30 days before the sale.

    La. R.S. 13:3852(A), 43:203(2)

  5. Appraisal

    Notice at least 7 days before the sale; appraisals due at least 2 days before

    If the order calls for appraisal, you and the lender each name an appraiser. If they disagree by too much, the sheriff names a third appraiser whose decision is final.

    La. R.S. 13:4363, 13:4365

  6. Second offering if bids are too low

    A new advertising period after the first sale

    When a home is sold with appraisal and no one bids at least two-thirds of the appraised value, the sheriff must advertise again in the same way and the same delay must pass. At the second offering it sells for whatever it brings.

    La. C.C.P. arts. 2336, 2724(B)

  7. Rescheduled sales

    One new newspaper ad, at least 10 days before the new date

    If the sale is cancelled or postponed and rescheduled, only one new publication is required. The sheriff does not have to serve you a new notice of the date while it still holds the writ.

    La. C.C.P. art. 2331(B); La. R.S. 43:203(1), 13:3852(C)

Louisiana deadlines written into the law

Earliest first sale date after the court orderLa. R.S. 13:3852(A)At least 60 days
Suspensive appeal of the order for seizure and saleLa. C.C.P. art. 2642(B)Within 15 days of service of the notice of seizure
First newspaper advertisement of the saleLa. R.S. 43:203(2)At least 30 days before the sale
Second newspaper advertisementLa. R.S. 43:203(2)Within the 7 days before the sale
Notice of an online sale, if not in the notice of seizureLa. C.C.P. art. 2721(B)At least 3 days before the sale
Notice to vacate after the sale, if the buyer uses an evictionLa. C.C.P. arts. 4702, 47045 days from delivery of the notice

Your own dates are on the notices you received. If a notice and this page disagree, trust the notice and ask a counselor or lawyer.

Common questions in Louisiana

What is the fastest a Louisiana foreclosure can happen?

Counting the federal wait of more than 120 days and the rule that the first sheriff's sale cannot be set earlier than 60 days after the judge signs the order (La. R.S. 13:3852(A)), the earliest sale is roughly 6 months after the first missed payment. Executory process has no answer period, so very little else slows it down unless you act.

Why did my Louisiana sheriff's sale get pushed back after the auction?

If your home was sold with appraisal and the highest bid was less than two-thirds of the appraised value, it could not be sold that day. The sheriff must advertise a second offering, and the same waiting period must pass again (La. C.C.P. art. 2336). This rule does not apply if appraisal was waived.

Does a regular Louisiana foreclosure lawsuit take longer than executory process?

It can. In an ordinary proceeding you must be served with a citation and generally get 21 days to answer before the lender can move toward a judgment (La. C.C.P. art. 1001). Executory process skips that step. How long an ordinary case takes after that depends on the court and on whether you contest it.

Step by step

More on foreclosure in Louisiana

Understand the process

What is happening and how much time there is.

Weigh your options

What can stop it, and what happens if it goes ahead.

Get help now

Who to call, and what to do when a sale is scheduled.

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Sources for this page

  1. La. C.C.P. art. 2631, Use of executory proceedings
  2. La. C.C.P. art. 2632, Act importing a confession of judgment
  3. La. C.C.P. art. 2638, Order for issuance of writ of seizure and sale
  4. La. C.C.P. art. 2644, Conversion to ordinary proceeding
  5. La. C.C.P. art. 2722, Advertisement of sale
  6. La. C.C.P. art. 2724, Articles relating to sales under fieri facias applicable
  7. La. C.C.P. art. 2751, Grounds for arresting seizure and sale
  8. La. C.C.P. art. 2752, Injunction procedure
  9. La. C.C.P. art. 2754, Security otherwise required
  10. La. C.C.P. art. 2772, Procedure to obtain deficiency judgment
  11. La. C.C.P. art. 2337, Price insufficient to discharge superior privileges
  12. La. C.C.P. art. 2340, Payment of debt prior to adjudication
  13. La. C.C.P. art. 2343, Sheriff's return after sale
  14. La. C.C.P. art. 2371, Effect of adjudication
  15. La. C.C.P. art. 3721, Methods of enforcing mortgage (Acts 2025, No. 250)
  16. La. C.C.P. art. 1001, Delay for answering
  17. La. C.C.P. art. 4702, Notice to occupant other than tenant to vacate
  18. La. C.C.P. art. 4703, Delivery when premises abandoned or closed
  19. La. C.C.P. art. 4704, Definitions (occupant includes former owner)
  20. La. C.C.P. art. 4731, Rule to show cause why possession should not be delivered
  21. La. C.C.P. art. 4732, Trial of rule; judgment of eviction
  22. La. C.C.P. art. 4733, Warrant for possession
  23. La. C.C.P. art. 4734, Execution of warrant
  24. La. C.C.P. art. 4735, Appeal; bond
  25. La. R.S. 13:4341, Time and place of sale
  26. La. R.S. 13:4346, Writ of possession for purchaser at judicial sale
  27. La. R.S. 13:4363, Appointment of appraisers
  28. La. R.S. 13:4364, Sheriff to appoint appraiser if party does not appoint
  29. La. R.S. 13:4365, Oaths of appraisers; third appraiser
  30. La. C.C.P. art. 2721, Seizure of property; notice
  31. La. C.C.P. art. 2642, Assertion of defenses; appeal
  32. La. C.C.P. art. 2640, Citation unnecessary
  33. La. C.C.P. art. 2753, Security not required in certain cases
  34. La. C.C.P. art. 2723, Appraisal of property, unless waived
  35. La. C.C.P. art. 2771, When deficiency judgment obtainable
  36. La. C.C.P. art. 2331, Publication of notice of sale
  37. La. C.C.P. art. 2336, Minimum price; second offering
  38. La. C.C.P. art. 2373, Distribution of proceeds of sale
  39. La. C.C.P. art. 2293, Notice to judgment debtor
  40. La. R.S. 13:3852, Notices of seizure
  41. La. R.S. 13:4106, Deficiency judgment prohibited if sale made without appraisement
  42. La. R.S. 43:203, Judicial advertisements
  43. Louisiana Office of Community Development, Louisiana Homeowner Assistance Fund
  44. Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions, Complaints