Art. 1462.Production of Documents and Things; Entry Upon Land; Procedure

Book II. Ordinary Proceedings · Title III. Production of Evidence · Chapter 3. Discovery · Last amended 2018 · Last verified July 30, 2026

In one sentenceArticle 1462 spells out how a request to produce documents works in practice -- a thirty-day response deadline, a requirement to organize records as they're normally kept or to match the categories requested, and special rules for electronically stored information that's hard or costly to reach.

Full Text of Art. 1462

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A. The request under Article 1461 may, without leave of court, be served upon the plaintiff after commencement of the action and upon any other party with or after service of the petition upon that party. The request shall set forth the items to be inspected either by individual item or by category, and describe each item and category with reasonable particularity. The request shall specify a reasonable time, place, and manner of making the inspection and performing the related acts. The request may specify the form or forms in which information, including electronically stored information, is to be produced.

(1) The party upon whom the request is served shall serve a written response within thirty days after service of the request, except as set forth in Subparagraph (2) of this Paragraph. The court may allow a shorter or longer time. With respect to each item or category, the response shall state that inspection and related activities will be permitted as requested, unless the request is objected to, in which event the reasons for objection shall be stated. If objection is made to part of an item or category, the part shall be specified. The written answer or reasons for objection to each request for production of documents shall immediately follow a restatement of the request for production of documents to which the answer or objection is responding. The party submitting the request may move for an order under Article 1469 with respect to any objection to or other failure to respond to the request, or any part thereof, or any failure to permit inspection as requested. If objection is made to the requested form or forms for producing information, including electronically stored information, or if no form was specified in the request, the responding party shall state in its response the form or forms it intends to use.

(2) The delay for serving a copy of the responses to requests in family law cases, including divorce, custody, spousal and child support, community property, and matters incidental to family law proceedings, shall be fifteen days after service of the discovery, unless the request is served with an original petition, in which case the party who has been served shall have thirty days from the date of service to serve a copy of the answers to the request.

(3) A party need not provide discovery of electronically stored information from sources that the party identifies as not reasonably accessible because of undue burden or cost. On motion to compel discovery or for a protective order, the party from whom discovery is sought shall show that the information is not reasonably accessible because of undue burden or cost. If that showing is made, the court may nonetheless order discovery from such sources if the requesting party shows good cause. The court may specify conditions for the discovery considering the criteria and limitations of Article 1426.

C. A party who produces documents for inspection shall produce them as they are kept in the usual course of business or shall organize and label them to correspond with the categories of the request. If a request does not specify the form or forms for producing information, including electronically stored information, a responding party shall produce the information in a form or forms in which it is ordinarily maintained or in a form or forms that are reasonably usable. When electronically stored information is produced, the responding party shall identify the specific means for electronically accessing the information.

D. Unless otherwise ordered by the court, a party need not produce the same information, including electronically stored information, in more than one form.

E. If the requesting party considers that the production of designated electronically stored information is not in compliance with the request, the requesting party may move under Article 1469 for an order compelling discovery, and in addition to the other relief afforded by Article 1469, upon a showing of good cause by the requesting party, the court may order the responding party to afford access under specified conditions and scope to the requesting party, the representative of the requesting party, or the designee of the court to the computers or other types of devices used for the electronic storage of information to inspect, copy, test, and sample the designated electronically stored information within the scope of Articles 1422 and 1425.

End

Amendment History

Amended by Acts 2018, No. 135, §1, eff. 8/1/2018. Amended by Acts 2016, No. 132, §1, eff. 8/1/2016. Amended by Acts 2014, No. 655, §1, eff. 8/1/2014. Acts 1976, No. 574, §1. Amended by Acts 1982, No. 451, §1; Acts 2007, No. 140, §1; Acts 2010, No. 185, §1; Acts 2010, No. 682, §1, eff. 1/1/2011.

Plain-English Summary

Where Article 1461 defines what can be requested, Article 1462 governs how the request and response work in practice. A request can go to the plaintiff any time after the suit begins, and to any other party with or after service of the petition, without needing the court's permission first. It has to describe each item or category with reasonable particularity and specify a reasonable time, place, and manner for the inspection, and it may specify the format for producing electronic information.

The responding party has thirty days to serve a written response -- fifteen days in family law cases, unless the request came with the original petition -- stating item by item whether inspection will be permitted or explaining any objection. If a party produces documents, it has to produce them either as they're kept in the usual course of business or organized to match the categories in the request; it can't just dump a disorganized pile on the requesting party.

Electronically stored information gets its own carve-out. A party doesn't have to search sources that aren't reasonably accessible because of undue burden or cost, though the requesting party can still get that discovery by showing good cause, and the court can set conditions on how it happens. Absent a court order, a party also never has to produce the same information in more than one format.

When a fight breaks out over any of this -- an unjustified objection, a refused inspection, an unsatisfactory production format -- Article 1469's motion to compel is the remedy, and for electronically stored information specifically, the requesting party can even ask the court to order access to the responding party's own computers or devices under specified conditions.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does a party have to respond to a request for production?

Thirty days after service, generally. In family law cases the deadline is fifteen days, unless the request was served with the original petition, in which case it's thirty days.

Do I have to hand over records exactly as I keep them?

You have two options: produce documents as they're kept in the usual course of business, or organize and label them to match the categories in the request.

Can I refuse to search for hard-to-reach electronic data?

Yes, if it isn't reasonably accessible because of undue burden or cost, though the requesting party can still obtain it by showing good cause, and the court can set conditions on the search.

What if I object to the file format the other side wants to use?

State your reasons for the objection and the format you intend to use instead; if the dispute doesn't resolve, either side can move under Article 1469.

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: RFP procedureESI productiondocument production deadlinenot reasonably accessibleArticle 1462 Louisiana