Most people don’t think about hiring a Louisiana civil law attorney until something goes wrong. A neighbor puts up a fence on your property. A contractor takes your money and disappears. A landlord refuses to return a deposit. A business deal falls apart, and someone ends up holding the bag. These are everyday situations that happen to real people, and they all fall under the broad umbrella of Louisiana civil law. Charlton “Chink” Ogden has been helping Northshore residents work through exactly these kinds of disputes for decades. He knows the Louisiana Civil Code well, he explains things in plain English, and he doesn’t make the process more complicated than it needs to be.
Louisiana’s legal system is different from every other state in the country. While the rest of the United States follows common-law traditions inherited from England, Louisiana operates under the Civil Code, a system rooted in French and Spanish legal traditions. That distinction matters. It affects how contracts are interpreted, how property rights are established, and how disputes between private parties get resolved.
If you are dealing with a civil matter in St. Tammany Parish or anywhere on the Northshore, you want a Louisiana Civil Law attorney who actually knows this system, not someone who learned it from a textbook and moved on. Chink Ogden not only knows the system, but has spent decades representing his clients on civil matters & is an expert in this practice area.
General civil law covers a wide range of disputes between private individuals, businesses, and organizations. Some of the most common matters Charlton handles include:
Not every dispute requires a lawyer. But when money, property, or your legal rights are on the line, having someone in your corner who understands Louisiana law makes a real difference. Chink Ogden takes the time to listen to what happened, give you an honest assessment of your situation, and help you decide whether pursuing legal action makes sense. Sometimes the answer is yes. Sometimes it isn’t. Either way, you will leave the conversation knowing where you stand. That kind of straightforward guidance is hard to find, and it’s something Chink has built his practice around.
Ogden Law is based in Covington at 71206 Hendry Ave, and Charlton serves clients throughout St. Tammany Parish, including Mandeville, Madisonville, Abita Springs, and the surrounding communities. If you’d like to discuss your case with a Louisiana Civil Law attorney, call to speak with Chink Ogden at (985) 892-8592, or use the contact form below to schedule a consultation.
Louisiana is the only state in the country that operates under a Civil Code system rather than common law. In practical terms, that means Louisiana courts rely on written codes and statutes rather than judicial precedents from prior cases. For you as a client, it means the rules governing your dispute, whether it involves a contract, property, or another private matter, may be different here than they would be anywhere else. That’s why hiring a Louisiana Civil Law attorney, like Charlton Ogden, who actually knows the Louisiana Civil Code matters.
Most people outside Louisiana know this concept as a “statute of limitations.” In Louisiana, it’s called liberative prescription. For most civil actions, including personal injury and property damage claims, you generally have one year from the date of the incident to file. Some actions allow up to two years or longer, depending on the circumstances. Missing this deadline typically means losing your right to pursue the claim entirely. If you think you may have a civil matter, the sooner you talk to an attorney the better.
It depends on the type of case. For straightforward matters like drafting agreements or sending demand letters, Charlton typically works on a flat fee basis so you know the cost upfront. For more complex disputes that require litigation, hourly rates are more common. Personal injury cases sometimes involve contingency arrangements, where you pay nothing unless there’s a recovery. The best way to get a clear answer is to call and describe your situation. Charlton will give you a straight answer on what it’s likely to cost before you commit to anything.
Honestly, most civil cases never make it to a courtroom. Settlement through negotiation or mediation is far more common, and in many situations it’s the smarter outcome for everyone involved. That said, some cases genuinely need to be litigated. Charlton evaluates each situation on its own merits and will give you an honest assessment of whether settlement or trial makes more sense given the facts, the evidence, and what’s actually at stake.
Yes. While estate planning and successions are Charlton’s primary focus, he handles a range of general civil law matters for Northshore clients, including contract disputes, neighbor and property disagreements, landlord and tenant issues, and collections matters. If you have a civil dispute and aren’t sure whether it falls within his practice, just call Charlton to discuss it. He’ll tell you directly whether he can help or point you toward someone who can.