A Louisiana Affidavit of Heirship is a simple form used to transfer property instead of going through probate when a person dies without a will. The Louisiana Affidavit of Heirship is the instrument of choice when all heirs agree to not probate the will.
In most situations, the surviving spouse or children compose the affidavit to establish ownership of the community property owned by the deceased as long as the deceased’s children are the children of the surviving spouse and the property is not valued at an amount greater than the limits set by Louisiana state law.
The Louisiana Heirship Affidavit is used by a local court in Louisiana to establish ownership of all personal and real property not identified by a will. A Louisiana Heirship Affidavit is recorded in official land records in the local parish office.
The Heirship process in Louisiana does not have to be initiated right after the passing of the decedent, however, it must be started within a few years after the person died. There must be no will and there must be no need for administration of the deceased’s estate.
The determination of Heirship proceedings in Louisiana must be started in the parish where the deceased lived, or in the parish where the property of the deceased is located. If the decedent did not own any real property, then the proceedings may be started in the parish where the decedent had personal property.
The person witnessing the affidavit should not be an heir, related to the deceased or have any interest in the estate. When utilizing an Affidavit of Heirship in Louisiana, the witnesses must swear to the following conditions:
So, you can’t just grab a stranger on the street to witness a Louisiana Affidavit of Heirship, he or she must be disinterested in the estate. Afterwards, the Louisiana Heirship Affidavit must be signed by a notary public in the presence of the witnesses.
An Affidavit of Heirship in Louisiana is used to expressly state the heirs of a deceased person. It is used to verify ownership of personal and real property. It is then recorded in official Louisiana land records to establish ownership.
The following is a simple example of how to use a Louisiana Affidavit of Heirship:
A decedent passes away without a will in Louisiana. The decedent has only one heir and owns a small parcel of real property. If the heir decides to sell the property, the heir obtains a Louisiana Affidavit of Heirship to record the deed to the estate. The witnesses of the Affidavit of Heirship in Louisiana should not be an heir of the deceased or someone interested in the estate. The Louisiana Affidavit of Heirship must then be signed by a notary public. The heir now legally owns and can sell the property.
A Louisiana Affidavit of Heirship is a straightforward form that can be filled out quickly to transfer ownership of property to the heirs of a deceased person.
