Art. 2293. Notice to judgment debtor; appointment of attorney

A. Upon making a seizure of immovable property, the sheriff shall file with the recorder of mortgages of the parish in which the immovable property is located a notice of seizure setting forth the title and docket number of the action out of which the writ issued, the judicial district and parish in which the action is pending, and a description of the immovable property.

B.(1) After the seizure of property, the sheriff shall serve promptly upon the judgment debtor a written notice of the seizure and a list of the property seized, in the manner provided for service of citation. Such notice of seizure shall be accomplished by personal service or domiciliary service. If service cannot be made on the judgment debtor or his attorney of record, the court shall appoint an attorney upon whom service may be made. The notice of seizure shall include information concerning the availability of housing counseling services, as well as the time, date, and place of the sheriff's sale, in accordance with the form provided in R.S. 13:3852(B).

(2) In addition to the written notice of seizure to be served on the judgment debtor as provided in Subparagraph (1) of this Paragraph, the sheriff shall also serve upon the occupants of the seized property a written notice stating that the subject property has been seized. Such service shall be accomplished by directing the notice to "occupants" of the seized premises and if the notice cannot be served personally or by domiciliary service upon the occupants, such service shall be accomplished by posting the notice upon the main entrance to the seized premises. The failure to serve the notices as provided herein shall not invalidate the sheriff's sale; however, such failure shall prevent the purchaser at the sheriff's sale from availing himself of the provisions of R.S. 13:4346 as it applies to the ejectment or eviction of any occupants of the seized premises other than the judgment debtor. The failure to serve the notices required in this Paragraph shall not affect the rights of the foreclosing creditor or of the purchaser at the sheriff's sale under Code of Civil Procedure Articles 4701 et seq.

(3)(a) If the premises foreclosed upon consists of more than ten units, instead of giving notice as provided in Subparagraph (2) of this Paragraph, the foreclosing creditor shall have the option of causing a sign or signs to be posted by the sheriff measuring not less than two feet high and three feet wide posted in such a manner as to notify residents of the building containing the following language or words to this effect: "_________ JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT FOR THE PARISH OF _________, DOCKET NUMBER_______. THIS PROPERTY HAS BEEN SEIZED AND SHALL BE SOLD IN ACCORDANCE WITH LAW ON OR AFTER _________, 200__/s/ SHERIFF __________, PARISH. Any person who removes or damages this notice is subject to prosecution in accordance with R.S. 14:56." The cost of preparation of such sign shall be borne by the foreclosing creditor and the fee of the sheriff in connection with the posting of such sign shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of R.S. 13:5530(A)(14).

(b) An affidavit of the creditor shall be filed of record in the foreclosure proceeding stating that such sign was posted, which affidavit shall be prima facie evidence that the sign was posted in accordance with this Subparagraph.

(4) The provisions of Subparagraphs (2) and (3) of this Paragraph shall apply only to foreclosure proceedings on immovable property which is occupied or intended for occupancy as a residence and shall not apply to foreclosure proceedings on property subject to time share operations, hotels, motels, inns, guest houses, rooming houses, bed and breakfasts, camp sites, campgrounds, and other lodging establishments intended for the temporary housing of guests.

C. After the seizure of property, the sheriff shall give notice of the seizure to persons other than the judgment debtor in the manner and to the extent provided by R.S. 13:3886. The sheriff shall file with the clerk who issued the writ his affidavit setting forth the name of each person to whom the notices were given and the address or addresses to which the notices were sent. The affidavit, when received by the clerk, shall form part of the record and shall be considered prima facie correct.

D. Cancellation of a mortgage, whether legal, judicial, or conventional, shall allow any interested party to cancel the notice of seizure of property affected by the mortgage upon submitting a request to cancel evidencing that the mortgage has been cancelled and upon submission of proof that all costs due the clerk of court and the sheriff have been paid. Nevertheless, a notice of seizure shall prescribe ten years after the date of recordation unless reinscribed in the same manner as an instrument creating a mortgage under Civil Code Article 3362. Any interested party may obtain cancellation of the notice of seizure on the basis of prescription of ten years without submitting evidence that all costs due to the clerk of court and sheriff have been paid in full.

Amended by Acts 1974, No. 88, §1; Acts 1991, No. 662, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1992; Acts 1995, No. 614, §1; Acts 2004, No. 877, §1; Acts 2005, No. 216, §1; Acts 2008, No. 828, §1; Acts 2012, No. 395, §1; Acts 2013, No. 339, §2.