§3136. Existing transfer fee obligations; notice requirements

A. For a private transfer fee obligation imposed prior to July 2, 2010, the person entitled to receive the fee shall record, prior to December 31, 2010, a separate document in the conveyance records of the parish in which the immovable is located that contains all of the following:

(1) A title labeling the document as "Notice of Private Transfer Fee Obligation" in at least fourteen-point boldface type.

(2) The amount, if the fee is a flat amount, or the percentage of the sales price constituting the cost of the transfer fee, or such other basis by which the transfer fee is to be calculated.

(3) If the immovable includes a residential use, actual dollar-cost.

(4) The date or circumstances under which the private transfer fee obligation expires, if any.

(5) The purpose for which the funds from the private transfer fee obligation will be used.

(6) The name of the person or entity to which funds are to be paid and specific contact information regarding where the funds are to be sent.

(7) The acknowledged signature of the person filing the notice.

(8) The legal description of the immovable purportedly burdened by the private transfer fee obligation and the name of the current owner of the immovable.

B. The person or entity to which the transfer fee is to be paid may file an amendment to the notice of transfer fee containing new contact information, but such amendment shall contain the recording information of the notice of transfer fee which it amends and the legal description of the immovable burdened by the private transfer fee obligation.

C. In the absence of timely compliance with Subsection A of this Section, any effect that private transfer fee obligations might otherwise have had against third persons shall cease and shall not be susceptible of revival by a later filing.

D. If the payee fails to provide a written statement of the transfer fee payable within thirty days of the date of a written request for the same sent to the address shown in the notice of transfer fee, then the seller, on recording of the affidavit required under Subsection E of this Section, may convey any interest in the immovable to any buyer without payment of the transfer fee and shall not be subject to any further obligations under the private transfer fee obligation. In such event, the immovable shall be conveyed free and clear of the transfer fee and private transfer fee obligation.

E. An affidavit stating the facts enumerated under Subsection F of this Section shall be recorded in the conveyance records of the parish in which the immovable is located. An affidavit filed under this Subsection shall state that the affiant has actual knowledge of, and is competent to testify to, the facts in the affidavit and shall include the legal description of the immovable burdened by the private transfer fee obligation, the name of the person or entity appearing by the record to be the owner of such corporeal immovable at the time of the signing of such affidavit, and a reference to the instrument of record containing the private transfer fee obligation.

F. When recorded, an affidavit, as described in Subsection E of this Section, shall constitute prima facie evidence that:

(1) A request for the written statement of the transfer fee payable in order to obtain a release of the fee imposed by the private transfer fee obligation was sent to the address shown in the notification.

(2) The person or entity listed on the notice of transfer fee failed to provide the written statement of the transfer fee payable within thirty days of the date of the notice sent to the address shown in the notification.

G. This Section shall apply only to private transfer fee obligations arising under a declaration or agreement entered into prior to July 2, 2010, whether or not recorded; however, neither the provisions of this Section nor compliance by any person with its requirements shall be construed to validate or authorize private transfer fee obligations that were purportedly created prior to July 2, 2010, or to make such private transfer restrictions enforceable against third persons.

Acts 2010, No. 938, §1, eff. July 2, 2010.