§2743. Certificate of encumbrances; procedure; content; liability

A. The recorder shall deliver a certificate of encumbrances to any person who requests it in writing.

B.(1) The certificate shall list all the uncancelled mortgages and instruments evidencing privileges, in the order of their recordation, that appear in the mortgage records and that identify the persons designated in the request as the mortgagor or obligor of the debt secured by the privilege, unless the recorder is supplied with evidence satisfactory to him that such instruments are in fact not those of the person in whose name the certificate is sought.

(2) Satisfactory evidence shall include an affidavit from the Louisiana licensed attorney requesting the certificate, setting forth all of the following information:

(a) A description of the uncancelled mortgages and instruments evidencing privileges.

(b) A statement from the affiant that he or someone under his direction has researched the uncancelled mortgages and instruments evidencing privileges.

(c) A statement that the affiant has determined through due and diligent research that the mortgages and instruments evidencing privileges are not against the person in whose name the certificate is sought.

(d) A statement that the affiant agrees to be personally liable to and indemnify the recorder and any person relying upon the affidavit for any damages they may suffer if the affidavit contains materially false or incorrect statements that cause the recorder to incorrectly list or fail to list instruments in the certificate.

(3) The affidavit provided for in Paragraph (2) of this Subsection shall be recorded in the mortgage records.

C.(1) If no uncancelled mortgage or instrument evidencing a privilege exists, the certificate shall declare that fact.

(2) The certificate shall not list mortgages or privileges arising from the recordation of the ad valorem tax rolls nor shall it list the notices of tax sales filed pursuant to R.S. 47:2180.

D.(1) The recorder is not liable personally or in his official capacity for listing in his certificate an encumbrance in the name of a person who reasonably may be construed to be the person in whose name the certificate is sought.

(2) The recorder is liable in his official capacity for any loss caused by the failure to list a mortgage or privilege in the certificate or by listing a mortgage or privilege that has been cancelled from his records unless the error proceeds from one of the following:

(a) A want of exactness in the description of the property or the name of the mortgagor or obligor of the debt secured by the privilege specifically given to the recorder in the request.

(b) An incorrect statement in an affidavit submitted pursuant to Subsection B of this Section.

Acts 2005, No. 169, §6, eff. July 1, 2006; Acts 2005, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 13, §1, eff. Nov. 29, 2005; Redesignated from R.S. 44:105 by Acts 2010, No. 284, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2011; Acts 2012, No. 178, §1.