Union County Property Records

How To Search Property Records in Union County in 2026

UnionParishRecords.us provides access to publicly available information related to property records in Union County. Members of the public may find ownership history, recorded deeds, tax assessments, mortgage documents, liens, plat maps, and related encumbrance records. Available record categories include transfer documents, valuation data, tax payment histories, and building permit information. Access to these records is subject to availability and the completeness of underlying government databases.

Property records in Union County, Louisiana may be searched through several official channels. The primary resources include the Union Parish Clerk of Court, the Louisiana Tax Commission, and the Union Parish Assessor's Office. Each office maintains distinct categories of records and provides separate access methods.

Official Resources for Searching Property Records:

Resource	Records Available	Access Method
Union Parish Clerk of Court	Deeds, mortgages, liens, recorded instruments	Online, in-person, by mail
Union Parish Assessor	Assessed values, property characteristics, ownership	Online, in-person
Louisiana Tax Commission	Statewide assessment data	Online
Louisiana Secretary of State	UCC filings, business-related property interests	Online

Multiple Access Methods:

• Online searches — the most convenient option for recent digitized records
• In-person visits — required for certified copies and older documents
• By mail — written requests with applicable fees and identifying information
• Through professionals — title companies, real estate attorneys, and licensed abstractors

1. Property Appraiser Website

The Union Parish Assessor's Office serves as the primary resource for property valuation and ownership information. Members of the public may access the Union Parish Assessor's online search portal at no charge and without registration.

Search Options:

• By property address
• By owner name
• By parcel ID number
• By subdivision name
• By map or GIS location

Information Available:

• Current owner name and mailing address
• Legal description and parcel number
• Land use and zoning classification
• Property characteristics including square footage, year built, lot size, and building type
• Assessed value (land and improvements separately)
• Taxable value and applicable exemptions
• Sales history and GIS map location

How to Search:

1. Navigate to the Union Parish Assessor's online portal
2. Select the preferred search type (address, owner name, or parcel number)
3. Enter the search criteria in the appropriate field
4. Review the results list returned by the system
5. Select the specific property to view the full property card
6. Review valuation data, ownership history, and map location
7. Print or save the information as needed

2. County Clerk / Recorder Official Records Search

The Union Parish Clerk of Court records, indexes, and maintains all instruments affecting title to immovable property in the parish. Pursuant to Louisiana Revised Statute § 44:1, public records are available for inspection by any person. Members of the public may search recorded documents through the Clerk's office.

Searchable By:

• Grantor name (seller or transferor)
• Grantee name (buyer or transferee)
• Document type
• Recording date range
• Book and page number
• Instrument number

Documents Available:

• Warranty deeds and quitclaim deeds
• Mortgages and acts of mortgage
• Satisfactions and releases of mortgage
• Judgment liens and tax liens
• Mechanic's liens
• Easements and servitudes
• Declarations of restrictions
• Plats and surveys
• Powers of attorney affecting property
• Lis pendens notices

How to Search:

1. Contact the Union Parish Clerk of Court to inquire about online access availability
2. Select the preferred search type (grantor, grantee, document type, or date range)
3. Enter the search criteria
4. Review the results and note the book and page or instrument number
5. Request document images or certified copies as needed
6. Pay applicable per-page fees for copies

3. Tax Collector Website

Property tax information for Union Parish is administered through the Union Parish Sheriff's Office, which serves as the tax collector under Louisiana law. Members of the public may obtain tax payment status and outstanding balance information by contacting the Sheriff's Office directly.

Search By:

• Property address
• Owner name
• Parcel or assessment number

Information Available:

• Current tax bill amount
• Payment history
• Outstanding balances and delinquency status
• Applicable exemptions
• Millage rates by taxing authority
• Tax certificate information for delinquent accounts

4. GIS / Mapping System

The Louisiana GIS mapping resources provide visual property search capabilities for Union Parish. Members of the public may use the Louisiana Atlas GIS portal to view interactive maps, aerial photography, property boundaries, zoning layers, flood zones, and environmental features.

How to Use:

• Navigate the interactive map to the desired location
• Click on a parcel to view linked property information
• Access property boundaries and ownership data
• View multiple map layers including flood zones and land use designations
• Measure distances and review adjacent parcels

In-Person Searches:

Property Appraiser Office

Union Parish Assessor's Office
100 East Bayou Street, Suite 105
Farmerville, LA 71241
Phone: (318) 368-3008
Union Parish Assessor

Services available in person include public access computers, staff assistance, property cards, plat maps, and exemption applications.

Clerk of Court / Recorder Office

Union Parish Clerk of Court
100 East Bayou Street
Farmerville, LA 71241
Phone: (318) 368-3055
Union Parish Clerk of Court

Services available in person include viewing official records, requesting certified copies, searching grantor/grantee indexes, and accessing record books with staff assistance.

Tax Collector Office

Union Parish Sheriff's Office (Tax Collector)
100 East Bayou Street
Farmerville, LA 71241
Phone: (318) 368-3124
Union Parish Sheriff

Services include tax payment information, copies of tax bills, delinquency information, and tax certificate searches.

By Mail Requests:

Property Appraiser

Written requests for property information may be directed to the Union Parish Assessor's Office at 100 East Bayou Street, Suite 105, Farmerville, LA 71241. Requests should include the property address or parcel number, a description of the information sought, and a self-addressed return envelope. Copying fees apply.

Clerk / Recorder

Written requests for recorded documents may be directed to the Union Parish Clerk of Court at 100 East Bayou Street, Farmerville, LA 71241. Requests should specify the document by book and page number, instrument number, or property address and approximate date range. Payment for copies must accompany the request. Certified copies are available upon request with applicable fees.

Through Professionals:

Title Companies

Licensed title companies conduct comprehensive title searches, prepare abstracts of title, and issue title insurance commitments. These services identify all recorded interests affecting a property and are standard practice in real estate transactions. Costs vary by property and scope of search.

Real Estate Attorneys

Licensed real estate attorneys provide legal title opinions, assist with complex ownership issues, and represent parties in property disputes. Fees vary based on the complexity of the matter.

Real Estate Agents

Licensed real estate agents may access MLS data for listed properties, pull property histories, and provide comparable sales data as part of their representation services.

Search Tips:

By Address

• Use the complete street address including directionals (N, S, E, W)
• Try variations with and without unit or apartment numbers
• Check spelling variations if initial results are not returned

By Owner Name

• Enter last name first, followed by first name
• Try variations including middle initials and name abbreviations
• Search both current and previous owner names
• Consider business entity names versus individual names

By Legal Description

• Use the exact legal description from the recorded deed
• Include subdivision name, lot number, and block number
• For rural properties, include section, township, and range

For Historical Records

• Records predating digitization may require an in-person visit
• Staff at the Clerk's office can assist with retrieval from books or microfilm
• Advance notice may be required for very old documents

Common Search Challenges:

• Very recent transactions may not yet appear due to recording delays
• Very old records may not be digitized and require in-person access
• Common names may return multiple results; verify by parcel number or legal description
• Indexing errors may require alternative search strategies

What You Cannot Find Online:

• Unrecorded private agreements
• Pending sales prior to closing and recording
• Documents filed under seal by court order
• Some pre-digital historical records not yet scanned

What Is Union County Property Records

Property records are official documents related to real property — land and any structures affixed to it — maintained by parish government offices as permanent legal records. These records establish ownership, document transfers, record encumbrances, and provide the foundation for clear title in real estate transactions. Under Louisiana law, immovable property records are public records accessible to any person without a stated purpose or special authorization.

Purpose of Property Records:

• Establish and confirm legal ownership of immovable property
• Provide an unbroken chain of title from original grant to present owner
• Record encumbrances including mortgages, liens, and servitudes
• Document property transfers and sale prices
• Support property tax assessment and collection
• Protect property rights through constructive notice to third parties
• Enable title insurance and facilitate real estate transactions

Types of Property Records:

Ownership Records

Ownership records include warranty deeds, quitclaim deeds, acts of cash sale, trust documents affecting property, life estate deeds, and all instruments conveying title to immovable property. These documents establish the chain of title and are recorded with the Clerk of Court.

Encumbrance Records

Encumbrance records include acts of mortgage, deeds of trust, judgment liens, tax liens, mechanic's liens, servitudes (easements), declarations of restrictions, homeowner association documents, and lis pendens notices. These instruments affect the use or marketability of property and are indexed by the Clerk of Court.

Tax and Assessment Records

Tax and assessment records include annual property tax assessments, tax bills and payment histories, homestead and other exemptions, millage rates, special assessments, and delinquency records. These are maintained by the Union Parish Assessor and the Union Parish Sheriff's Office.

Legal Descriptions

Legal descriptions are contained in plat maps, subdivision plats, surveys, and recorded deeds. They identify property by lot and block, metes and bounds, or section, township, and range, and are essential for identifying the precise boundaries of any parcel.

Building and Permit Records

Building permits, certificates of occupancy, code violation notices, and zoning designations are maintained by the Union Parish Planning and Zoning Department. These records document the legal construction history of improvements on a parcel.

Who Maintains Property Records:

County Clerk of Court / County Recorder

Union Parish Clerk of Court
100 East Bayou Street
Farmerville, LA 71241
Phone: (318) 368-3055
Union Parish Clerk of Court

The Clerk of Court records, indexes, and maintains all instruments affecting title to immovable property, including deeds, mortgages, liens, and plats.

Property Appraiser

Union Parish Assessor's Office
100 East Bayou Street, Suite 105
Farmerville, LA 71241
Phone: (318) 368-3008
Union Parish Assessor

The Assessor maintains property valuations, assessment records, property characteristics, ownership information, and exemption applications.

Tax Collector

Union Parish Sheriff's Office
100 East Bayou Street
Farmerville, LA 71241
Phone: (318) 368-3124
Union Parish Sheriff

The Sheriff's Office collects property taxes, maintains tax payment records, and administers delinquent tax proceedings.

Legal Framework:

Louisiana property recording law is governed by Louisiana Revised Statute § 9:2721 et seq., which establishes the requirements for recording instruments affecting immovable property and the constructive notice effect of recorded documents. The Louisiana Public Records Law, codified at Louisiana Revised Statute § 44:1 et seq., guarantees public access to all records maintained by government bodies, including property records. Under the doctrine of constructive notice, any instrument properly recorded with the Clerk of Court is deemed known to all subsequent parties, regardless of actual knowledge.

Are Property Records Public Information in Union County?

Property records in Union County (Union Parish), Louisiana are public information. Under the Louisiana Public Records Law, any person may inspect and obtain copies of public records maintained by government offices, including all instruments affecting title to immovable property recorded with the Clerk of Court, assessment records maintained by the Assessor, and tax records maintained by the Sheriff's Office. No special permission, stated purpose, or residency requirement applies.

Legal Basis for Public Access:

The public nature of property records in Louisiana rests on several legal foundations. The Louisiana Public Records Law establishes a broad right of access to government records. The recording statutes at Louisiana Revised Statute § 9:2721 require that instruments affecting immovable property be recorded to provide constructive notice, which by definition requires public accessibility. This framework reflects centuries of American and Louisiana civil law tradition establishing that land ownership must be transparent and verifiable.

Why Property Records Are Public:

Transparency

The public has a recognized interest in knowing who owns property, how it is transferred, and what encumbrances affect it. Transparent property records prevent fraudulent transfers, support accurate taxation, and enable accountability in government operations.

Commercial Purposes

Real estate transactions depend on the ability of buyers, lenders, and title companies to verify ownership and identify encumbrances. Title searches, title insurance, property appraisals, and mortgage lending all rely on open access to recorded property records.

Legal Protections

The recording system provides constructive notice to all subsequent parties. A buyer who fails to search the public record takes property subject to all previously recorded interests. This system protects property rights and establishes priority among competing claims.

Public Interest

Property records support community planning, historical and genealogical research, journalistic investigation, and tax assessment transparency. Researchers, journalists, and members of the public may access these records for any lawful purpose.

What Property Information Is Public:

The following categories of information are freely accessible to any member of the public:

• Current and historical property ownership
• Legal descriptions and parcel identification numbers
• Sale prices and transfer dates
• Recorded mortgage amounts and lender names
• Liens, judgments, and encumbrances
• Tax assessments and payment histories
• Property characteristics including size, age, and building type
• Recorded deeds and instruments
• Plat maps and surveys

Privacy Considerations:

While property records are public, certain personal information is protected or redacted under applicable law:

• Social Security numbers are redacted from recorded documents under federal and state privacy requirements
• Bank account numbers and personal financial information beyond what appears in recorded instruments are not disclosed
• Certain individuals — including law enforcement officers, judges, and domestic violence victims — may qualify for address confidentiality protections under Louisiana law
• Homestead exemption applications may contain financial information that is subject to separate access rules; the Assessor's office should be contacted for applicable policies

Who Can Access Property Records:

Any person may access Union Parish property records, including:

• Prospective buyers and sellers
• Real estate agents and brokers
• Title companies and abstractors
• Lenders and financial institutions
• Attorneys and legal researchers
• Property owners reviewing their own records
• Investors and developers
• Genealogists and historians
• Members of the media
• Out-of-state and foreign inquirers

Commercial Use of Property Records:

Commercial use of public property records is permitted under Louisiana law. Title companies, data aggregators, appraisers, and marketing firms may compile and use property record information for lawful business purposes. Anti-harassment laws, fair housing laws, and other applicable statutes continue to govern the manner in which information may be used, regardless of its public nature.

How Much Does It Cost to Get Property Records in Union County?

The cost of obtaining property records in Union Parish varies by record type, access method, and the office maintaining the records. Inspection of public records is available at no charge; fees apply to copies and certified documents.

Union Parish Clerk of Court — Current Fee Schedule:

Service	Standard Fee
Certified copy of recorded instrument	$5.00 for the first page + $1.00 per additional page
Non-certified copy (per page)	$1.00 per page
Recording a new instrument (deed, mortgage, etc.)	$125.00 for the first page + $25.00 per additional page (subject to legislative change)
Search fee (if applicable)	Varies; basic searches at no charge
Mortgage certificate	$25.00

Recording fees in Louisiana are governed by Louisiana Revised Statute § 13:844, which establishes the schedule of fees that clerks of court may charge for recording, copying, and certifying instruments. Members of the public should confirm current fees directly with the Clerk's office, as the legislature may adjust the schedule.

Union Parish Assessor's Office:

• Online access to assessment records: Free, no registration required
• In-person inspection of records: Free
• Copies of property cards or assessment data: Nominal per-page copying fee (confirm with office)

Union Parish Sheriff's Office (Tax Collector):

• Online tax information: Free
• Copies of tax bills: Nominal per-page fee (confirm with office)
• Delinquency certificates: Fee varies; contact office for current schedule

Accepted Payment Methods:

• Cash (in-person)
• Check or money order payable to the respective office
• Credit or debit card (availability varies by office; confirm in advance)
• Mail requests should include a check or money order

Fee Waivers: Louisiana law does not provide a general fee waiver for property record copies. Indigent parties in active litigation may petition the court for fee relief in specific circumstances. Inspection of records without copying is available at no charge to any person.

What Is Available at No Cost:

• Online viewing of assessment records through the Assessor's portal
• Online viewing of tax information through the Sheriff's Office
• In-person inspection of any public record at the maintaining office
• GIS mapping data through the Louisiana Atlas portal

What's Included in a Union County Property Record?

A complete Union Parish property record encompasses information from multiple government offices, each maintaining distinct categories of data. The following describes the full scope of information available across the Assessor, Clerk of Court, and Tax Collector.

Ownership Information:

Current ownership records identify the legal owner or owners of record, the form of ownership (individual, joint tenants, tenants in common, trust, LLC, or corporation), the acquisition date, the deed book and page or instrument number, and the mailing address on file for tax purposes. Previous ownership information provides the chain of title, including prior owners' names, transfer dates, and historical deed references.

Property Identification:

Each parcel is identified by a site address, legal description (lot and block, subdivision name, plat book and page reference, or metes and bounds), parcel ID number, and tax account number. Condominium units carry additional unit-specific identifiers.

Physical Characteristics:

Land information includes lot size in square feet or acres, lot dimensions, frontage, depth, corner lot designation, and land use and zoning classification. Building information includes total living area, year built, number of stories, building type, construction type, exterior wall material, roof type, foundation type, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, and additional features such as garages, pools, porches, fireplaces, and HVAC systems. Condition and quality ratings are assigned by the Assessor.

Valuation Information:

Assessment records include land value, building value, total assessed value, market value, and taxable value. Louisiana law requires that property be assessed at a percentage of fair market value, with the applicable percentage varying by property classification. Historical assessed values for prior years are available through the Assessor's office.

Tax Information:

Tax records include the current year tax bill, exemptions applied (homestead, senior, disability, veteran, and others), taxable value after exemptions, millage rates broken down by taxing authority (parish general fund, school district, municipality, and special districts), payment status, and prior years' payment history. Delinquency information is available through the Sheriff's Office.

Sales History:

Sales history includes transfer dates, sale prices, deed types (warranty, quitclaim, cash sale, donation, succession, foreclosure, or tax deed), grantor and grantee names, deed instrument numbers, and documentary tax amounts. Louisiana imposes a documentary transaction tax on certain transfers, and the amount paid is reflected in recorded instruments.

Encumbrances and Liens:

Recorded encumbrances include current and historical mortgages with original amounts and lender names, judgment liens, tax liens, mechanic's liens, HOA liens, code enforcement liens, servitudes (easements), restrictions and covenants, leases affecting title, life estates, and lis pendens notices. All recorded instruments are indexed by the Clerk of Court and available for public inspection.

Legal and Regulatory Information:

Zoning classification, land use designation, school district assignment, fire district, water district, and special taxing district information are available through the Assessor and relevant parish departments. Flood zone designation (FEMA) and wetlands information may be accessed through the Louisiana Atlas GIS portal.

Maps and Images:

Property records include exterior photographs (where available), aerial photographs, GIS maps with property boundaries, plat maps, and property sketches. The Louisiana Atlas GIS system provides interactive mapping with multiple data layers.

Building Permit Information:

Building permits, permit dates, descriptions of permitted work, contractor information, permit values, certificates of occupancy, and inspection records are maintained by the Union Parish Planning and Zoning Department separately from the Assessor and Clerk of Court.

What Is NOT Typically in Public Property Records:

• Current outstanding mortgage balances (only original amounts at recording)
• Personal financial information beyond what appears in recorded instruments
• Interior photographs
• Confidential exemption application details
• Social Security numbers (redacted by law)
• Private agreements not submitted for recording
• Actual purchase contract terms beyond the recorded sale price

How Long Does Union County Keep Property Records?

Property records in Union Parish are maintained permanently. The legal requirement to preserve recorded instruments affecting title to immovable property is absolute — these records are never destroyed. The permanent retention of property records is essential to maintaining an unbroken chain of title and protecting property rights across generations.

Legal Basis for Retention:

Louisiana law requires the Clerk of Court to maintain a permanent record of all instruments affecting immovable property. The Louisiana Secretary of State's records retention schedules govern the retention of government records generally, but recorded property instruments are subject to permanent retention requirements independent of those schedules. The recording statutes at Louisiana Revised Statute § 9:2721 establish that recorded instruments provide constructive notice in perpetuity, which necessitates their permanent preservation.

Records Kept Permanently:

Deed Records

All recorded deeds are maintained permanently, including warranty deeds, quitclaim deeds, acts of cash sale, donation deeds, succession deeds, trustee's deeds, and all other instruments conveying title. Records date back to the formation of Union Parish in 1839 and, for some properties, to earlier territorial land grants.

Mortgage Records

All recorded acts of mortgage, deeds of trust, mortgage modifications, assignments of mortgage, and satisfactions and releases of mortgage are maintained permanently. Even after a loan is paid in full and a release is recorded, both the original mortgage and the release remain in the permanent record.

Lien Records

All recorded liens — including judgment liens, federal and state tax liens, mechanic's liens, and other statutory liens — together with any releases or cancellations, are maintained permanently.

Plats and Surveys

All recorded subdivision plats, re-plats, condominium declarations, and survey plats are maintained permanently and are essential references for legal descriptions.

Other Recorded Documents

Servitudes (easements), declarations of restrictions, powers of attorney affecting property, court judgments affecting title, and any other instrument submitted for recording are maintained permanently.

Format and Storage:

Historical records in Union Parish exist in several formats depending on the era of recording:

• Pre-20th century records: Handwritten ledger books maintained in the Clerk's vault
• Early-to-mid 20th century: Typed entries in bound record books
• Mid-to-late 20th century: Microfilm archives
• Recent decades: Digital scans accessible through the Clerk's electronic records system

Access to Historical Records:

Recent records (approximately the last 20–40 years) are accessible online or through the Clerk's electronic system. Older records may require an in-person visit to the Clerk's office, where staff can retrieve documents from bound books or microfilm. Very old records may require advance notice for retrieval from archive storage. The same public access rights apply to all records regardless of age, and the same copying fees apply.

Property Appraiser Records:

Assessment records, property cards, and assessment rolls are maintained permanently by the Assessor. Recent years of assessment history are available online; historical assessments are available at the Assessor's office. Exemption applications are retained for a period determined by the Assessor's records management policies; members of the public should contact the office for specific retention periods.

Tax Records:

Tax payment records are retained for a minimum period established by state retention schedules, with tax deed records maintained permanently by the Clerk of Court. Recent years of tax payment history are available online through the Sheriff's Office; historical records are available in person.

Chain of Title:

The chain of title for any Union Parish property can be traced from the present owner back to the original land grant or patent. Title searches in standard real estate transactions review a minimum of 30 to 60 years of title history, though a full abstract may extend to the original conveyance. Gaps in the chain of title create marketability problems that require legal resolution.

Digitization Efforts:

Union Parish, in common with many Louisiana parishes, is engaged in ongoing efforts to digitize historical records and make them accessible online. The scope and timeline of digitization vary; members of the public seeking records from specific historical periods should contact the Clerk's office to determine current online availability.

Contact for Historical Records:

Union Parish Clerk of Court
100 East Bayou Street
Farmerville, LA 71241
Phone: (318) 368-3055
Union Parish Clerk of Court

Union Parish Assessor's Office
100 East Bayou Street, Suite 105
Farmerville, LA 71241
Phone: (318) 368-3008
Union Parish Assessor

How To Find Liens on Property in Union County?

Liens on property in Union Parish are recorded instruments and are therefore part of the public record maintained by the Union Parish Clerk of Court. Any person may search for liens affecting a specific property by searching the Clerk's official records index.

Types of Liens Recorded in Union Parish:

• Judgment liens arising from court judgments against a property owner
• Federal tax liens filed by the Internal Revenue Service
• State tax liens filed by the Louisiana Department of Revenue
• Mechanic's liens filed by contractors, subcontractors, or material suppliers
• HOA liens for unpaid assessments
• Code enforcement liens for unresolved violations
• Child support liens

Steps to Search for Liens:

1. Search the Clerk of Court's records — Contact the Union Parish Clerk of Court at (318) 368-3055 or visit the office at 100 East Bayou Street, Farmerville, LA 71241. Request a search of the grantor/grantee index under the property owner's name to identify all recorded instruments, including liens.

2. Search federal tax lien records — Federal tax liens filed by the IRS are recorded with the Clerk of Court and appear in the official records index. Members of the public may also search the IRS Centralized Lien Operation for federal tax lien information.

3. Search state tax lien records — Louisiana state tax liens are filed with the Clerk of Court and are searchable through the official records index. The Louisiana Department of Revenue maintains information on state tax lien procedures.

4. Search UCC filings — Certain liens on personal property associated with real estate may be filed as UCC financing statements with the Louisiana Secretary of State.

5. Request a mortgage certificate — The Clerk of Court issues mortgage certificates that reflect all recorded mortgages and liens against a property as of the date of the certificate. The current fee for a mortgage certificate is $25.00. This is the most reliable method for confirming the lien status of a property prior to a real estate transaction.

6. Engage a title company or abstractor — Licensed title companies and abstractors conduct comprehensive lien searches as part of title examination services and issue title insurance commitments that identify all recorded encumbrances.

Releasing a Lien:

A lien is released when the underlying obligation is satisfied and a release or cancellation instrument is recorded with the Clerk of Court. The release must be recorded to clear the title; payment alone, without a recorded release, does not remove the lien from the public record.

Union Parish Clerk of Court
100 East Bayou Street
Farmerville, LA 71241
Phone: (318) 368-3055
Union Parish Clerk of Court

What Is Property Owner Rule in Union County?

The property owner rule in Union County (Union Parish), Louisiana refers to the body of law governing who may own immovable property, the forms of ownership recognized under Louisiana law, and the rights and obligations that attach to property ownership. Louisiana's property law is derived from the civil law tradition and differs in significant respects from the common law property rules applied in other states.

Forms of Property Ownership in Louisiana:

Louisiana recognizes several distinct forms of ownership of immovable property:

• Sole ownership — A single individual or legal entity holds full ownership of the property
• Co-ownership (indivision) — Two or more persons hold undivided interests in the same property; each co-owner has the right to use the entire property subject to the rights of the other co-owners
• Community property — Property acquired during marriage by either spouse is presumed to be community property owned equally by both spouses under the Louisiana Civil Code
• Separate property — Property owned by a spouse prior to marriage, or acquired during marriage by gift or inheritance, is that spouse's separate property
• Ownership in trust — Property held by a trustee for the benefit of beneficiaries under a valid Louisiana trust instrument
• Ownership by legal entities — Corporations, limited liability companies, partnerships, and other legal entities may own immovable property in Louisiana

Community Property Rules:

Louisiana is one of nine community property states. Under the Louisiana Civil Code, all property acquired during a marriage through the effort, skill, or industry of either spouse is community property, regardless of which spouse's name appears on the title. Both spouses must join in any act that alienates, encumbers, or leases community immovable property. A spouse who acts alone in conveying community property without the other spouse's consent may have the transaction set aside.

Co-Ownership Rights and Obligations:

Under Louisiana Civil Code Article 797 et seq., co-owners of immovable property hold undivided interests and share in the fruits and products of the property in proportion to their ownership interests. Any co-owner may demand partition of the property at any time, either by agreement or through a judicial partition proceeding. Co-owners are responsible for their proportionate share of expenses necessary for the preservation of the property.

Right to Acquire and Transfer Property:

Any person of legal age and capacity may acquire, own, and transfer immovable property in Louisiana. Minors may own property but require a legal representative to act on their behalf in transactions. Non-residents and foreign nationals may own immovable property in Louisiana subject to applicable federal and state law.

Recording Requirements:

Under Louisiana Revised Statute § 9:2721, an instrument affecting title to immovable property must be recorded with the Clerk of Court of the parish where the property is located to be effective against third parties. An unrecorded instrument is valid between the parties but does not provide constructive notice to subsequent purchasers or creditors who record first. This "first to record" principle is fundamental to Louisiana property law and underscores the importance of prompt recording of all instruments affecting title.

Homestead Exemption:

Louisiana property owners who occupy their property as their primary residence may apply