A. When it is not necessary under the provisions of Article 3431 to open judicially a small succession, at least two persons, including the surviving spouse, if any, and one or more competent major heirs of the deceased, may execute one or more multiple originals of an affidavit, duly sworn before any officer or person authorized to administer oaths in the place where the affidavit is executed, setting forth:
(1) The date of death of the deceased, and his domicile at the time thereof;
(2) The fact that the deceased died intestate;
(3) The marital status of the deceased, the location of the last residence of the deceased, and the name of the surviving spouse, if any, and the surviving spouse's address, domicile, and location of last residence;
(4) The names and last known addresses of the heirs of the deceased, their relationship to the deceased, and the statement that an heir not signing the affidavit (a) cannot be located after the exercise of reasonable diligence, or (b) was given ten days notice by U.S. mail of the affiants' intent to execute an affidavit for small succession and did not object;
(5) A description of the property left by the deceased, including whether the property is community or separate, and which in the case of immovable property must be sufficient to identify the property for purposes of transfer;
(6) A showing of the value of each item of property, and the aggregate value of all such property, at the time of the death of the deceased;
(7) A statement describing the respective interests in the property which each heir has inherited and whether a legal usufruct of the surviving spouse attaches to the property;
(8) An affirmation that, by signing the affidavit, the affiant, if an heir, has accepted the succession of the deceased; and
(9) An affirmation that, by signing the affidavit, the affiants swear under penalty of perjury that the information contained in the affidavit is true, correct and complete to the best of their knowledge, information, and belief.
B. If the deceased had no surviving spouse, the affidavit must be signed by at least two heirs. If the deceased had no surviving spouse and only one heir, the affidavit must also be signed by a second person who has actual knowledge of the matters stated therein.
C. In addition to the powers of a natural tutor otherwise provided by law, a natural tutor may also execute the affidavit on behalf of a minor child without the necessity of filing a petition pursuant to Article 4061.
Amended by Acts 1974, No. 524, §1; Acts 2009, No. 81, §1, eff. June 18, 2009; Acts 2011, No. 323, §1, eff. June 29, 2011; Acts 2012, No. 618, §§1, 2, eff. June 7, 2012.