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A.  The succession of a person presumed dead, as provided in La. Rev. Stat. 9:1441, may be opened, administered, and his heirs or legatees sent into absolute possession of his estate, by the district court of the parish where he was domiciled at the time of entering the armed service, and in the same manner as the succession of a deceased person, except as otherwise provided in La. Rev. Stat. 9:1443.  His heirs and legatees sent into possession of his property judicially may thereafter deal with such property as the absolute and unconditional owners, and third persons may safely deal with them as such.

B.  If it is subsequently discovered that the person presumed dead is alive, and within thirty years of the date of the judgment of possession he demands the return of his property, the persons sent into possession thereof as his heirs or legatees shall return to him all such property which they still own, subject to the mortgages and other encumbrances which they have placed thereon.  These persons shall also repay him the value of all property of which they were sent into possession and which they have alienated, and the amount of the mortgages and other encumbrances which they placed on property returned to him.  The persons sent into possession as his heirs or legatees shall return to him the annual revenues of his property as follows:

(1)  If he reappears within five years, they shall return two-thirds.

(2)  If he reappears after five and within seven years, one-half.  

(3)  But after seven years’ absence, the whole of the revenue shall belong to those who shall have been put into possession.  

Acts 1960, No. 31, §6; eff. Jan. 1, 1961; Acts 1990, No. 989, §8, eff. Jan. 1, 1991.