The public inventory of the property of a deceased person, or of other estates under the administration of the court, shall be taken by a notary appointed by the court, in the presence of at least two competent witnesses, assisted by two competent appraisers appointed and sworn by the notary. The witnesses and appraisers need not be residents of the parish where the inventory is taken. The taking of the inventory may be attended by any person interested in the estate to be administered, or by his attorney; and when timely requested to do so, the notary shall give such person, or his attorney, notice by ordinary mail of the time and place thereof.
Art. 3132.Public Inventory
Book VI. Probate Procedure · Title III. Administration of Successions · Chapter 1. Qualification of Succession Representatives · Amendment history unavailable · Last verified July 30, 2026
In one sentenceArticle 3132 requires the public inventory of a deceased person's or other administered estate's property to be taken by a court-appointed notary before at least two competent witnesses and two sworn appraisers, with interested persons or their attorneys entitled to attend and, on timely request, to receive mailed notice of the time and place.
Full Text of Art. 3132
Plain-English Summary
Once a notary has been appointed under Article 3131, Article 3132 describes how the actual inventory-taking works. The notary conducts the public inventory in the presence of at least two competent witnesses, and is assisted by two competent appraisers, both appointed and sworn in by the notary specifically for that task. None of these participants, notably, needs to live in the parish where the inventory is being taken.
The appraisers do the valuation work, examining the property and assigning it a fair market value as part of the process. The witnesses attest to how the inventory was conducted, adding a layer of accountability to what becomes an official record of the estate's assets.
The article also protects interested persons who are not themselves part of the inventory team. Anyone interested in the estate, or that person's attorney, may attend the inventory as it happens, and, if a timely request is made, the notary must give that person or attorney notice by ordinary mail of when and where the inventory will take place.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has to be present when a public inventory is taken?
The notary conducting it, at least two competent witnesses, and two competent appraisers, both appointed and sworn by the notary.
Can an heir or beneficiary attend the inventory?
Yes. Any person interested in the estate, or that person's attorney, may attend, and can request mailed notice in advance of the time and place if the request is made in time.
Do the witnesses and appraisers have to live in the parish where the inventory is taken?
No. Article 3132 expressly says the witnesses and appraisers need not be residents of the parish where the inventory is conducted.
Source & verification. Article text is reproduced verbatim from
the Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure (legis.la.gov). Enacted by the Louisiana Legislature.
Last verified July 30, 2026.
· Official source
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