The court may order that an inventory be made of all property sought to be partitioned, in accordance with the provisions of Articles 3131 through 3137.
Art. 4604.Inventory
Book VII. Special Proceedings · Title IX. Partition Between Co-Owners · Chapter 1. General Dispositions · Amendment history unavailable · Last verified July 30, 2026
In one sentenceArticle 4604 lets the court order an inventory of all property to be partitioned, following the Code's ordinary inventory procedure, giving the parties and the court a documented, itemized picture of what is being divided before the partition moves forward.
Full Text of Art. 4604
Plain-English Summary
Before dividing property or selling it to divide the proceeds, it helps to have an exact record of what is there. Article 4604 gives the court discretion to order that an inventory be made of all the property sought to be partitioned.
The inventory follows the same procedure the Code uses for inventories elsewhere, an itemized listing of the property, often with appraised values attached, prepared under judicial supervision rather than left to one party's own description. That borrowed procedure keeps the partition inventory consistent with how Louisiana courts document property in other proceedings, such as a succession.
An inventory is not mandatory in every partition case; the article leaves it to the court's discretion. It tends to matter most when the property is varied, its extent is disputed, or the co-owners disagree about what belongs to the mass being partitioned, since a documented inventory heads off arguments later about what was, or was not, included.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is an inventory required in every Louisiana partition case?
No. Article 4604 gives the court discretion to order one, rather than making it mandatory in every case.
What does a partition inventory include?
An itemized accounting of the property sought to be partitioned, prepared under the same inventory procedure the Code uses elsewhere, which typically documents and appraises what belongs to the mass being divided.
When would a court order an inventory in a partition proceeding?
Most often when the property involved is varied or its extent is disputed, so the parties and the court have an itemized, documented record before dividing or selling it.
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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