The City Court of Alexandria may exercise jurisdiction quasi in rem over movable or immovable property, or jurisdiction in rem over movable property, in the manner provided by law, if the property is situated within the territorial jurisdiction of the court and the value of the property and the amount in dispute does not exceed ten thousand dollars. The City Court of Alexandria may issue a writ of seizure and sale in an executory proceeding to enforce a privilege or mortgage on movable or immovable property if the value of the property and the amount in dispute does not exceed ten thousand dollars.
Art. 4850.1.City Court of Alexandria; In Rem and Quasi In Rem Jurisdiction
Book VIII. Trial Courts of Limited Jurisdiction · Title I. General Dispositions · Chapter 2. Civil Jurisdiction · Enacted 2003 · no amendments on record · Last verified July 30, 2026
In one sentenceArticle 4850.1 gives the City Court of Alexandria the same quasi in rem, in rem, and executory-proceeding authority granted generally by Article 4850, but caps that property-based jurisdiction at a value or amount in dispute of ten thousand dollars.
Full Text of Art. 4850.1
Amendment History
Acts 2003, No. 905, §1.
Plain-English Summary
Article 4850.1 singles out one city court by name, the City Court of Alexandria, and restates the property-based jurisdiction Article 4850 already grants parish and city courts generally, with one addition: a dollar ceiling that applies specifically to this kind of jurisdiction in Alexandria.
Like any city court under Article 4850, the City Court of Alexandria can exercise quasi in rem jurisdiction over movable or immovable property, and in rem jurisdiction over movable property, when the property sits within its territory. It can also issue a writ of seizure and sale in an executory proceeding to enforce a privilege or mortgage. Article 4850.1 makes both of those powers available only where the value of the property and the amount in dispute does not exceed ten thousand dollars.
That ten-thousand-dollar figure is lower than the general jurisdictional ceiling Article 4843(G) sets for ordinary civil suits in Alexandria's city court, which runs up to fifty thousand dollars. Property-based jurisdiction and executory-proceeding authority, in other words, are held to a tighter dollar limit in Alexandria than the court's ordinary jurisdiction over the person, even though both draw on the same underlying territorial court.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the dollar limit on the City Court of Alexandria's property-based jurisdiction?
Ten thousand dollars. Article 4850.1 caps the City Court of Alexandria's quasi in rem, in rem, and executory-proceeding authority at that value or amount in dispute.
Is Alexandria's property jurisdiction limit the same as its general civil jurisdiction limit?
No. Article 4843(G) sets Alexandria's general civil jurisdiction at up to fifty thousand dollars, while Article 4850.1 caps its quasi in rem, in rem, and executory-proceeding authority at ten thousand dollars.
Does Article 4850.1 apply to any city court besides Alexandria?
No. It names the City Court of Alexandria specifically. Other city courts rely on the general grant in Article 4850, without Article 4850.1's ten-thousand-dollar cap.
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
Also known as: City Court of Alexandria jurisdictionArticle 4850.1 LouisianaAlexandria city court in rem jurisdiction$10,000 property jurisdiction Alexandriaexecutory proceeding Alexandria city court