seals

SEALS, matters of succession. On the death of a person, according to the 
laws of Louisiana, if the heir wishes to obtain the benefit of inventory, 
and the delays for deliberating, he is bound as soon as he knows of the 
death of the deceased to whose succession he is called, and before 
committing any act of heirship, to cause the seals to be affixed on the 
effects of the succession, by any judge or justice of the peace. Civ. Code, 
of Lo. art. 1027. 
     2. In ten days after this affixing of the seals, the, heir is bound to 
present a petition to the judge of the place in which the succession, is 
opened, praying for the removal of the seals, and that a true and faithful 
inventory of the effects of the succession be made. Id. art. 1028. 
     3. In case of vacant estates, and estates of which the heirs are absent 
and not represented, the seals, after the decease, must be affixed by a 
judge or justice of the peace within the limits of his jurisdiction, and may 
be fixed by him, either ex officio, or at the request of the parties. Civ. 
Code of Lo. art. 1070. The seals are affixed at the request of the parties, 
when a widow, a testamentary executor, or any other person who pretends to 
have an interest in a succession or community of property, requires it. Id. 
art. 1071.; They are affixed ex officio, when the presumptive heirs of the 
deceased do not all reside in the place where be died, or if any of them 
happen to be absent. Id. art 1072. 
     4. The object of placing the seals on the effects of a succession, is 
for the purpose of preserving them, and for the interest of third persons. 
Id. art. 1068. 
     5. The seals must be placed on the bureaus, coffers, armoires, and 
other things, which contain the effects and papers of the deceased, and on 
the doors of the apartments which contain these things, so that they cannot 
be opened without tearing off, breaking, or altering the seals. Id. art. 
1069. 
     6. The judge or justice of the peace, who affixes the seals, is bound 
to appoint guardian, at the expense of the succession, to take care of the 
seals and of the effects, of which an account is taken at the end of the 
proces verbal of the affixing of the seals; the guardian must be 
domiciliated in the place where the inventory is taken. Id. art. 1079. And 
the judge; when he retires, must take with him the keys of all things and 
apartments upon which the seals have been affixed. lb. 
     7. The raising of the seals is done by the judge of the place, or 
justice of the peace appointed by him to that effect, in the presence of the 
witnesses of the vicinage, in the same manner as for the affixing of the 
seals. Id. art. 1084. See, generally; Benefit of Inventory, Succession; Code 
de Pro. Civ. 2e part. lib. 1, t. 1, 2, 3; Dict. de Jurisp. Scelle.