Adjudicated Property Process Steps

1. Fill out “Request to Purchase Adjudicated Property” form.
    
   1. Make sure the property is vacant and not lawfully occupied.
       

   2. Check with the Sheriff’s Office to make sure that the property has not been redeemed. Make sure you get a copy of the tax print out to attach to your request form.
       

   3. Has the property been adjudicated for at least 3 years? Remember the tax debtor has the right to redeem their property for a period of three years from the date the property was adjudicated;
       

   4. Has the process already been started on the property you are interested in? Call our office and speak to someone in the adjudicated property section and see if the process has already been started on the property.

Now ready to start process, turn in “Request to Purchase Adjudicated Property” along with tax print out and a $500 certified check or money order ONLY made payable to the “Parish of East Baton Rouge.”

2. In approximately 3 - 6 weeks you will receive a letter from our office regarding the appraisal, taxes owed, and lien info if there are any. You will also receive an “Offer to Purchase” form. Fill out form completely and return immediately to our office.
    

3. You should contact the adjudicated property division of our office in about 7 - 10 working days to find out when the public bidding session will occur. Mark this date on your calendar. YOU SHOULD BE PRESENT AND ON TIME!!!
    

   1. At this point, other prospective purchasers can bid on the property assuming they have the proper deposit ($500 certified check or money order only).
       

4. Show up on bidding session day and time. This is also advertised in the Advocate-Public Section Notice three weeks prior to the date. This is usually only advertised on Tuesdays. An oral bidding session will take place to determine the high bidder. Anyone who is not the high bidder will receive their money back. If the original prospective purchaser is not the high bidder, he will receive a $500 check from the Finance Department approximately 2 weeks after the bidding session has occurred.
    

5. If you are the high bidder, assuming the Council accepted your high bid, you will receive a copy of the adopted ordinance and further instructions.
   
   

6. At this point, you should follow the detail instructions in trying to find anyone with owner interest or claim to the property. WE HIGHLY RECOMMEND YOU OBTAIN AN ATTORNEY TO HELP YOU WITH THIS. A TITLE ATTORNEY COULD ALSO PROVIDE YOU WITH TITLE INSURANCE IF NEEDED.
    

7. You should return the completed form of interested persons or companies within 60 days from the date of adoption. The $500 deposit covered your advertisement in the paper and 3 certified letters. If you should need more than three (3) letters, please contact our office as to the amount that should be submitted with your completed form.
    

8. Our office will mail you a letter letting you know the dates you can close and ask that you pick up the original notices from our office and record them in the Clerk of Court’s office.
    

9. Assuming no one redeems the property within the 60 day prescribed redemption period after notice is given, you may close on the property. You can only close 60 days after notice, but it must be done prior to the 6 months deadline set by the ordinance adoption date. These time deadlines are given to you in the letter described in the section above. Call our office to set up a closing date and time.
    

10. Show up at the closing date and time with a certified check or money order for the full amount of the purchase price approved by the Council. Under no circumstances are partial payments allowed. Be on time and also bring with you extra funds to record the sale in the Clerk of Court’s Office.