Louisiana 1979 Bond For Deed Contract

My parents purchased 7 lots in St. Tammany Parish in 1979.
I'm just finding out that in 1984 someone else purchase 3 of the same lots.
The company that sold/owned the property has gone out of business and the owner has passed away. I contacted his son whom is an Attorney in New Orleans. He researched the titles and informed me that we never owned those lots as his father's purchase seems to not have been legal. He then informed me there was nothing I could do!

It's rather hard hearing that you do not own something after 30 years of paying taxes. It's strange that the state did not recognize the problem since they have been collecting taxes from two separate owners (my mom and the other person holding a deed to the same lots).

It's also more strange that when my older mother forgot to pay taxes about 10 years ago, the state/county sold all seven lots in my mothers name at a tax auction. We immediately redeemed the property as soon as we realized she was loosing the land.
Then the state re-issued the deed back to my mother!

Everyone is stating that the title trail indicates the other person as the legal owner in spite of a state issued deed in my mom's name...and executed bond for deed contract. (note all this is on file at the clerks office as well)

Please what do I do..

There is no title insurance as the company went bankrupt!
The son of the person whom sold the property to us claims that his liquidated the estate about 20 years ago..

It's important that you only respond if you are well educated on the 1979 bond for deed process and the fact the sale had a warranty title deed via a bankrupt title company...

I need to know what process I can take to secure this property in our name as legitimate owners in spite of some mix-up at the clerks office 40 years ago.

nusias9

It's important that you only respond if you are well educated on the 1979 bond for deed process and the fact the sale had a warranty title deed via a bankrupt title company...

You're kidding, right? Don't respond unless you are well-educated on the 1979 bond for deed process?

This forum is not intended to be a substitute for legal counsel. You need to have your own lawyer look into the problem and you need to be prepared to spend a good bit of time and money on the process.

lex

Well see that is exactly why I made that statement. You clearly do not have advice other then tell me to be ready to spend money and ask my attorney.

If someone ACTUALLY knows the process please explain the steps (and perhaps obstacles) so that I'm informed before I walk into an attorney's office.  There are bad attorneys out there and educating myself is the best way to avoid hiring a bad attorney.

As I stated well educated ...I did not say attorneys only!

If you do not know anything about Bond for Deed contracts from the 1970, please refrain from jerky comments as I am asking for information about the process and what can be done!

nusias9

[This site is not intended to give legal advice...]

You apparently did not read the terms of joining this forum. Let me reprint part as a reminder:

Please read carefully. This is not the usual yada, yada stuff.
This site is not intended to give legal advice...

You are asking for some very specific legal advice on a very complicated subject. Do you really think we want the exposure to a professional liability claim because you apparently are not willing to pay for some advice? We can only discuss things in general terms, like "What is a bond for deed contract?"

As for your assertion that you want someone well educated but not an attorney to discuss the bond for deed concept, history going back to 1979, and present status as it relates to your complicated situation, then good luck with that!

lex

[My life has been crazier than a work of fiction.....who'da believed?]

wow. My un-advice to you, should you choose to educate yourself, is to go to the Lousiana legislative site and start reading up on real estate law.

For a good starter on Louisiana law, you might order this book: http://www.amazon.com/Louisiana-Legal-Advisor-Stephen-Covell/dp/0935773835

You might also consider reading this:
http://www.answers.com/topic/bite-the-hand-that-feeds-you

3kidsmom

I'm not placing liability on anyone by asking this question. I'm trying to educate myself about the process.. Your inability to give some advice on the question at hand must be the reason you are unwilling to give some sort of direction.
Just so you know... after educating myself the process is not that complicated!

Thanks 3kidsmom I did look at those sites and found some helpful info (not exact but helpful) It's a sad world when you have to learn the law in order to hire a competent attorney. As it was incompetent attorney's that caused this problem.

Thanks in part to you info I did find an attorney that knows everything about the company and attorney AND their shady dealing that took place back in the 1970 within this subdivision.

nusias9