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1. What is adjudicated property?

Each year the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office holds a tax sale of various properties for which the previous year’s property taxes were not paid. At this tax sale, people may bid on these various properties and acquire a tax title. Not every property is bid on at the tax sale. The properties that receive no bids are “adjudicated” to the City of Baton Rouge and Parish of East Baton Rouge. Through this act of adjudication, the City-Parish is given a type of “tax deed” to the property.

2. Does the City-Parish own adjudicated property?

No. The City-Parish only owns a type of tax deed to the property. The City-Parish has no right to enter the property (with the exception of police and fire needs or in connection with a condemnation proceeding or weed/blight proceeding). The City-Parish is also not liable for the property.

3. May the Parish sell adjudicated property?

By state law, the City-Parish is authorized to sell adjudicated property since January 1, 1975. The Louisiana State Land Office manages and/or sells property that was adjudicated prior to January 1, 1975. The Office of the Parish Attorney handles these sales. An individual interested in a piece of adjudicated property can proceed to purchase directly through the Office of the Parish Attorney or our partners, CivicSource. This company has partnered with the City-Parish to offer an online process for the sale of adjudicated property that has been adjudicated in excess of 5 years. CivicSource also has a version of the “Mow to Own” Program.

4. How do I find adjudicated property?

There are several resources to determine if a piece of property is adjudicated. The Open Data BR website as well as the East Baton Rouge Parish Assessor’s website are good resources. Please note that you should confirm with the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff that a particular piece of adjudicated property remains adjudicated as, throughout the year, properties can and are redeemed.
Please see the Memorandum (PDF) prepared by this office for specific questions about the sale of Adjudicated Property directly through our office and for a Request to Purchase form. Also see a listing of the state laws governing the adjudicated property. Finally, visit CivicSource’s website for information on that process and the costs.

5. Why is my property listed as adjudicated property?

If you believe that your property is incorrectly shown as adjudicated, you should call the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Tax Office at 225-389-4810 to verify that the taxes have in fact been paid and that they have reported the redemption or tax sale cancellation to the Assessor's Office. Property that is redeemed will not be removed from the adjudicated rolls until the following year.

6. What is the “Mow to Own” program?

The Mow to Own Program allows certain parties to avoid public bidding and receive a preference in making an offer to purchase adjudicated properties for which they and the property qualify. To qualify for this program:

• The property in which you are interested must be adjudicated in excess of 3 years.
• You must also own the property that adjoins the property in which you are interested (Your property must touch and/or abut the property in question).
• You must have maintained the property in question in excess of one year.