Conveyance/Mortgage Department

Conveyance Department

The Conveyance Department is responsible for the indexing of all conveyance and miscellaneous documents. The department is not required by law to provide conveyance certificates; therefore, we do not offer this service.

A knowledgeable staff of deputy clerks is available to assist the general public in researching the property records kept on file in the Clerk’s Office. All property transactions, mineral leases, restrictions, subdivision maps, and any other recordings are accessible through either a written or computerized index. The written index dates back to 1820 and information on the computer system dates back to 1952.

The Clerk’s Office employs some of the latest available computer and imaging technology in order to make the work of attorneys and abstractors as user friendly as possible. The Conveyance Department provides five large-screen computer-viewing stations for public use. From those stations, users may locate documents through index searches and may view many images without having to "go to the books.”

Real estate agents, surveyors, appraisers, abstractors, and attorneys are encouraged to come in and use these facilities. Our staff provides assistance, if needed, free of charge.

Mortgage Department

The Mortgage Department is responsible for issuing Mortgage, Non-Lien, and UCC Certificates pursuant to applicable Louisiana statutes. Per the statutes, all requests for certificates must be in writing. Written requests for certificates, in the appropriate form, may be transmitted to the Mortgage Department via facsimile.

Mortgage Certificates are issued by the department on a first-come, first-served basis. You must provide us with the name(s) you want us to check and the legal property description. If a legal property description is not available, please contact our Conveyance Department at (985) 284-2680.

A Mortgage Certificate, more correctly called a “Certificate of Non-Mortgage,” is not a title opinion and makes no representation as to who might actually own the property described on the certificate. Previously issued certificates may be “updated” by the department; however, the original certificate must be presented and must be less than thirty (30) days old.

Mortgage Certificates are good for 30 days.

Non-Lien Certificates are also issued by the Mortgage Department. As with requests for mortgage certificates, the request must be in writing. The request must include the name(s) you want us to check, the date the contract was signed, and a brief description of the work. Unless otherwise specified, the Non-Lien Certificate will be issued as of the date requested.

UCC Certificates are issued by the Mortgage Department as well. The requests must be in writing on a Louisiana approved UCC-II form, one debtor name per request form. A Federal tax ID number should be provided although it is not yet required by statute. The lack of a Federal tax ID number, will impact the results of your UCC Certificate.

The Mortgage Department responsibilities include:
  • Perform Cancellations
  • Index daily Mortgage Recordations
  • Index daily Conveyance Recordations
  • Index daily Miscellaneous Recordations
  • Mortgage Certificates
  • Lien Certificates
  • Uniform Commercial Code (UCC)
  • Acknowledge Certificates
  • Property Bonds – For Property Bonds, you must call the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Criminal Department for information.

Cancelling a Mortgage

Minor’s Mortgage

Documentation Required — If minor is 22 or older at the time of cancellation, the Clerk’s Office must be presented a notarized affidavit from him or her stating their date of birth and that they are of age, and grant the Clerk the authority to cancel their mortgage. If minor is under 22, the Clerk’s Office must be presented a motion and order signed by a judge ordering the Clerk to cancel the minor’s mortgage.

Tax Lien

Documentation Required — Release from IRS or State.

UCC Terminations

Documentation Required — Must be prepared on a Louisiana approved form. Non-standard forms are acceptable at an increased fee. See fees.

Cancellation Forms


Indexing Mortgage, Conveyance, & Miscellaneous

The process of inputting of the previous days work into the computer for future reference.

Mortgage Certificates

An order for a Mortgage Certificate must be in writing and must include the names to be run and the property description. Fee on price list. The purpose of a Mortgage Certificate is to see if anything has been filed in the mortgage records against a person or people regarding a certain piece of property.

Lien Certificates

An order for a Lien Certificate must be in writing and must include the names and the date of the original contract as well as a job description. Fees on price list. The purpose of a Lien Certificate is to find any liens that have been filed between the contract and acceptance dates.

UCC

A request for a UCC Certificate must be in writing on a Louisiana approved UCC 11 form, one debtor name per request. A Federal tax ID number should be provided, although it is not yet required by statute. The lack of a federal tax ID number will impact the results of the UCC certificate.

Louisiana-approved forms are available here for download from the Louisiana Secretary of State website.

UCC: has to be on a UCC form supplied by a bank or financial institution.

UCC 1: must have debtor, secured party information and property or movable description.

UCC 3: any type of action taking place on an existing UCC 1.  (Continuation, Release, Partial Assignment, Assignment, Termination, Amendment, or other.) Must have the UCC filing number of the original UCC 1.

UCC 1F (farm filing): must have tax ID number.

UCC 11: Search Certificate looking for any UCC previously filed for any person statewide. Non-standard or short form (not from LA.)

Acknowledge Certificates

Also known as Legitimation certificates. The Request must be in writing. The order should contain the child’s name and the customer’s name. Fee $10.00

Property Bonds

Customer must provide the assessment and a copy of the deed. Fees on price list. Are similar to Mortgage Certificates. 

Helpful Mortgage and Conveyance Department Links