Form DPSMV1696, Affidavit of Heirship – Louisiana

Form DPSMV1696, Affidavit of Heirship, is the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV) form used only when a vehicle is registered in the name of a deceased owner and the eligible heirs want to confirm their ownership interest in it.

The form identifies the decedent and the vehicle: year, make, model, Vehicle Identification No., Louisiana Title No. and Current Louisiana License No. In the Declaration, the signers swear that the statements they check are true. They choose whether the vehicle is community property under Louisiana Civil Code 2340 or separate property under Louisiana Civil Code 2341. They also mark whether the decedent died intestate (no will) or testate, who succeeds to the deceased's share, and whether the certificate of title is attached or cannot be located.

Each surviving spouse, heir or legatee is listed with name, address, city and state, and telephone, then signs before a notary. The form says heirs and legatees must be listed, with a supplementary list if there are more than four.

This is a vehicle-specific OMV affidavit, not a general heirship affidavit for other property. It appears on the OMV's vehicle title and registration forms page beside related forms such as the Bill of Sale of a Motor Vehicle and the Act of Donation of a Movable.

Eligible heirs of a deceased vehicle owner use this form when the vehicle is still registered in the decedent's name and they want to confirm their ownership interest. The form lists who completes it: the surviving spouse, if any, and each heir or legatee, with the age given for any minor.

How the form treats common situations:

• One surviving heir who wants to title the vehicle in his or her own name: the affidavit with its attachments is acceptable.
• A surviving spouse who is one of the heirs and wants to transfer the vehicle to a new owner: the spouse and all other heirs complete the affidavit, but only the surviving spouse must execute a notarized bill of sale or act of donation.
• No surviving spouse, with a sale or donation to a new owner: all heirs must execute the bill of sale or act of donation.

Do not use this form if the vehicle is not registered in the name of the deceased owner; the form says it is to be used only when it is.

The triggering event is the death of a registered vehicle owner when the heirs want to confirm their ownership interest in that vehicle. The form prints no deadline of its own, so it is completed when the heirs are ready to deal with the OMV about the vehicle, for example to title it in an heir's name or to transfer it to a new owner.

Have the title situation settled first: the form asks whether the certificate of title is attached or cannot be located. A transfer to a new owner also needs a notarized bill of sale or act of donation, so prepare those with the affidavit. Check the OMV for any timing rule that applies to your transaction.

The form names no mailing address, portal or office; it gives payment instructions only. Check the Louisiana OMV's vehicle title and registration forms page, https://expresslane.la.gov/omv/resources/forms-documents/vehicle-title-and-registration-forms/, or contact the OMV for how to deliver the package.

• What goes in the package: the notarized affidavit signed by the surviving spouse and every heir or legatee, the certificate of title if it is attached, the copy of the will or notarized statement if the decedent died testate, and any supplementary list of heirs.
• Fees and taxes: the form refers you to OMV Section 4, Policy 18.02, Affidavit if Heirship, for the applicable fees. The OMV sets the amount, so confirm it with the agency.
• Payment: send a check or money order payable to Office of Motor Vehicles to cover any fees or taxes due. Do not send cash.

FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the OMV's channels.