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Motion and Order for Appointment of Attorney to Represent Absent

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Form No. 16.1 Motion and Order for Appointment of Attorney to Represent Absent Defendant

[Note: Selection of the proper form and its use and modification to suit individual facts and circumstances requires careful review of all the language by the user.]

Since this court has jurisdiction over the status involved in this action and because the defendant is an absentee who has not been served with process, and who , plaintiff is entitled to have an attorney at law appointed to represent the defendant.

Plaintiff certifies that all fees required by local rules for the court appointed attorney have been paid in advance.

WHEREFORE, plaintiff prays:

A. That an attorney at law be appointed to represent the defendant in this proceeding;

IT IS ORDERED that: is appointed to represent the absent defendant in this action and citation to the defendant shall be served on him.

Form No. 16.2 Petition for Notice of Application for Appointment as Curator of Absent Person

PETITION FOR NOTICE OF FILING OF PETITION FOR APPOINTMENT AS CURATOR

The petition of , who is domiciled in Parish, respectfully represents:

1. , is an absent person who was domiciled in this Parish at the time his absence commenced.

2. Petitioner is interested in this matter for the following reasons.

3. The notice requested by this petition should be sent to the following person at the mailing address set forth below:

WHEREFORE, petitioner prays that notice of the filing of a petition for appointment as curator of the absent person, , be mailed to petitioner at the address listed above.

Attorney for Petitioner

Form No. 16.3 Petition for Appointment of Curator for Absent Person

PETITION FOR APPOINTMENT OF CURATOR FOR ABSENT PERSON

The petition of who is domiciled in Parish, respectfully represents:

1. , is an absent person who was domiciled in this Parish at the time his absence commenced. An affidavit establishing jurisdiction and relationship is attached to this petition.

2. was last seen on and he has not been seen since. He has no representative in this state and his whereabouts are not known and cannot be ascertained by diligent effort.

3. Petitioner is the spouse of the absent person and is thus given first priority in the appointment of a curator. Other persons eligible to be appointed as curator are listed in the affidavit attached to this petition.

4. owns immovable and movable property in this parish and it is necessary to appoint a person to make a detailed descriptive list of his property as required by law.

WHEREFORE, petitioner prays that:

A. The Court set a date and time for the hearing of this application for appointment;

B. Notice of this application for appointment be published according to law;

C. The Court order the filing of a detailed descriptive list of the property of the absent person; and

D. Petitioner be appointed and allowed to qualify as curator of the absent person after compliance with the requirements of law.

Form No. 16.4 Motion and Order to Stay Proceedings

MOTION AND ORDER TO STAY PROCEEDINGS

On motion of , through undersigned counsel, and on suggesting to the Court that:

1. On , 20_____, mover filed a petition to be appointed curator for , in the Judicial District Court, Parish of . A certified copy of this petition is attached to this motion as an exhibit.

2. On , 20_____, a petition for appointment was filed in this Court by .

3. Under LSA 13:3422 the court in which the petition was first filed has jurisdiction to determine the issues and the proceedings in this Court should be stayed.

IT IS ORDERED that show cause on the day of , 20_____, at a.m. why all further proceedings in this matter should not be stayed.

ORDERED AND SIGNED, this _____ day of _______________, 20_____, in _______________, Louisiana.

Judge

ORDER TO STAY PROCEEDINGS

The rule to show cause why this matter should not be stayed was heard today. Present: , attorney for mover, and , attorney for defendant-in-rule. The court after hearing the evidence, determined that the petition in the Judicial District Court, Parish of , was filed before the petition in this Court was filed:

IT IS ORDERED that all further proceedings in the above-entitled matter be stayed.

ORDERED AND SIGNED, this _____ day of _______________, 20_____, in _______________, Louisiana.

Judge

Form No. 16.5 Affidavit of Jurisdiction and Relationship

AFFIDAVIT OF JURISDICTION AND RELATIONSHIP

State of Louisiana)

Parish of )

BEFORE ME, the undersigned Notary Public, personally appeared and , who after being duly sworn did swear that they knew and, to the best of their knowledge and belief, he has no representative in this state and his whereabouts are not known and cannot be ascertained with reasonable diligence.

Affiants further declare that the absent person was domiciled in the Parish of , State of Louisiana at the time his absence commenced.

Affiants further declare that the petitioner applying for appointment as curator of the absent person is related to the absent person as follows:

Affiant Affiant

SWORN TO AND SUBSCRIBED, before me, this _____ day of _______________, 20_____.

Notary Public

Form No. 16.6 Affidavit of Eligibility for Appointment

AFFIDAVIT OF ELIGIBILITY FOR APPOINTMENT

State of Louisiana)

Parish of )

BEFORE ME, the undersigned Notary Public, personally appeared , who solemnly swears that he is the petitioner in the above captioned suit and that, to the best of his knowledge, the following persons are eligible for appointment as curator: .

Affiant

SWORN TO AND SUBSCRIBED, before me, this _____ day of _______________, 20_____.

Notary Public

Form No. 16.7 Order Setting Hearing and Requiring Detailed Descriptive List

ORDER

Considering the allegations of the foregoing petition and the supporting affidavits:

IT IS ORDERED that:

A. prepare and file a detailed descriptive list of all the property of the absent person as required by law.

B. Notice of the application of the petitioner for appointment as curator be published in accordance with law and a copy of this petition be mailed to those persons required by law to receive notice.

C. A hearing on the appointment of a curator for the absent person be held at A.M. on the day of , 20_____.

ORDERED AND SIGNED, this _____ day of _______________, 20_____, in _______________, Louisiana.

Judge

Form No. 16.8 Certified Letter to Relations

Dear :

Enclosed is a copy of a petition for the appointment of a curator for the absent person, . Any opposition to this application for appointment must be filed prior to the hearing set by the court in the order attached to the enclosed petition.

Sincerely,

Attorney at Law

Enclosure

Certified Mail No.

Return Receipt Requested

Form No. 16.9 Certificate of Mailing Notice

CERTIFICATE OF MAILING NOTICE

State of Louisiana)

Parish of )

BEFORE ME, the undersigned Notary Public, personally appeared , who solemnly swears that certified letters, containing a copy of the application for appointment as curator in the above entitled case with the order setting the date and hour of the hearing, were mailed on to the following persons as appears from the attached letters of transmittal, receipt for certified mail, and return receipt: .

Affiant

SWORN TO AND SUBSCRIBED, before me, this _____ day of _______________, 20_____.

Notary Public

Form No. 16.10 Publication of Notice of Application

[INSERT CAPTION OF SUIT]

NOTICE IS GIVEN that has filed a petition in the above entitled matter to be appointed curator of the absent person , and that a hearing on the application for appointment will be held on the day of , 20_____. An opposition to this application must be filed in this Court prior to the hearing.

Form No. 16.11 Certificate of Publication and of No Opposition

CERTIFICATE OF PUBLICATION AND OF NO OPPOSITION

State of Louisiana)

Parish of )

BEFORE ME, personally appeared , a deputy clerk of this court, who being by me duly sworn, deposed and said that notice of the application of to be appointed curator of the absent person , in the above entitled matter, was published on , in the , a newspaper published in the City of ; and that no opposition to this application for appointment has been filed.

Deputy clerk

SWORN TO AND SUBSCRIBED, before me, this _____ day of _______________, 20_____.

Notary Public

Form No. 16.12 Opposition to Appointment as Curator

OPPOSITION

Now into court comes, , who is domiciled in Parish, for the purpose of opposing the application of for appointment as curator of .

1. is not an absent person, in that his whereabouts are known, and thus he does not need a curator appointed to administer his estate.

2. Petitioner should not be appointed as curator because appointed as his representative to administer his estate in his absence.

3. Petitioner should not be appointed as curator because is deceased and thus it is necessary to open succession proceedings.

4. Opponent is the spouse, not judicially separated, of the absent person and thus has a prior right to appointment over petitioner.

5. Petitioner should not be appointed as curator because petitioner is disqualified as a matter of law for the following reason: .

WHEREFORE, opponent prays that:

A. Petitioner's application for appointment be dismissed, at his costs.

B. be appointed as curator for the absent person.

Form No. 16.13 Petition Filing Detailed Descriptive List and Requesting Appointment as Curator and Undercurator

PETITION FILING DETAILED DESCRIPTIVE LIST AND REQUESTING APPOINTMENT AS CURATOR AND UNDERCURATOR

The petition of , who is domiciled in Parish, respectfully represents:

1. As appears from the certificate of publication of notice and of no opposition, and the certificate of mailing notice filed in the record of these proceedings, petitioner is entitled to be appointed curator of the absent person, and to have letters of curatorship issued to him after he has furnished the security required by this court and has taken the oath of office.

2. Petitioner attaches a detailed descriptive list of all property of the absent person as ordered by this court.

3. , is a responsible person suitable for appointment as undercurator.

WHEREFORE, petitioner prays that:

A. Petitioner be appointed curator, and

B. be appointed as undercurator.

DETAILED DESCRIPTIVE LIST

State of Louisiana)

Parish of )

BEFORE ME personally appeared petitioner, , who after being duly sworn did depose and say that:

In accordance with the provisions of law, petitioner presents to the court the following detailed descriptive list of all items of property belonging to the absent person, showing the location and the fair market value of each item.

Immovable property (list)

Movable property (list)

TOTAL VALUE OF PROPERTY

The following is a list of all debts and liabilities of the estate of the absent person, to the best of my knowledge and belief:

TOTAL DEBTS $

RECAPITULATION

Total assets of the absent person.

Total debts of the absent person.

TOTAL NET ESTATE

Affiant

SWORN TO AND SUBSCRIBED before me this _____ day of _______________, 20_____.

Notary Public

Form No. 16.14 Order Appointing Curator and Undercurator and Fixing Security

ORDER APPOINTING CURATOR

This matter was heard on , and the Court after considering the pleadings, the detailed descriptive list, the affidavits and certificates filed in this proceeding, and after finding that the law and evidence favors the appointment of a curator for the absent person:

IT IS ORDERED that:

A. is appointed as the curator of the absent person, , and letters of curatorship are ordered issued to him after he has furnished security and taken the oath of office.

B. The security to be furnished by the curator in qualifying as curator of this absent person is fixed at the sum of , which the court considers sufficient for the protection of the absent person. The form of the security shall be .

C. is appointed as undercurator of the absent person.

D. Costs of this proceeding are to be paid out of the estate of the absent person.

ORDERED AND SIGNED, this _____ day of _______________, 20_____, in _______________, Louisiana.

District Judge

Form No. 16.15 Oath of Curator

OATH OF CURATOR

State of Louisiana)

Parish of )

BEFORE ME, the undersigned Notary Public, personally appeared , who solemnly swears that he will discharge faithfully the duties of the office of curator of the absent person, .

Curator

SWORN TO AND SUBSCRIBED, before me this _____ day of _______________, 20_____.

Notary Public

Form No. 16.16 Oath of Undercurator

OATH OF UNDERCURATOR

State of Louisiana)

Parish of )

BEFORE ME, the undersigned Notary Public, personally appeared , who solemnly swears that he will discharge faithfully the duties of the office of undercurator of the absent person, .

Undercurator

SWORN TO AND SUBSCRIBED, before me this _____ day of _______________, 20_____.

Notary Public

Form No. 16.17 Letters of Curatorship

LETTERS OF CURATORSHIP

THIS CERTIFIES that has been appointed curator of the absent person , by the Judicial District Court for the Parish of , State of Louisiana, in the matter entitled "Curatorship of the Absent Person ," Docket No. ; and that he has qualified for the office by complying with all of the requirements of law.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Letters of Curatorship are issued in the name and under the seal of the Judicial District Court for the Parish of , State of Louisiana, this _____ day of _______________, 20_____.

Deputy Clerk

[Seal]

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What the Motion and Order for Appointment of Attorney to Represent Absent Is

A Motion and Order for Appointment of Attorney to Represent Absent is a court document requesting that a judge appoint counsel to act for a party who is unable to appear. The filing typically explains why the party is absent, identifies the attorney proposed to represent the absent party, and asks the court to enter an order authorizing that representation. Courts often require proof of service, supporting declarations, and compliance with local rules; the judge’s signed order completes the appointment and authorizes counsel to act in proceedings on the absent party’s behalf.

Why This Motion Matters for Case Continuity and Rights Protection

Filing this motion preserves the absent party’s procedural rights, prevents default or delay, and creates a clear record authorizing counsel to receive notices, appear at hearings, and take case-specific actions under court supervision.

Why This Motion Matters for Case Continuity and Rights Protection

Who Typically Prepares and Uses This Motion

The court, opposing counsel, and the clerk’s office are recipients of the filed motion and any proposed order; local rules determine service and notice requirements.

  • Private attorneys filing to represent a client who cannot attend a scheduled hearing or conference, requesting formal appointment and notification privileges.
  • Public defenders or appointed counsel seeking court authorization to act in the absent party’s stead when personal appearance is impossible.
  • Pro se litigants or family members requesting substitution of counsel or appointment when a party is incapacitated or otherwise unavailable.

Step-by-Step: Prepare, File, and Obtain the Order

Follow these sequential steps to prepare and present the motion in a manner consistent with most U.S. court practices; always confirm local rules first.

  • 01
    Draft Motion: State absence reason, identify proposed attorney, and request specific relief.
  • 02
    Attach Evidence: Add declarations, affidavits, and proof of attempts to notify the absent party.
  • 03
    Serve Parties: Serve opposing counsel and the absent party per local rules before filing.
  • 04
    File and Submit: File with the clerk via e-filing or in person and lodge a proposed order for signature.

How to Customize and Complete the Motion Online

When preparing the motion in an e-sign or document platform, configure fields and routing to match court filing and service requirements.

Field Configuration
Case Caption Field Set as required text field; apply caption template to every page.
Attorney Contact Field Make required; include bar number and email for clerk notices.
Service Proof Upload Allow attachments; label exhibit numbers for clarity.
Signature Field Configure signer role, date field, and authentication level.

Technical Considerations for eFiling and eSigning

Confirm the court’s acceptable formats, whether proposed orders must be editable, and any required submission metadata before filing.

  • File Formats: PDF and PDF/A are commonly required.
  • Authentication: Email or multi-factor authentication is typical.
  • Integrations: Platforms integrate with e-filing portals and case management.

Where to File and Whom to Notify

Court practice varies; the following routing steps reflect common destinations and recipients when filing this motion.

  • File with Clerk: Submit original motion and proposed order to the court clerk via e-file or in person.
  • Serve Opposing Counsel: Provide a copy by the court’s accepted service method and document the service.
  • Notify Absent Party: Send notice to the absent party per local rule or statutory requirement.
  • Provide Proposed Order: Lodge a clean proposed order for the judge to sign, formatted per local standards.

Typical Timing and Deadlines to Expect

Timing varies by jurisdiction; use these common deadlines as planning benchmarks but confirm specific local rule deadlines.

Advance Filing Window:

File as required by local rules; commonly 7–14 days before hearing.

Service Deadline:

Serve opposing parties within the timeframe specified by court rules, often matching filing windows.

Response Period:

Opposing counsel may have a set number of days to oppose, often 7–14 days.

Judicial Review Time:

The judge may sign the order immediately or after a hearing; timing can range from same day to several weeks.

Entry and Notification:

Clerk enters the order and notifies parties per court e-filing procedures.

Consequences of an Incomplete or Incorrect Motion

Motion Denied: Court may refuse appointment.
Default Risk: Absence can lead to adverse orders if representation not authorized.
Sanctions: Misrepresentations may prompt court sanctions.
Service Defect: Improper service can void the proceeding.
Evidence Excluded: Untimely affidavits may be excluded.
Appeal Complications: Incorrect record hampers appellate review.

Practical Tips for Accurate and Efficient Completion

Apply these practical recommendations to minimize rejections, reduce disputes, and streamline court acceptance.

Confirm Local Court Rules
Always check the specific court’s rules for motion format, page limits, required attachments, and e-filing procedures before preparing the motion; noncompliance is a common cause of rejection and delay.
Document Proof of Service Carefully
Attach a clear proof-of-service declaration that lists the method, date, and recipient addresses; missing or vague service information often leads to contested admissibility and necessitates refiling.
Use a Clean Proposed Order
Provide a separate, properly captioned proposed order in the format preferred by the court, with cleanly stated relief and signature blocks for the judge to reduce clerical edits and speed entry.
Preserve a Complete Audit Trail
When using electronic signatures, retain the platform audit trail showing signer identity, authentication method, timestamps, and IP data so the court can verify authenticity if questioned.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Preparing This Motion

  • Using an incorrect case caption or number, which can lead to misfiling and additional clerk work.
  • Failing to attach a proposed order or using an order that lacks required judge signature lines.
  • Omitting proof of service details or serving parties outside the method required by local rules.
  • Assuming electronic signatures are accepted without confirming court-specific e-filing and signature policies.

Security and Compliance Considerations for Electronic Handling

Encryption: TLS 1.2/1.3 in transit; AES-256 at rest
Certifications: SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001 available
HIPAA: HIPAA support with BAA required
21 CFR Part 11: Compliant options for regulated records
Audit Trail: Timestamps, IP, and action logs preserved
Authentication: Multi-factor and KBA options supported

Comparing eSignature Options for Preparing and Signing This Motion

Basic pricing and feature availability for common eSignature providers. Confirm plan specifics and trial terms directly with vendors before selecting a paid plan.

signNow DocuSign Adobe Sign PandaDoc HelloSign
Starting Price $8/user/mo $15/user/mo $14/user/mo $19/user/mo $15/user/mo
Free Trial 7-day free trial Yes (trial) Yes (trial) Yes (trial) Yes (trial)
Bulk Send Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Audit Trail Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
HIPAA Compliant Yes Yes Yes No No
Envelope Cap No cap 100 envelopes/user/year Varies Varies Varies

Frequently Asked Questions and Practical Answers

Common questions about validity, filing, service, and troubleshooting when using this motion; answers emphasize local rule checks and record preservation.


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