§492. Qualification and restrictions and procedural rights

            A. Any real estate investment trust desiring to do business in this state shall file with the secretary of state a verified copy of the trust instrument creating such a trust and any amendment thereto, the assumed business name, if any, and the names and addresses of its trustees. It shall also file true copies of the foregoing with the clerk of court in the parish in which it has its principal place of business in this state, and in any parish in which it owns any real property. Any person dealing with such trust shall be bound by the terms and conditions of the trust instrument and any amendments thereto so filed.

            B. Except as otherwise specifically provided by law, any trust created under this part or entering this state pursuant thereto shall pay such taxes and fees as are imposed by the laws, ordinances, and resolutions of the state of Louisiana and any parishes and municipalities thereof on domestic and foreign corporations, respectively, on an identical basis therewith. In computing such taxes and fees, the shares of beneficial interest of such a trust shall have the character for tax purposes of shares of stock in private corporations.

            C. Any such trust shall be subject to such applicable provisions of law, now or hereafter enacted, with respect to domestic and foreign corporations, respectively, as relate to the issuance of securities, filing of required statements or reports, service of process, general grants of power to act, right to sue and be sued, limitation of individual liability of shareholders, rights to acquire, mortgage, sell, lease, operate and otherwise to deal in real and personal property, and other applicable rights, and duties existing under the statutes of this state in a manner similar to those applicable to domestic and foreign corporation, except that the provision of R.S. 12:1-401 and 204 relative to the use of the word "Trust" shall not be applicable to real estate investment trusts, as herein defined.

            D. The secretary of state, commissioner of securities, and the collector of revenue of the state of Louisiana may prescribe binding rules and regulations applicable to such trusts consistent with this Part.

            E. Repealed by Acts 2001, No. 8, §18, eff. July 1, 2001.

            F. Any real estate investment trust which has once elected to be taxed under Part II, Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended, shall not thereafter lose the rights and duties granted under this Section, notwithstanding the fact that such trust no longer qualifies for taxation under Part II, Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended, provided that such trust continues to be managed by trustees for the benefit and profit of at least one hundred holders of transferable certificates evidencing beneficial interests in the trust estate.

            G. Any person who has or has had a property right, a procedural right, or any personal or real right affected by the retroactive application of Subsection B of Section 491 of Title 12 or Subsection F of Section 492 of Title 12 both as amended by Act 526 of 1977 shall have a period of thirty days from the effective date of this act to petition a district court of competent jurisdiction for any relief authorized by law as to any rights affected thereby.

            The petition shall set forth the manner in which such rights have been affected by the retroactive application of the aforesaid provisions of Act 526 of the 1977 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature. Upon a proper showing that a petitioner's rights have been adversely affected by the retroactive application of the aforesaid provisions of Act 526 of the 1977 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature, the court shall render judgment granting petitioners restoration of any rights lost thereby.

            Upon application and a showing that the judgment of this lawsuit may affect other pending actions, judicial proceedings or property rights the court shall grant a temporary restraining order and, in due course, a preliminary injunction and a permanent injunction staying such other actions or proceedings whether they be summary, ordinary, executory or extraordinary. Bond shall be fixed at $250.00.

            H. In order to affect the title to immovable property as to third persons a notice of lis pendens must be filed into the conveyance records of the parish in which the immovable property is located and a notice of its pendens must be served by registered or certified mail on any person claiming a present ownership interest in the immovable property. The notice of lis pendens must contain a description of the immovable property and be filed and/or served within six months of the effective date of this Act.

            For purposes of the sale of immovable property in this state, such sale by a corporation, trust or unincorporated association, which previously qualified as a real estate investment trust, and acting through its authorized officer, trustee, or agent is valid for title purposes.

            Added by Acts 1962, No. 330, §1. Renumbered from R.S.1950, §12:396 by Acts 1968, No. 105, §3, eff. Jan. 1, 1969. Amended by Acts 1970, No. 136, §2; Acts 1977, No. 526, §1; Acts 1978, No. 723, §3, eff. July 17, 1978; Acts 2001, No. 8, §18, eff. July 1, 2001; Acts 2019, No. 19, §2, eff. May 28, 2019.