Louisiana Revised Statutes Tit. 13, § 3437. Duties

A. The curator shall take possession of, preserve, and administer the absent person's property. He shall enforce all obligations in favor of the absent person, shall represent him in all civil matters, and may exercise all procedural rights available to a litigant. He shall act at all times as a prudent administrator, and shall be personally responsible for all damages resulting from his failure to act.

B. When an absent person has no known heirs and is presumed dead, it shall be the duty of the curator to initiate proceedings for a declaration of death.