The court may allow the attorney at law appointed to represent an absent heir or legatee, upon the completion of his duties, reasonable compensation for the services rendered, payable out of the share of the absent heir or legatee in the succession.
If the person whom the attorney has been appointed to represent is not entitled to any share in the succession, or such share is insufficient to compensate him adequately for his services, his reasonable compensation shall be taxed as costs of court against the mass of the succession.
Such compensation may be determined judicially by contradictory motion against the absent heir or legatee, if he has appeared through counsel or an attorney in fact, or otherwise against the succession representative.
La. C.P. § 3174