(a) In all cases, when any person desires to make a person an heir at law, it shall be lawful to do so by a declaration in writing in favor of the person, to be acknowledged before any judge, justice of the peace, clerk of any court, or before any court of record in this state.
(b) Before the declaration shall be of any force or effect, it shall be recorded in the county where the declarant may reside, or in the county where the person in whose favor such a declaration is made may reside.