Suits to Confirm Title or Interest and to Remove Clouds on Title

Miss. Code Ann. tit. 11, ch. 17
in effect

Miss. Code Ann. § 11-17-1 Proceedings to confirm tax title.

Any person holding or claiming under a tax title lands heretofore or hereafter sold for taxes, when the period of redemption has expired, may proceed by sworn complaint in the chancery court to have such title confirmed and quieted, and shall set forth in his complaint his claim under the tax sale, and the names and places of residence of all persons interested in the land, so far as known to plaintiff, or as he can ascertain by diligent inquiry. Where the names of persons in interest or their places of residence are unknown and have not been ascertained by diligent inquiry, the complaint shall so state. Where the name and places of residence of persons in interest are given they shall be made parties defendant. Where the complaint shall show that the persons interested are unknown to plaintiff and that he has made diligent inquiry for their names and could not obtain them, all persons interested may be made defendants by a notice addressed: “To all persons having or claiming any interest in the following described land, sold for taxes on (inserting date of sale), viz: (Describing land as described in the tax collector’s conveyance).” The notice shall state the nature of the suit and it shall be published in accordance with the requirements of the Mississippi Rules of Civil Procedure. It shall be lawful in all cases to set forth in the complaint the names of all persons interested, as far as ascertained, and make them parties and also to join and make defendants “all persons having or claiming any legal or equitable interest in” the lands described in the complaint. Such suits shall be proceeded with as other cases; and if the complaints be taken for confessed, or if it appear that plaintiff is entitled to a judgment, it shall be rendered, confirming the tax title against all persons claiming to hold the land by title existing at the time of the sale for taxes. Such judgment shall vest in the plaintiff, without any conveyance by a master or commissioner, a good and sufficient title to said land; and such judgment shall, in all courts of this state, be held as conclusive evidence that the title to said land was vested in the plaintiff, as against all persons claiming the same under the title existing prior to the sale for taxes.

Miss. Code Ann. § 11-17-3 Confirmation of state land patents.

Any patentee, or any person, firm or corporation, claiming title or other interest in land under or through any patentee by virtue of any patent issued by the state for lands forfeited to the state for nonpayment of taxes, whether such claimant be in possession or not, or be threatened to be disturbed in his possession or not, may proceed as party plaintiff against the state, as a party defendant, by sworn complaint in the chancery court of the county where the land, or some part thereof, is situated, to have such title or interest confirmed and quieted. No deraignment of plaintiff’s title in such cases shall be required.

Miss. Code Ann. § 11-17-5 Confirmation of state land patents; duty of attorney general.

The attorney general, in proper cases after investigation, shall file an answer in all such cases setting up any defense on the part of the state of Mississippi, and all of the pleadings in such cases shall be the same as in other cases in chancery. The said cause shall be heard and determined as other cases in chancery.

Miss. Code Ann. § 11-17-7 Confirmation of state land patents; powers of court.

The court is hereby granted large discretion and far reaching powers in the matter of establishing and fixing the validity of land patents issued by the state and title conveyed thereunder, and the sound discretion of the court in deciding all such cases shall be the controlling factor in settling the issues where only state interests are involved. No decree pro confesso shall be taken against the state, but on failure of the attorney general to answer within the time required by law, the cause shall be heard on the bill and proof thereon.

Miss. Code Ann. § 11-17-9 Confirmation of state land patents; decree; effect of fraud and failure to pay purchase price.

Upon the hearing of such cases, it shall be the duty of the chancery court to enter a decree validating and perfecting the title of said land from the state of Mississippi, unless it shall appear to the court and the court shall find as a fact that the state has not acquired title to said land by virtue of said tax sale, or that the title to the said land involved in the suit was divested out of the state of Mississippi without payment of purchase price or by reason of actual fraud on the part of the patentee, or his representatives. In such cases of fraud and failure to pay purchase price, the chancery court shall enter a decree forever annulling and cancelling the said patent; but no patent heretofore issued shall be cancelled in such proceeding because of loss of the application papers to purchase said land, or because of errors or omissions or incorrect statements in said application, or other papers in connection with the sale of said land, such matters not constituting fraud as above defined.

Miss. Code Ann. § 11-17-11 Confirmation of state land patents; appeals.

Any of the parties to the suit may appeal as in other proceedings in chancery, provided any interlocutory appeal is taken within ten days after the rendition of the decree from which the appeal is desired, and provided that any final appeal is taken within sixty days from the date of the rendition of the final decree.

Miss. Code Ann. § 11-17-13 Confirmation of state land patents; res judicata.

Any land patent and title perfected by a decree in a suit under Sections 11-17-3 through 11-17-17 shall forever estop and preclude the state and other parties from thereafter questioning the validity of the patent involved in such proceeding.

Miss. Code Ann. § 11-17-15 Confirmation of state land patents; duty of district attorney and county attorney.

It is hereby made the duty of the district attorneys and county attorneys in their respective jurisdictions to fully cooperate with the attorney general in the investigation and trial of all cases filed under Sections 11-17-3 through 11-17-17; and, at the request of the attorney general, such officers shall investigate the facts involved and file such answers and perform such other reasonable services in connection therewith as the attorney general may request.

Miss. Code Ann. § 11-17-17 Confirmation of state land patents; construction of Sections 11-17-3 through 11-17-17.

Sections 11-17-3 through 11-17-17 shall be liberally construed to validate and quiet title to lands heretofore passing under patent from the state and shall in no way be construed as repealing or limiting any other statutes now existing in aid of such titles under patents from the state.

Miss. Code Ann. § 11-17-19 Confirmation of title or interests granted by political subdivision.

Any person, firm or corporation which claims title to or a leasehold or other interest in any real property, other than sixteenth section school lands or lands granted in lieu thereof, under or by virtue of a sale, conveyance or lease of such property by any county, municipality, supervisor’s district, or other political subdivision of the State of Mississippi, acting either separately or jointly, may proceed by sworn complaint in the chancery court of the county in which such real property, or some part thereof, is located, to have the title to or leasehold or other interest in such real property quieted and confirmed. Such action may be brought whether or not such person, firm or corporation be in possession of such real property, or whether he or it be threatened to be disturbed in such possession or not. In such complaint, the person, firm or corporation claiming such title or leasehold or other interest shall be the party plaintiff and there shall be made defendants thereto the county, municipality or other political subdivision which sold, conveyed or leased said property, the Attorney General of the state and the district attorney of the county in which said suit is filed. In any such suit, it shall not be necessary that the plaintiff therein deraign his title to said property.

Miss. Code Ann. § 11-17-21 Proceedings in suit for confirmation of title granted by political subdivision; defaults.

All proceedings in said suit shall be governed by the Mississippi Rules of Civil Procedure. However, no default judgment shall be entered against the defendants unless the court determines the truth of the averments after a hearing pursuant to the Mississippi Rules of Civil Procedure.

Miss. Code Ann. § 11-17-23 Confirmation of title or interest granted by political subdivision; decree; res judicata.

In all such proceedings the court shall find whether the sale, conveyance or lease of such real property was lawful and valid. Upon the hearing of such case, the chancery court shall enter a decree validating and confirming the complainant’s title to or leasehold or other interest in such real property as against the defendants in said suit, unless it shall appear to the court and the court shall find that the title thereto or leasehold or other interest therein was not lawfully and validly acquired by virtue of the sale, conveyance or lease under which such complainant claims, in which latter case the chancery court shall enter a decree annulling and cancelling such sale, conveyance or lease, or such other decree as the court may find to be lawful, just and equitable in such case. When any sale, conveyance or lease of any such property shall be confirmed and validated under the provisions of Sections 11-17-19 through 11-17-27 by decree of the chancery court, such decree shall forever estop and preclude the defendants and all other parties from thereafter questioning the validity of the sale, conveyance or lease involved in such proceedings.

Miss. Code Ann. § 11-17-25 Confirmation of title or interest granted by political subdivision; appeals.

Any of the parties to a confirmation suit filed under the provisions of Sections 11-17-19 through 11-17-27 may appeal from the decree of the chancery court in the manner and within the time provided by law, and such appeals shall be heard as are other cases of appeals from the decrees of the chancery court.

Miss. Code Ann. § 11-17-27 Confirmation of title or interest granted by political subdivision; applicability of Sections 11-17-19 through 11-17-27.

Sections 11-17-19 through 11-17-27 shall be applicable to all sales, conveyances and leases of real property, other than sixteenth section school lands or lands granted in lieu thereof, made by any county, municipality, supervisor’s district or other political subdivision of the State of Mississippi, acting either jointly or separately, to any person, firm or corporation, including, but not being limited to, sales, conveyances and leases made under the authority of Sections 57-1-1 through 57-1-51, any other statute of the State of Mississippi, whether same be general, special or local and private, and sales, conveyances and leases made under the general authority of counties, municipalities, and other political subdivisions, whether same were authorized by a specific statute or not.

Miss. Code Ann. § 11-17-29 Any other title may be confirmed.

The owner in possession of any land, or the owner thereof who may be out of possession, if there be no adverse occupancy thereof, may file a bill in the chancery court to have his title confirmed and quieted. The law for notice, process, proceedings, and practice, as provided for confirming and quieting tax titles shall apply, no matter by what tenure the complainant may hold. Unknown and nonresident parties may be made defendants as they are made defendants to proceedings to confirm tax titles. If on the final hearing of any such suit, the court shall be satisfied that the complainant is the real owner of the land, it shall so adjudge, and its decree shall be conclusive evidence of title as determined from the date of the decree as against all parties defendant.

Miss. Code Ann. § 11-17-31 Removing clouds upon titles.

When a person not the rightful owner of any real estate, shall have any conveyance or other evidence of title thereto, or shall assert any claim, or pretend to have any right of title thereto, which may cast doubt, or suspicion on the title of the real owner, such real owner may file a bill in the chancery court to have such conveyance or other evidence or claim of title cancelled, and such cloud, doubt or suspicion removed from said title, whether such real owner be in possession or not, or be threatened to be disturbed in his possession or not, and whether the defendant be a resident of this state or not. Any person having the equitable title to land may, in like cases, file a bill to divest the legal title out of the person in whom the same may be vested, and to vest the same in the equitable owner. Any person holding or claiming under a tax title lands heretofore or hereafter sold for taxes may proceed hereunder in like manner and may include, as a defendant, any political subdivision of the state, having or asserting any evidence or claim of title adverse to such tax title.

Miss. Code Ann. § 11-17-33 Receiver appointed for nonresident or unknown owners of mineral interests.

To encourage the exploration and development of the state’s mineral resources, upon application, accompanied by sworn affidavit, of one or more persons, firms or corporations claiming or owning any mineral interest in a tract of land and upon which mineral production is desired, the chancery court of the county in which the land, or any part thereof, is located shall have the authority to appoint the chancery clerk as receiver of any mineral interest claimed or owned by any person, or persons, whose whereabouts or identity is unknown, if the court is satisfied after hearing and proof that the said person, or persons, could not be found after diligent search and inquiry and that petitioners will suffer loss, damage or injury unless such receiver is appointed. Such receiver shall have power and authority, under court order, to execute and deliver to a lessee, determined by the court, a mineral lease on any such outstanding mineral interest, upon such terms and conditions as may be prescribed by the court; provided, however, that the court affirmatively find that the lease taken as a whole shall be at least as favorable to the absent person as other leases in the same tract of land and shall be in the best interest of all parties. It shall be conclusively presumed in every court in this state that the terms and conditions of said lease are reasonable, fair and represent the fair market value of the interests leased. The moneys, if any, paid to such receiver for execution, delay rentals, royalties or any other proceeds of such lease shall be paid immediately upon accrual to the receiver and shall be impounded by said receiver for the use and benefit of such person. The receiver shall hold, preserve and invest any such money so received in the same manner as other moneys held by the chancery clerk and on order of the court shall pay any money so held, with any interest accrued less costs of the receivership, to any person holding a valid claim thereto when said claim is asserted within ten (10) years of the date of the decree establishing the receivership. The official bond of the chancery clerk shall cover any money paid him as such receiver and the chancellor may prescribe such additional bond as he may think proper. No receiver shall be appointed under the provisions of this section unless all interested parties who are not parties to the petition shall be made defendants and all such defendants shall have been served with process of the court provided by law for cases in chancery court. The summons by publication shall be substantially in the following form: Click to view The costs of the action for appointment of the receiver shall be taxed against the petitioners if they fail to prove their case. The receivership, once established, shall continue, unless dissolved by the court for good cause, for a period of at least ten (10) years. This section shall not alter or change any laws now in effect relating to suits for the removal of clouds upon title or the appointment of receivers under any other law, but is cumulative thereof. The term “tract of land” as used herein shall not be limited to property wherein petitioner owns an undivided interest; but may include any geographic boundary upon which mineral exploration and/or production may be conducted even though the tract may include property in which petitioner has no property interest or any other geographic boundary the court, in its discretion, may deem appropriate. “THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI (inserting names of defendants) You are summoned to appear before the Chancery Court of the County of in said state, on the Monday of , A.D. , to defend the suit of (et al.) praying the appointment of a receiver of an undivided mineral interest claimed to be owned by you in and under (here describe the land) wherein you are a defendant. This the day of , A.D. Clerk”

Miss. Code Ann. § 11-17-34 Disposition of mineral lease proceeds held by receiver.

Unless otherwise released by the court, the receiver appointed in Section 11-17-33 shall hold all net proceeds paid in connection with such lease for a period of ten (10) years from the date of the decree establishing the receivership. If, at the end of that period of ten (10) years, no valid claim has been made for such moneys and said mineral interests, all moneys and mineral interests held by the receiver shall immediately escheat to the state in the same manner as if the absent person had died intestate leaving no heirs capable of inheriting as set forth in Chapter 11, Title 89, Mississippi Code of 1972. Provided, however, any person who is not concluded as a party or privy by a decree in favor of the state in proceedings to establish an escheat, may recover of the state, by suit, the net proceeds derived from any lease and from the sale of such minerals and paid into the state treasury, if the party shall establish his right to such minerals and that the same had not properly escheated to the state; but the title of the purchaser of such minerals shall not be thereby disturbed.

Miss. Code Ann. § 11-17-35 Title of complainant must be deraigned—and decrees, in certain cases, recorded as deeds.

In bills to confirm title to real estate, and to cancel and remove clouds therefrom, the complainant must set forth in plain and concise language the deraignment of his title. If title has passed out of the sovereign more than seventy-five (75) years prior to the filing of the bill, then the deraignment shall be sufficient if it show title out of the sovereign and a deraignment of title for not less than sixty (60) years prior to the filing of the bill. A mere statement therein that complainant is the real owner of the land shall be insufficient, unless good and valid reason be given why he does not deraign his title. In all such cases, final decrees in the complainant’s favor shall be recorded in the record of deeds, and shall be indexed as if a conveyance of the land from the defendant or each of them, if more than one, to the complainant or complainants, if more than one.

Miss. Code Ann. § 11-17-37 Decrees as to possession, rents, etc.

In suits to try title, to cancel deeds and other clouds upon title, and to confirm title to real estate, the chancery court shall have jurisdiction to decree possession and to displace possession, to decree rents and compensation for improvements and taxes. In all cases where said courts heretofore exercised jurisdiction auxiliary to courts of common law, it may exercise such jurisdiction to grant the relief sought, although the legal remedy may not have been exhausted or the legal title established by a suit at law.

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