Procedure to claim title from nonresident presumed dead
Sec. 19. (a) A person who claims real estate under section 18 of
this chapter may file a verified complaint in the circuit or superior
court of the county in which the real estate is located. The complaint
must:
(1) name as a defendant the nonresident who is presumed dead
under section 18 of this chapter;
(2) particularly describe the real estate; and
(3) contain a statement of the facts required by section 18 of
this chapter.
(b) Notice of the pendency of the action, including the date on
which the court shall hear the complaint filed under subsection (a),
must be published in a daily or weekly newspaper of general
circulation that is printed and published in the county seat of the
county in which the real estate is located. If a newspaper does not
exist, notice must be published in a newspaper that is printed and
published in the county in which the real estate is located. Notice
must also be published in a newspaper of general circulation that is
printed and published in the county seat of the county in which the
defendant last resided. If a newspaper is not printed and published in
that county seat, then notice must be published in a newspaper that
is printed and published in the county seat nearest to the county in
which the defendant last resided.
(c) Prima facie proof of publication of notice as required by
subsection (b) consists of:
(1) affidavits of the publishers of the newspapers in which the
notice was published; and
(2) a printed copy of the published notice.
(d) The court shall hear the complaint filed under subsection (a)
not earlier than sixty-five (65) days after notice was first published
under subsection (b). If the court finds that:
(1) the defendant received sufficient notice under subsection
(b); and
(2) the facts alleged in the complaint are true;
the court shall enter judgment quieting the title to the real estate in
favor of the plaintiff.
(e) A judgment entered under subsection (d) becomes final and
absolute three (3) years after the date it was entered unless, within
those three (3) years, the defendant appears and moves to vacate the
judgment.
As added by P.L.2-2002, SEC.15.
Last modified: May 24, 2006