§ 140.330 RSMo — Suit to quiet title — duty of court where title invalid

1. Any person holding any deed of lands or lots executed by the county collector for the nonpayment of taxes, may commence a suit in the circuit court of the county where such lands lie, to quiet his title thereto, without taking possession of such lands, and all parties who have, or claim to have, or appear of record in the county where such land or lot is situated, to have any interest in, or lien upon, such lands or lots, shall be made defendants in such suit, and no outstanding unrecorded deed, mortgage, lease or claim shall be of any effect as against the title or right of the complainant as fixed and declared by the decree made in such cause.

2. The court shall examine into the facts, and if upon the hearing of such cause it shall appear that the complainant's title was or is invalid for any cause, such suit shall not be dismissed by the court, but the court, in cases where the tax was due and unpaid, or where the complainant's title was invalid for defect or uncertainty of description shall ascertain the amount due the complainant, for principal and interest, to be computed at not to exceed ten percent per annum, and from whom due, and shall decree the payment thereof within a reasonable time by the owner of such land, the owner of any life estate therein, or any other person in possession as lessee thereof and owing such sum ascertained, and in default thereof shall direct that such leasehold, life estate and land or lot be sold therefor, and that the equity and right of redemption of all defendants in such suit, and all persons claiming under them shall be forever foreclosed.

3. In any such sale the rents and profits of said land for a term not exceeding seven years shall be first offered for sale and on failure to realize a sum sufficient to discharge said lien and cost of sale, then the interest of the person so adjudged to be owing the amount so ascertained shall be next offered for sale; on failure to realize therefrom a sum sufficient to discharge said lien and cost of sale then the life estate in such land together with the interest of the person adjudged to be owing the amount so ascertained shall be next offered for sale and on failure to realize a sum sufficient to discharge said lien and costs of sale, then, finally, the fee simple of such land shall be offered for sale. In case of the sale of such land or any part or parcel thereof or any interest therein, the sheriff shall upon the receipt of the purchase money execute to the purchaser a deed in fee simple, or a lease for the unexpired term of the interest so sold, as the case may be, and there shall be no redemption from any such sale, and the purchaser shall have the right of immediate possession of such land or lot.

4. At such sale if such land or any part or parcel thereof or any interest therein be sold for a sum in excess of the lien and cost, then such surplus shall be paid over to the person or persons lawfully entitled thereto as such rights are determined by the court in its decree in said cause.

5. If the court shall upon the hearing of such cause determine the title of the complainant to be valid it shall so decree. In all proceedings under this section, the rules of pleading, process and procedure, together with rights of appeal and proceedings on appeal, now or that may hereafter in this state be applicable to suits to quiet title, when not inconsistent with or contradictory to the provisions of this chapter, shall prevail. The remedies granted by this section and section 140.570 shall not be held exclusive but in addition to any applicable remedies now or hereafter existing.