§ 141.440 RSMo — Notice to persons named in petition

1. The collector shall also cause to be prepared and sent by restricted, registered or certified mail with postage prepaid, within thirty days after the filing of such petition, a notice of the petition, to the persons named in the petition as being the last known persons in whose names tax bills affecting the respective parcels of real estate described in said petition were last billed or charged on the books of the collector, or the last known owner of record, if different, and to the addresses of said persons upon said records of the collector. The terms "restricted" , "registered" or "certified mail" as used in this section mean mail which carries on the face thereof in a conspicuous place, where it will not be obliterated, the endorsement "DELIVER TO ADDRESSEE ONLY", and which also requires a return receipt or a statement by the postal authorities that the addressee refused to receive and receipt for such mail. If the notice is returned to the collector by the postal authorities as undeliverable for reasons other than the refusal by the addressee to receive and receipt for the notice as shown by the return receipt, then the collector shall make a search of the records maintained by the county, including those kept by the recorder of deeds, to discern the name and address of any person who, from such records, appears as a successor to the person to whom the original notice was addressed, and to cause another notice to be mailed to such person. The collector shall prepare and file with the circuit clerk at least thirty days before judgment is entered by the court on the petition an affidavit reciting to the court any name, address and serial number of the tract of real estate affected by any such notices of suit that are undeliverable because of an addressee's refusal to receive and receipt for the same, or of any notice otherwise nondeliverable by mail, or in the event that any name or address does not appear on the records of the collector, then of that fact. The affidavit in addition to the recitals set forth above shall also state reason for the nondelivery of such notice.

2. The collector shall prepare and send, by first-class mail, a copy of the petition within thirty days after the filing of such a petition to the occupant of such parcel or property.