§ 141.500 RSMo — Judgment — content — limit on penalties, fees and interest — notice of judgment, requirements

1. After the trial of the issues, the court shall, as promptly as circumstances permit, render judgment. If the court finds that no tax bill upon the land collectible by the collector or the relator was delinquent when the suit was instituted or tried, then the judgment of the court shall be that the cause be dismissed as to the parcels of real estate described in the tax bill; or, if the evidence warrant, the judgment may be for the principal amount of the delinquent tax bills upon the real estate upon which suit was brought, together with interest, penalties, attorney's and appraiser's fees and costs computed as of the date of the judgment. The judgment may recite the amount of each tax bill, the date when it began to bear interest, and the rate of such interest, together with the rate and amount of penalties, attorney's and appraiser's fees not to exceed fifteen dollars. It may decree that the lien upon the parcels of real estate described in the tax bill be foreclosed and such real estate sold by the sheriff, and the cause shall be continued for further proceedings, as herein provided.

2. The collector shall cause to be prepared and sent by restricted, registered or certified mail with postage prepaid, within thirty days after the rendering of such judgment, a brief notice of such judgment and the availability of a written redemption contract pursuant to section 141.530 to the persons named in the judgment as being the last known persons in whose names tax bills affecting the respective parcels of real estate described in such judgment 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 such persons upon the 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 prior to confirmation hearings an affidavit reciting to the court any name, address and serial number of the tract of real estate affected of any such notices of judgment 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.

3. The collector shall prepare and send to the occupant of such parcel or property, by first-class mail, a copy of the judgment of foreclosure within thirty days after the date of such judgment.