Service of notice of foreclosure of lien

# 1.

If the current assessment records show that a residential building is located on the property, the county auditor shall deliver the notice of foreclosure of tax lien to the sheriff who shall serve it or cause it to be served personally upon the owner, if known to be a resident of this state. If the owner is a nonresident of this state, the county auditor shall serve the notice by certified mail addressed to the owner at the owner's last-known post-office address and determine whether personal service upon any person is required under subsection 3. If the current assessment records show that no residential building is located on the property, the auditor shall serve the notice by certified mail addressed to the owner at the owner's last-known post-office address.

# 2.

By March first, the county auditor shall request from the recorder and the clerk of the district court a list giving the names and addresses of all persons who appear to be interested as owners, mortgagees, lienholders, or judgment creditors. Ownership does not include an easement or right of way recorded or a mineral interest that was severed from the surface estate. The recorder and the clerk of the district court shall provide the county auditor with the requested lists by April fifteenth following the request.

# 3.

On or before June first, the county auditor shall serve the notice of tax lien foreclosure personally upon any person actually residing upon the property subject to tax lien and by certified mail upon any other person entitled to the possession of the property as may appear from the records of the recorder or clerk of the district court.

# 4.

The county auditor shall serve the notice of foreclosure of tax lien upon each mortgagee, lienholder, and other person with an interest in the property except a person whose only interest is in a mineral interest that was severed from the surface estate before the filing of any unsatisfied lien or mortgage or before January first of the year following the year for which the taxes were levied and to which the notice of foreclosure of tax lien relates, and upon whom personal service is not required by this section, as shown by the records of the recorder or the clerk of the district court of the county. The notice must be served by certified mail. If a mortgagee, lienholder, or other person entitled to notice under this subsection has an agent registered with the secretary of state for the purpose of accepting service, the notice required under this subsection must be served on that registered agent.

# 5.

The expense of service of the notice, publication, and other foreclosure costs under this chapter in the amount of fifty dollars or actual costs whichever is higher must be added to the amount required to satisfy the tax lien. The auditor or sheriff shall make proof of service by mail by affidavit showing the names and addresses of all parties upon whom the notice was served with the date of mailing in each case and shall attach the registry, certification, and return receipts and file the affidavit and receipts with the original notice of foreclosure of tax lien. Service by publication under this chapter must be shown of record by filing of an affidavit of publication.

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In this chapter (29 sections)

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