Tax sale certificate not to be delivered before final judgment recorded; assignment; original certificate, production unnecessary where recorded; collector's duties upon recordation of final judgment

The collector shall not deliver up or give possession of the tax sale certificate or certificates to the purchaser, or his agents, or nominees prior to the recordation of a final judgment in the Superior Court, as hereinabove provided for; provided, however, that after said sale has been approved and the purchase price paid, the purchaser shall receive a properly executed written assignment of the tax sale certificate or certificates, executed by the mayor or chief finance officer and attested by the municipal clerk, certifying to the sale of the certificate or certificates, and the proceedings relating to the said sale, said assignment shall specifically state that the assignee's title to said certificate or certificates is subject to forfeiture upon his failure to foreclose within the time limited by this statute. The tax collector of the municipality shall not be obliged to produce the original certificate in the tax foreclosure proceedings; provided, it has been properly recorded in the office of the county clerk or the office of the register of deeds in the county where such office exists. When the certificate or certificates are recorded, the assignee shall submit certified copies of the record in evidence in place of the original certificate.

Upon the recordation of a final judgment of the Superior Court, as hereinabove provided for, within the time limited by this statute, the collector shall deliver the tax sale certificate or certificates to the purchaser, or his agents or nominees, and shall certify, by endorsement on the assignment previously executed pursuant to this section or by the execution of a certificate, that the assignee's title to said certificate or certificates is no longer subject to forfeiture for failure to foreclose and that such foreclosure has been completed within the time limited by this statute. Thereupon the purchaser may dispose of the tax sale certificate or certificates in the same manner as, and as fully as if such assignment were absolute and unconditional and the tax sale certificate or certificates had been delivered at the time of the execution of said assignment.

L.1943, c. 149, p. 428, s. 6. Amended by L.1947, c. 386, p. 1224, s. 1; L.1950, c. 82, p. 141, s. 1; L.1981, c. 462, s. 54.