141.440. Notice to persons named in petition (first class charter counties).
Notice to persons named in petition (first class charter counties).
141.440. The collector shall also cause to be prepared andsent by restricted, registered or certified mail with postageprepaid, within thirty days after the filing of such petition, abrief notice of the filing of the suit, to the persons named inthe petition as being the last known persons in whose names taxbills affecting the respective parcels of real estate describedin said petition were last billed or charged on the books of thecollector, or the last known owner of record, if different, andto the addresses of said persons upon said records of thecollector. The terms "restricted", "registered" or "certifiedmail" as used in this section mean mail which carries on the facethereof in a conspicuous place, where it will not be obliterated,the endorsement "DELIVER TO ADDRESSEE ONLY", and which alsorequires a return receipt or a statement by the postalauthorities that the addressee refused to receive and receipt forsuch mail. If the notice is returned to the collector by thepostal authorities as undeliverable for reasons other than therefusal by the addressee to receive and receipt for the notice asshown by the return receipt, then the collector shall make asearch of the records maintained by the county, including thosekept by the recorder of deeds, to discern the name and address ofany person who, from such records, appears as a successor to theperson to whom the original notice was addressed, and to causeanother notice to be mailed to such person. The collector shallprepare and file with the circuit clerk at least thirty daysbefore judgment is entered by the court on the petition anaffidavit reciting to the court any name, address and serialnumber of the tract of real estate affected by any such noticesof suit that are undeliverable because of an addressee's refusalto receive and receipt for the same, or of any notice otherwisenondeliverable by mail, or in the event that any name or addressdoes not appear on the records of the collector, then of thatfact. The affidavit in addition to the recitals set forth aboveshall also state reason for the nondelivery of such notice.
(L. 1943 p. 1029 § 18, A.L. 1949 p. 602, A.L. 1982 H.B. 1351, et al.)