Prichard can ask courts to settle ownership of tax-sale land

Prichard may ask the circuit court to settle ownership through a faster court process. The process covers tax-sale land within Prichard that the city bought from the state land commissioner. The city must record notice of its planned case and serve its petition on identified people with property claims. One petition may cover multiple properties. The law took effect June 1, 2026. A hearing must occur within 90 days of the scheduling order unless the court grants a party’s request for more time for good cause.

Prichard must make a good-faith effort to find people with property claims and give hearing notices. Covered people include owners, heirs, lenders, buyers, and others with legal claims to the land. Holders of utility access rights are excluded from this notice group. The law lists steps that establish a good-faith search, including checking records and maintaining an owner-information sign on the property for at least 30 days. If people cannot be identified or notified, the court may allow newspaper notice once a week for three consecutive weeks instead. A person asserting a right to buy back the property at the hearing may do so under state tax-sale law by paying all required taxes, interest, penalties, fees, and other charges. If the city finds someone’s name and address after publication, it must notify that person promptly. The court must delay the hearing enough to allow notice. The city must mail and post hearing notices at least 30 days before the hearing. People contesting the case must file written objections and serve them on the city at least 14 days before the hearing.

If no one appears or an appearing party fails to buy back the land, the court must enter judgment giving Prichard ownership. The judgment ends competing ownership claims, liens securing debts, and further rights to buy back the property, except for the listed land-use rights and restrictions. Utility access rights, other recorded rights to use or cross the land, and restrictions in deeds, subdivision plans, or environmental law survive. Appealing an ownership order requires a bond equal to the amount needed to buy back the property, backed by at least one financially able guarantor. An appeal pauses the order only for the properties named in the appeal. Reversal requires a property-identification or notice defect that denied a party a fair legal process; minor technical errors are insufficient. The court cannot issue an injunction to pause this process. If a petition is denied, the city may file another. Judgment is due within 10 days after the case is heard. The city or a person with a property claim may appeal within 42 days of the judgment’s effective date.