130th Ohio General Assembly
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(127th General Assembly)
(Substitute House Bill Number 138)



AN ACT
To amend sections 323.25, 323.28, 323.47, 2303.11, 2323.07, 2327.01, 2327.02, 2329.17, 2329.18, 2329.19, 2329.23, 2329.26, 2329.27, 2329.30, 2329.31, 2329.36, 2703.26, 5309.64, 5721.18, 5721.19, and 5723.01 and to enact sections 2323.06, 2329.191, 2329.271, 2329.272, and 2703.141 of the Revised Code to require purchasers of real property at a judicial sale to provide certain identifying information, to require purchasers to pay the balance due on the purchase price within thirty days of the confirmation of the sale, to allow municipal corporations to conduct inspections of property subject to a writ of execution, to require judicial sales to be confirmed within thirty days of sale, to require officers who sell real property at a judicial sale to file a deed within fourteen days of payment of the balance due on the purchase price, to authorize courts and county boards of revision to transfer certain tax delinquent lands subject to judicial foreclosure without appraisal or sale, to permit a summary property description to be read at a judicial sale, to allow the courts to perform mediation in an action for the foreclosure of a mortgage, and to offer property that did not sell at a judicial sale to a political subdivision before forfeiture to the state.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Ohio:

SECTION 1. That sections 323.25, 323.28, 323.47, 2303.11, 2323.07, 2327.01, 2327.02, 2329.17, 2329.18, 2329.19, 2329.23, 2329.26, 2329.27, 2329.30, 2329.31, 2329.36, 2703.26, 5309.64, 5721.18, 5721.19, and 5723.01 be amended and sections 2323.06, 2329.191, 2329.271, 2329.272, and 2703.141 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:

Sec. 323.25.  When taxes charged against an entry on the tax duplicate, or any part of such those taxes, are not paid within sixty days after delivery of the delinquent land duplicate to the county treasurer as prescribed by section 5721.011 of the Revised Code, the county treasurer shall enforce the lien for such the taxes by civil action in the treasurer's official capacity as treasurer, for the sale of such premises in the same way mortgage liens are enforced or for the transfer of such premises to an electing subdivision pursuant to section 323.28 of the Revised Code, in the court of common pleas of the county in the same way mortgage liens are enforced, in a municipal court with jurisdiction, or in the county board of revision with jurisdiction pursuant to section 323.66 of the Revised Code. After the civil action has been instituted, but before the filing of an entry of confirmation of sale or transfer pursuant to the action, any person entitled to redeem the land may do so by tendering to the county treasurer an amount sufficient, as determined by the court or board of revision, to pay the taxes, assessments, penalties, interest, and charges then due and unpaid, and the costs incurred in the civil action, and by demonstrating that the property is in compliance with all applicable zoning regulations, land use restrictions, and building, health, and safety codes.

If the delinquent land duplicate lists minerals or rights to minerals listed pursuant to sections 5713.04, 5713.05, and 5713.06 of the Revised Code, the county treasurer may enforce the lien for taxes against such minerals or rights to minerals by civil action, in the treasurer's official capacity as treasurer, in the manner prescribed by this section, or proceed as provided under section 5721.46 of the Revised Code.

If service by publication is necessary, such publication shall be made once a week for three consecutive weeks instead of as provided by the Rules of Civil Procedure, and the service shall be complete at the expiration of three weeks after the date of the first publication. If the prosecuting attorney determines that service upon a defendant may be obtained ultimately only by publication, the prosecuting attorney may cause service to be made simultaneously by certified mail, return receipt requested, ordinary mail, and publication. The county treasurer shall not enforce the lien for taxes against real property to which any of the following applies:

(A) The real property is the subject of an application for exemption from taxation under section 5715.27 of the Revised Code and does not appear on the delinquent land duplicate;

(B) The real property is the subject of a valid delinquent tax contract under section 323.31 of the Revised Code for which the county treasurer has not made certification to the county auditor that the delinquent tax contract has become void in accordance with that section;

(C) A tax certificate respecting that property has been sold under section 5721.32 or 5721.33 of the Revised Code; provided, however, that nothing in this division shall prohibit the county treasurer or the county prosecuting attorney from enforcing the lien of the state and its political subdivisions for taxes against a certificate parcel with respect to any or all of such taxes that at the time of enforcement of such lien are not the subject of a tax certificate.

Upon application of the plaintiff, the court shall advance such cause on the docket, so that it may be first heard.

Sec. 323.28.  (A) A finding shall be entered in a proceeding under section 323.25 of the Revised Code for taxes, assessments, penalties, interest, and charges due and payable at the time the deed of real property sold or transferred under this section is transferred to the purchaser or transferee, plus the cost of the proceeding. For purposes of determining such amount, the county treasurer may estimate the amount of taxes, assessments, interest, penalties, and costs that will be payable at the time the deed of the property is transferred to the purchaser or transferee.

The court of common pleas, a municipal court with jurisdiction, or the county board of revision with jurisdiction pursuant to section 323.66 of the Revised Code shall order such premises to be transferred pursuant to division (E) of this section or shall order such premises to be sold for payment of the finding, but for not less than either of the following, unless the county treasurer applies for an appraisal:

(1) The total amount of such finding;

(2) The fair market value of the premises, as determined by the county auditor, plus the cost of the proceeding.

If the county treasurer applies for an appraisal, the premises shall be appraised in the manner provided by section 2329.17 of the Revised Code, and shall be sold for at least two-thirds of the appraised value.

Notwithstanding the minimum sales price provisions of divisions (A)(1) and (2) of this section to the contrary, a parcel sold pursuant to this section shall not be sold for less than the amount described in division (A)(1) of this section if the highest bidder is the owner of record of the parcel immediately prior to the judgment of foreclosure or a member of the following class of parties connected to that owner: a member of that owner's immediate family, a person with a power of attorney appointed by that owner who subsequently transfers the parcel to the owner, a sole proprietorship owned by that owner or a member of his the owner's immediate family, or partnership, trust, business trust, corporation, or association in which the owner or a member of his the owner's immediate family owns or controls directly or indirectly more than fifty per cent. If a parcel sells for less than the amount described in division (A)(1) of this section, the officer conducting the sale shall require the buyer to complete an affidavit stating that the buyer is not the owner of record immediately prior to the judgment of foreclosure or a member of the specified class of parties connected to that owner, and the affidavit shall become part of the court records of the proceeding. If the county auditor discovers within three years after the date of the sale that a parcel was sold to that owner or a member of the specified class of parties connected to that owner for a price less than the amount so described, and if the parcel is still owned by that owner or a member of the specified class of parties connected to that owner, the auditor within thirty days after such discovery shall add the difference between that amount and the sale price to the amount of taxes that then stand charged against the parcel and is payable at the next succeeding date for payment of real property taxes. As used in this paragraph, "immediate family" means a spouse who resides in the same household and children.

(B) From the proceeds of the sale the costs shall be first paid, next the amount found due for taxes, then the amount of any taxes accruing after the entry of the finding and before the deed of the property is transferred to the purchaser following the sale, all of which taxes shall be deemed satisfied, though the amount applicable to them is deficient, and any balance shall be distributed according to section 5721.20 of the Revised Code. No statute of limitations shall apply to such action. Upon sale, all liens for taxes due at the time the deed of the property is transferred to the purchaser following the sale, and liens subordinate to liens for taxes, shall be deemed satisfied and discharged unless otherwise provided by the order of sale.

(C) If the county treasurer's estimate of the amount of the finding under division (A) of this section exceeds the amount of taxes, assessments, interest, penalties, and costs actually payable when the deed is transferred to the purchaser, the officer who conducted the sale shall refund to the purchaser the difference between the estimate and the amount actually payable. If the amount of taxes, assessments, interest, penalties, and costs actually payable when the deed is transferred to the purchaser exceeds the county treasurer's estimate, the officer shall certify the amount of the excess to the treasurer, who shall enter that amount on the real and public utility property tax duplicate opposite the property; the amount of the excess shall be payable at the next succeeding date prescribed for payment of taxes in section 323.12 of the Revised Code.

(D) Premises ordered to be sold under this section but remaining unsold for want of bidders after being offered for sale on two separate occasions, not less than two weeks apart, shall be forfeited to the state or to a political subdivision pursuant to section 5723.01 of the Revised Code and shall be disposed of pursuant to Chapter 5723. of the Revised Code.

(E) Notwithstanding section 5722.03 of the Revised Code, if the complaint alleges that the property is delinquent vacant land as defined in section 5721.01 of the Revised Code, abandoned lands as defined in section 323.65 of the Revised Code, or lands described in division (E) of section 5722.01 of the Revised Code, and the value of the taxes, assessments, penalties, interest, and all other charges and costs of the action exceed the auditor's fair market value of the parcel, then the court or board of revision having jurisdiction over the matter on motion of the plaintiff, or on the court's or board's own motion, shall, upon any adjudication of foreclosure, order, without appraisal and without sale, the fee simple title of the property to be transferred to and vested in an electing subdivision as defined in division (A) of section 5722.01 of the Revised Code. For purposes of determining whether the taxes, assessments, penalties, interest, and all other charges and costs of the action exceed the actual fair market value of the parcel, the auditor's most current valuation shall be rebuttably presumed to be, and constitute prima-facie evidence of, the fair market value of the parcel. In such case, the filing for journalization of a decree of foreclosure ordering that direct transfer without appraisal or sale shall constitute confirmation of the transfer and thereby terminate any further statutory or common law right of redemption.

(F) Whenever the officer charged to conduct the sale offers any parcel for sale, the officer first shall read aloud a complete legal description of the parcel, or in the alternative, may read aloud only a summary description and a parcel number if the county has adopted a permanent parcel number system and if the advertising notice published prior to the sale includes a complete legal description or indicates where the complete legal description may be obtained.

Sec. 323.47. (A) If land held by tenants in common is sold upon proceedings in partition, or taken by the election of any of the parties to such proceedings, or real estate is sold at judicial sale, or by administrators, executors, guardians, or trustees, the court shall order that the taxes, penalties, and assessments then due and payable, and interest thereon on those taxes, penalties, and assessments, that are or will be a lien on such land or real estate at the time the deed is transferred following the sale, be discharged out of the proceeds of such sale or election. For purposes of determining such amount, the county treasurer may shall estimate the amount of taxes, assessments, interest, and penalties that will be payable at the time the deed of the property is transferred to the purchaser. If the county treasurer's estimate exceeds the amount of taxes, assessments, interest, and penalties actually payable when the deed is transferred to the purchaser, the officer who conducted the sale shall refund to the purchaser the difference between the estimate and the amount actually payable. If the amount of taxes, assessments, interest, and penalties actually payable when the deed is transferred to the purchaser exceeds the county treasurer's estimate, the officer shall certify the amount of the excess to the treasurer, who shall enter that amount on the real and public utility property tax duplicate opposite the property; the amount of the excess shall be payable at the next succeeding date prescribed for payment of taxes in section 323.12 of the Revised Code.

(B)(1) If real estate is sold at judicial sale, the court shall order that the total of the following amounts shall be discharged out of the proceeds of the sale:

(a) Taxes and assessments the lien for which attaches before the confirmation of sale but that are not yet determined, assessed, and levied for the year in which confirmation occurs, apportioned pro rata to the part of that year that precedes confirmation, and any penalties and interest on those taxes and assessments;

(b) All other taxes, assessments, penalties, and interest the lien for which attached for a prior tax year but that have not been paid on or before the date of confirmation.

(2) Upon the request of the officer who conducted the sale, the county treasurer shall estimate the amount in division (B)(1)(a) of this section. If the county treasurer's estimate exceeds that amount, the officer who conducted the sale shall refund to the purchaser the difference between the estimate and the actual amount. If the actual amount exceeds the county treasurer's estimate, the officer shall certify the amount of the excess to the treasurer, who shall enter that amount on the real and public utility property tax duplicate opposite the property; the amount of the excess shall be payable at the next succeeding date prescribed for payment of taxes in section 323.12 of the Revised Code.

Sec. 2303.11.  All writs and orders for provisional remedies, and process of every kind, shall be issued by the clerk of the court of common pleas, or directly by an order or local rule of a court, or by a county board of revision with jurisdiction pursuant to section 323.66 of the Revised Code; but before they are issued a praecipe shall be filed with the clerk demanding the same.

Sec. 2323.06. In an action for the foreclosure of a mortgage, the court may at any stage in the action require the mortgagor and the mortgagee to participate in mediation as the court considers appropriate and may include a stipulation that requires the mortgagor and the mortgagee to appear at the mediation in person.

Sec. 2323.07.  When a mortgage is foreclosed or a specific lien enforced, a sale of the property, or a transfer of property pursuant to sections 323.28, 323.65 to 323.78, and 5721.19 of the Revised Code, shall be ordered by the court having jurisdiction or the county board of revision with jurisdiction pursuant to section 323.66 of the Revised Code.

When the real property to be sold is in one or more tracts, the court may order the officer who makes the sale to subdivide, appraise, and sell them in parcels, or sell any one of the tracts as a whole.

When the mortgaged property is situated in more than one county, the court may order the sheriff or master of each county to make sale of the property in his the sheriff's or master's county, or may direct one officer to sell the whole. When it consists of a single tract, the court may direct that it be sold as one tract or in separate parcels, and shall direct whether appraisers shall be selected for each county or one set for all; and whether publication of the sale shall be made in all the counties, or in one county only.

Sec. 2327.01.  An execution is a process of a court, issued by its clerk, the court itself, or the county board of revision with jurisdiction pursuant to section 323.66 of the Revised Code, and directed to the sheriff of the county. Executions may be issued to the sheriffs of different counties at the same time.

Sec. 2327.02. (A) Executions are of three kinds:

(A)(1) Against the property of the judgment debtor, including orders of sale or orders to transfer property pursuant to sections 323.28, 323.65 to 323.78, and 5721.19 of the Revised Code;

(B)(2) Against the person of the judgment debtor;

(C)(3) For the delivery of the possession of real property, including real property sold under orders of sale or transferred under orders to transfer property pursuant to sections 323.28, 323.65 to 323.78, and 5721.19 of the Revised Code.

(B) The writ must shall contain a specific description of the property, and a command to the sheriff to deliver it to the person entitled thereto to the property. It also may require such the sheriff to make the damages recovered for withholding the possession and costs, or costs alone, out of the property of the person who so withholds it.

(C) In the case of foreclosures of real property, including foreclosures for taxes, mortgages, judgment liens, and other valid liens, the description of the property, the order of sale, order to transfer, and any deed or deed forms may be prepared, adopted, and otherwise approved in advance by the court having jurisdiction or the county board of revision with jurisdiction pursuant to section 323.66 of the Revised Code, directly commanding the sheriff to sell, convey, or deliver possession of the property as commanded in that order. In those cases, the clerk shall journalize the order and deliver that writ or order to the sheriff for execution. If the property is sold under an order of sale or transferred under an order to transfer, the officer who conducted the sale or made the transfer of the property shall collect the recording fee and any associated costs to cover the recording from the purchaser or transferee at the time of the sale or transfer and, following confirmation of the sale or transfer and the payment of the balance due on the purchase price of the property, shall execute and record the deed conveying title to the property to the purchaser or transferee. For purposes of recording that deed, by placement of a bid or making a statement of interest by any party ultimately awarded the property, the purchaser or transferee thereby appoints the officer who makes the sale or is charged with executing and delivering the deed as agent for that purchaser or transferee for the sole purpose of accepting delivery of the deed.

Sec. 2329.17.  (A) When execution is levied upon lands and tenements, the officer who makes the levy shall call an inquest of three disinterested freeholders, residents of the county where the lands taken in execution are situated, and administer to them an oath impartially to appraise the property so levied upon, upon actual view. They forthwith shall return to such officer, under their hands, an estimate of the real value of the property in money.

(B) The municipal corporation or township in which the real property is situated may inspect prior to the judicial sale any structures located on lands subject to a writ of execution.

Sec. 2329.18.  When an officer receives the return provided for in division (A) of section 2329.17 of the Revised Code, he the officer forthwith shall deposit a copy of it with the clerk of the court from which the writ issued, and immediately advertise and sell such real estate in conformity with sections 2329.01 to 2329.61, inclusive, of the Revised Code.

Sec. 2329.19.  Upon the return of the estimate provided for in division (A) of section 2329.17 of the Revised Code, if it appears by the inquisition that two thirds of the appraised value of the lands and tenements levied upon is sufficient to satisfy the execution, with costs, the judgment on which the execution issued shall not operate as a lien on the residue of the debtor's estate to the prejudice of any other judgment creditor.

Sec. 2329.191. (A) As used in this section, "title insurance company" has the same meaning as in section 3953.01 of the Revised Code.

(B) In every action demanding the judicial sale of residential real estate consisting of one to four single-family units, the party seeking that judicial sale shall file with the clerk of the court of common pleas within fourteen days after filing the pleadings requesting relief a preliminary judicial report on a form that is approved by the department of insurance that is prepared and issued by a duly licensed title insurance agent on behalf of a licensed title insurance company or by a title insurance company that is authorized by the department of insurance to transact business in this state. The preliminary judicial report shall be effective within thirty days prior to the filing of the complaint or other pleading requesting a judicial sale and shall include at least all of the following:

(1) A legal description of each parcel of real estate to be sold at the judicial sale;

(2) The street address of the real estate or, if there is no street address, the name of the street or road upon which the real estate fronts together with the names of the streets or roads immediately to the north and south or east and west of the real estate;

(3) The county treasurer's permanent parcel number or other tax identification number of the real estate;

(4) The name of the owners of record of the real estate to be sold;

(5) A reference to the volume and page or instrument number of the recording by which the owners acquired title to the real estate;

(6) A description of the record title to the real estate; however, easements, restrictions, setback lines, declarations, conditions, covenants, reservations, and rights-of-way that were filed for record prior to the lien being foreclosed are not required to be included;

(7) The name and address of each lienholder and the name and address of each lienholder's attorney, if any, as shown on the recorded lien of the lienholder.

Prior to submitting any order or judgment entry to a court that would order the sale of the residential real estate, the party submitting the order or judgment entry shall file with the clerk of the court of common pleas a final judicial report that updates the state of the record title to that real estate from the effective date of the preliminary judicial report through the date of lis pendens and includes a copy of the court's docket for the case. The cost of the title examination necessary for the preparation of both the preliminary judicial report and the final judicial report together with the premiums for those reports computed as required by the department of insurance, based on the fair market value of the real estate, or in the case of a foreclosure, the principal balance of the mortgage or other lien being foreclosed on or any other additional amount as may be ordered by the court shall be taxed as costs in the case.

(C) In every action demanding the judicial sale of residential real estate consisting of more than four single-family units or of commercial real estate, the party seeking that judicial sale shall file with the clerk of the court of common pleas within fourteen days after filing the pleadings requesting relief either a preliminary judicial report or a commitment for an owner's fee policy of title insurance on the form approved by the department of insurance that is prepared and issued by a duly licensed title insurance agent on behalf of a licensed title insurance company. Division (B) of this section applies if the party seeking the judicial sale files a preliminary judicial report. If the party seeking the judicial sale files a commitment for an owner's fee policy of title insurance, the commitment shall have an effective date within fourteen days prior to the filing of the complaint or other pleading requesting a judicial sale and shall contain at least all of the information required in divisions (B)(1) to (7) of this section. The commitment shall cover each parcel of real estate to be sold, shall include the amount of the successful bid at the judicial sale, shall show the purchaser at the judicial sale as the proposed insured, and shall not expire until thirty days after the recordation of the deed by the officer who makes the sale to that purchaser. After the officer's return of the order of sale and prior to the confirmation of the sale, the party requesting the order of sale shall cause an invoice for the cost of the title insurance policy, commitment cost related expenses, and cancellation fees, if any, to be filed with the clerk of the court of common pleas. The amount of the invoice shall be taxed as costs in the case. The purchaser at the judicial sale may, by paying the premium for the title insurance policy, obtain the issuance of title insurance in accordance with the commitment.

Sec. 2329.23.  All notices and advertisements for the sale of lands and tenements located in a municipal corporation, made by virtue of the proceedings in a court of record therein, in addition to a description of such the lands and tenements, shall contain the street number of the buildings erected on the lands, or the street number of the lots offered for sale. If no such number exists, then the notice or advertisement must shall contain the name of the street or road upon which such the lands and tenements are located, together with the names of the streets or roads immediately north and south or east and west of such the lands and tenements that cross or intersect the street or road upon which they are located. The notice or advertisement shall, if applicable, include the web site address of the officer who makes the sale that allows a person to obtain a complete legal description of the lands and tenements.

Sec. 2329.26.  (A) Lands and tenements taken in execution shall not be sold until both all of the following occur:

(1)(a) Except as otherwise provided in division (A)(1)(b) of this section, the judgment creditor who seeks the sale of the lands and tenements or the judgment creditor's attorney does both of the following:

(i) Causes a written notice of the date, time, and place of the sale to be served in accordance with divisions (A) and (B) of Civil Rule 5 upon the judgment debtor and upon each other party to the action in which the judgment giving rise to the execution was rendered;

(ii) At least seven calendar days prior to the date of the sale, files with the clerk of the court that rendered the judgment giving rise to the execution a copy of the written notice described in division (A)(1)(a)(i) of this section with proof of service endorsed on the copy in the form described in division (D) of Civil Rule 5.

(b) Service of the written notice described in division (A)(1)(a)(i) of this section is not required to be made upon any party who is in default for failure to appear in the action in which the judgment giving rise to the execution was rendered.

(2) The officer taking the lands and tenements gives public notice of the date, time, and place of the sale for at least thirty days three weeks before the day of sale by advertisement in a newspaper published in and of general circulation in the county. The court ordering the sale may designate in the order of sale the newspaper in which this public notice shall be published, and this public notice is subject to division (A) of section 2329.27 of the Revised Code.

(3) The officer taking the lands and tenements shall collect the purchaser's information required by section 2329.271 of the Revised Code.

(B) A sale of lands and tenements taken in execution may be set aside in accordance with division (B) of section 2329.27 of the Revised Code.

Sec. 2329.27.  (A) When the public notice required by division (A)(2) of section 2329.26 of the Revised Code is made in a newspaper published weekly, it is sufficient to insert it for three consecutive weeks. If both a daily and weekly edition of the paper are published and the circulation of the daily in the county exceeds that of the weekly in the county, or if the lands and tenements taken in execution are situated in a city, both a daily and weekly edition of the paper are published, and the circulation of the daily in that city exceeds the circulation of the weekly in that city, it is sufficient to publish the public notice in the daily once a week for three consecutive weeks before the day of sale, each insertion to be on the same day of the week. The expense of that publication in a daily shall not exceed the cost of publishing it in a weekly.

(B)(1) Subject to divisions (B)(2) and (3) of this section, all sales of lands and tenements taken in execution that are made without compliance with the written notice requirements of division (A)(1)(a) of section 2329.26 of the Revised Code and, the public notice requirements of division (A)(2) of that section, the purchaser information requirements of section 2329.271 of the Revised Code, and division (A) of this section shall be set aside, on motion by any interested party, by the court to which the execution is returnable.

(2) Proof of service endorsed upon a copy of the written notice required by division (A)(1)(a) of section 2329.26 of the Revised Code shall be conclusive evidence of the service of the written notice in compliance with the requirements of that division, unless a party files a motion to set aside the sale of the lands and tenements pursuant to division (B)(1) of this section and establishes by a preponderance of the evidence that the proof of service is fraudulent.

(3) If the court to which the execution is returnable enters its order confirming the sale of the lands and tenements, the order shall have both of the following effects:

(a) The order shall be deemed to constitute a judicial finding as follows:

(i) That the sale of the lands and tenements complied with the written notice requirements of division (A)(1)(a) of section 2329.26 of the Revised Code and the public notice requirements of division (A)(2) of that section and division (A) of this section, or that compliance of that nature did not occur but the failure to give a written notice to a party entitled to notice under division (A)(1)(a) of section 2329.26 of the Revised Code has not prejudiced that party;

(ii) That all parties entitled to notice under division (A)(1)(a) of section 2329.26 of the Revised Code received adequate notice of the date, time, and place of the sale of the lands and tenements;

(iii) That the purchaser has submitted the contact information required by section 2329.271 of the Revised Code.

(b) The order bars the filing of any further motions to set aside the sale of the lands and tenements.

Sec. 2329.271. (A)(1) Subject to division (A)(2) of this section, the purchaser of lands and tenements taken in execution shall submit to the officer who makes the sale the following information:

(a) The name, address, and telephone number of the purchaser;

(b) If the lands and tenements taken in execution are residential rental property and the residential rental property is purchased by a trust, business trust, estate, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, association, corporation, or any other business entity, the name, address, and telephone number of the following with the provision that the purchaser be readily accessible through the identified contact person:

(i) A trustee, in the case of a trust or business trust;

(ii) The executor or administrator, in the case of an estate;

(iii) A general partner, in the case of a partnership or a limited partnership;

(iv) A member, manager, or officer, in the case of a limited liability company;

(v) An associate, in the case of an association;

(vi) An officer, in the case of a corporation;

(vii) A member, manager, or officer, in the case of any other business entity.

(c) A statement indicating whether the purchaser will occupy the lands and tenements.

(2) If the lands and tenements taken in execution are not residential rental property and the purchaser of those lands and tenements is a corporation, partnership, association, estate, trust, or other business organization the only place of business of which is in the county in which the real property is located, the information required by divisions (A)(1)(a) and (c) of this section shall be the contact information for the office of an employee of the purchasing entity that is located in that county and that the purchasing entity has designated to receive notices or inquiries about the property. If the purchasing entity has a place of business outside the county in which the real property is located and the purchasing entity's principal place of business is located in this state, the information required by divisions (A)(1)(a) and (c) of this section shall be the contact information for the office of an employee of the purchasing entity that is located in this state and that the purchasing entity has designated to receive notices or inquiries about the property. If the purchasing entity's principal place of business is not located in this state, the information required by divisions (A)(1)(a) and (c) of this section shall be the contact information for a natural person who is employed by the purchasing entity at the purchasing entity's principal place of business outside of this state and whom the purchasing entity has designated to receive notices or inquiries about the property.

(B) The information required by division (A) of this section shall be part of the sheriff's record of proceedings and shall be part of the record of the court of common pleas. The information is a public record and open to public inspection.

Sec. 2329.272. (A) The officer who will make the sale of lands and tenements that are delinquent vacant tenements or premises or abandoned tenements or premises may hold an open house of the delinquent vacant tenements or premises or abandoned tenements or premises to allow any person to view the delinquent vacant tenements or premises or abandoned tenements or premises prior to the sale. The officer may include a notice of the open house in the public notice of the date, time, and place of the sale pursuant to section 2329.26 of the Revised Code. The officer is not required to give those persons who view the delinquent vacant tenements or premises or abandoned tenements or premises any advice regarding the tenements or premises.

(B) The officer who makes the sale of lands and tenements shall deduct any costs associated with holding the open house from the proceeds of the sale of the lands and tenements.

(C) The officer who holds the open house is not liable as provided in Chapter 2744. of the Revised Code for injury, death, or loss to person or property that occurs at the open house.

Sec. 2329.30.  The court from which an execution or order of sale issues, upon notice and motion of the officer who makes the sale, or of an interested party, shall may punish as for contempt any purchaser of real property lands and tenements who fails to pay within thirty days of the confirmation of the sale the purchase money therefor balance due on the purchase price of the lands and tenements by forfeiting the sale of the lands and tenements and returning any deposit paid in connection with the sale of the lands and tenements, by forfeiting any deposit paid in connection with the sale of the lands and tenements, as for contempt, or in any other manner the court considers appropriate.

Sec. 2329.31. (A) Upon the return of any writ of execution for the satisfaction of which lands and tenements have been sold, on careful examination of the proceedings of the officer making the sale, if the court of common pleas finds that the sale was made, in all respects, in conformity with sections 2329.01 to 2329.61, inclusive, of the Revised Code, it shall, within thirty days of the return of the writ, direct the clerk of the court of common pleas to make an entry on the journal that the court is satisfied of the legality of such sale, and that the officer attorney who filed the writ of execution make to the purchaser a deed for the lands and tenements. Nothing in this section prevents the court of common pleas from staying the confirmation of the sale to permit a property owner time to redeem the property or for any other reason that it determines is appropriate. In those instances, the sale shall be confirmed within thirty days after the termination of any stay of confirmation.

(B) The officer making the sale shall require the purchaser, including a lienholder, to pay within thirty days of the confirmation of the sale the balance due on the purchase price of the lands and tenements.

Sec. 2329.36. An officer, including a master commissioner and a special master, who sells real property, on confirmation of the sale, must (A) The attorney who files the writ of execution shall, not later than seven days after the filing of the order of confirmation of sale pursuant to section 2329.31 of the Revised Code, make to the purchaser a deed, containing the names of the parties to the judgment, the names of the owners of the property sold, a reference to the volume and page of the recording of the next preceding recorded instrument by or through which the owners claim title, the date and amount of the judgment, the substance of the execution or order on which the property was sold, the substance of the officer's return thereon, and the order of confirmation and deliver the deed to the officer who sold the real property. The deed shall be executed, acknowledged, and recorded as other deeds. The officer or the officer's legal representative may review and approve or reject the deed for form and substance.

(B) By placing a bid at a sale conducted pursuant to this chapter, the purchaser appoints the officer who makes the sale as agent of the purchaser for the sole purpose of accepting delivery of the deed described in division (A) of this section.

(C) The officer who sells the real property shall record the deed, or for registered land file the documents required by section 5309.64 of the Revised Code, with the county recorder within fourteen business days of the date the purchaser pays the balance due on the purchase price of the lands and tenements. The officer shall charge the purchaser a fee to cover the actual costs of recording the deed or filing the documents.

Sec. 2703.141. (A) If service by publication is necessary in an action to foreclose a mortgage or to enforce a lien or other encumbrance or charge on real property, the party seeking service by publication shall cause the publication to be made once a week for three consecutive weeks instead of as provided by Civil Rule 4.4.

(B) In any county that has adopted a permanent parcel system, the parcel may be described in the notice described in division (A) of this section by listing the complete street address and the parcel number, instead of also with a complete legal description, or the parcel may be described in the notice by listing the complete street address of the parcel and by indicating that the complete legal description of the parcel may be obtained from the county auditor.

Sec. 2703.26.  When summons has been served or publication made a complaint is filed, the action is pending so as to charge a third person with notice of its pendency. While pending, no interest can be acquired by third persons in the subject of the action, as against the plaintiff's title.

Sec. 5309.64.  (A) Whenever registered land is sold to satisfy any judgment, decree, or order of a court, or the title is transferred or affected by a decree or judgment of a court, the purchaser, or the person in whose favor such decree was rendered, on filing with the county recorder a certificate that the terms of sale have been complied with and a certified copy of the order of sale and return thereof and confirmation, or a certified copy of the decree of the court transferring or affecting the title, as the case may be, is entitled to have the property transferred to him the purchaser or person in whose favor the decree was rendered and his the title registered accordingly and a new certificate of title issued therefor.

(B) When registered land is sold by the sheriff under order of a court, the sheriff shall file with the county recorder a certificate that the terms of sale have been complied with and a certified copy of the order of sale and return thereof and confirmation. The purchaser is thereafter entitled to have the property transferred to the purchaser and the title registered accordingly and a new certificate of title issued therefor.

Sec. 5721.18.  The county prosecuting attorney, upon the delivery to the prosecuting attorney by the county auditor of a delinquent land or delinquent vacant land tax certificate, or of a master list of delinquent or delinquent vacant tracts, shall institute a foreclosure proceeding under this section in the name of the county treasurer to foreclose the lien of the state, in any court with jurisdiction or in the county board of revision with jurisdiction pursuant to section 323.66 of the Revised Code, unless the taxes, assessments, charges, penalties, and interest are paid prior to the time a complaint is filed, or unless a foreclosure or foreclosure and forfeiture action has been or will be instituted under section 323.25 or 5721.14 of the Revised Code. If the delinquent land or delinquent vacant land tax certificate or the master list of delinquent or delinquent vacant tracts lists minerals or rights to minerals listed pursuant to sections 5713.04, 5713.05, and 5713.06 of the Revised Code, the county prosecuting attorney may institute a foreclosure proceeding in the name of the county treasurer, in any court with jurisdiction, to foreclose the lien of the state against such minerals or rights to minerals, unless the taxes, assessments, charges, penalties, and interest are paid prior to the time the complaint is filed, or unless a foreclosure or foreclosure and forfeiture action has been or will be instituted under section 323.25 or 5721.14 of the Revised Code.

The prosecuting attorney shall prosecute the proceeding to final judgment and satisfaction. Within ten days after obtaining a judgment, the prosecuting attorney shall notify the treasurer in writing that judgment has been rendered. If there is a copy of a written delinquent tax contract attached to the certificate or an asterisk next to an entry on the master list, or if a copy of a delinquent tax contract is received from the auditor prior to the commencement of the proceeding under this section, the prosecuting attorney shall not institute the proceeding under this section, unless the prosecuting attorney receives a certification of the treasurer that the delinquent tax contract has become void.

(A) This division applies to all foreclosure proceedings not instituted and prosecuted under section 323.25 of the Revised Code or division (B) or (C) of this section. The foreclosure proceedings shall be instituted and prosecuted in the same manner as is provided by law for the foreclosure of mortgages on land, except that, if service by publication is necessary, such publication shall be made once a week for three consecutive weeks instead of as provided by the Rules of Civil Procedure, and the service shall be complete at the expiration of three weeks after the date of the first publication. In any proceeding prosecuted under this section, if the prosecuting attorney determines that service upon a defendant may be obtained ultimately only by publication, the prosecuting attorney may cause service to be made simultaneously by certified mail, return receipt requested, ordinary mail, and publication.

In any county that has adopted a permanent parcel number system, the parcel may be described in the notice by parcel number only, instead of also with a complete legal description, if the prosecuting attorney determines that the publication of the complete legal description is not necessary to provide reasonable notice of the foreclosure proceeding to the interested parties. If the complete legal description is not published, the notice shall indicate where the complete legal description may be obtained.

It is sufficient, having been made a proper party to the foreclosure proceeding, for the treasurer to allege in the treasurer's complaint that the certificate or master list has been duly filed by the auditor, that the amount of money appearing to be due and unpaid is due and unpaid, and that there is a lien against the property described in the certificate or master list, without setting forth in the complaint any other or special matter relating to the foreclosure proceeding. The prayer of the complaint shall be that the court or the county board of revision with jurisdiction pursuant to section 323.66 of the Revised Code issue an order that the property be sold or conveyed by the sheriff, or if the action is in the municipal court by the bailiff, in the manner provided in section 5721.19 of the Revised Code.

In the foreclosure proceeding, the treasurer may join in one action any number of lots or lands, but the decree shall be rendered separately, and any proceedings may be severed, in the discretion of the court or board of revision, for the purpose of trial or appeal, and the court or board of revision shall make such order for the payment of costs as is considered proper. The certificate or master list filed by the auditor with the prosecuting attorney is prima-facie evidence at the trial of the foreclosure action of the amount and validity of the taxes, assessments, charges, penalties, and interest appearing due and unpaid and of their nonpayment.

(B) Foreclosure proceedings constituting an action in rem may be commenced by the filing of a complaint after the end of the second year from the date on which the delinquency was first certified by the auditor. Prior to filing such an action in rem, the prosecuting attorney shall cause a title search to be conducted for the purpose of identifying any lienholders or other persons with interests in the property subject to foreclosure. Following the title search, the action in rem shall be instituted by filing in the office of the clerk of a court with jurisdiction a complaint bearing a caption substantially in the form set forth in division (A) of section 5721.181 of the Revised Code.

Any number of parcels may be joined in one action. Each separate parcel included in a complaint shall be given a serial number and shall be separately indexed and docketed by the clerk of the court in a book kept by the clerk for such purpose. A complaint shall contain the permanent parcel number of each parcel included in it, the full street address of the parcel when available, a description of the parcel as set forth in the certificate or master list, the name and address of the last known owner of the parcel if they appear on the general tax list, the name and address of each lienholder and other person with an interest in the parcel identified in the title search relating to the parcel that is required by this division, and the amount of taxes, assessments, charges, penalties, and interest due and unpaid with respect to the parcel. It is sufficient for the treasurer to allege in the complaint that the certificate or master list has been duly filed by the auditor with respect to each parcel listed, that the amount of money with respect to each parcel appearing to be due and unpaid is due and unpaid, and that there is a lien against each parcel, without setting forth any other or special matters. The prayer of the complaint shall be that the court issue an order that the land described in the complaint be sold in the manner provided in section 5721.19 of the Revised Code.

(1) Within thirty days after the filing of a complaint, the clerk of the court in which the complaint was filed shall cause a notice of foreclosure substantially in the form of the notice set forth in division (B) of section 5721.181 of the Revised Code to be published once a week for three consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the county. In any county that has adopted a permanent parcel number system, the parcel may be described in the notice by parcel number only, instead of also with a complete legal description, if the prosecuting attorney determines that the publication of the complete legal description is not necessary to provide reasonable notice of the foreclosure proceeding to the interested parties. If the complete legal description is not published, the notice shall indicate where the complete legal description may be obtained.

After the third publication, the publisher shall file with the clerk of the court an affidavit stating the fact of the publication and including a copy of the notice of foreclosure as published. Service of process for purposes of the action in rem shall be considered as complete on the date of the last publication.

Within thirty days after the filing of a complaint and before the final date of publication of the notice of foreclosure, the clerk of the court also shall cause a copy of a notice substantially in the form of the notice set forth in division (C) of section 5721.181 of the Revised Code to be mailed by certified mail, with postage prepaid, to each person named in the complaint as being the last known owner of a parcel included in it, or as being a lienholder or other person with an interest in a parcel included in it. The notice shall be sent to the address of each such person, as set forth in the complaint, and the clerk shall enter the fact of such mailing upon the appearance docket. If the name and address of the last known owner of a parcel included in a complaint is not set forth in it, the auditor shall file an affidavit with the clerk stating that the name and address of the last known owner does not appear on the general tax list.

(2)(a) An answer may be filed in an action in rem under this division by any person owning or claiming any right, title, or interest in, or lien upon, any parcel described in the complaint. The answer shall contain the caption and number of the action and the serial number of the parcel concerned. The answer shall set forth the nature and amount of interest claimed in the parcel and any defense or objection to the foreclosure of the lien of the state for delinquent taxes, assessments, charges, penalties, and interest as shown in the complaint. The answer shall be filed in the office of the clerk of the court, and a copy of the answer shall be served on the prosecuting attorney, not later than twenty-eight days after the date of final publication of the notice of foreclosure. If an answer is not filed within such time, a default judgment may be taken as to any parcel included in a complaint as to which no answer has been filed. A default judgment is valid and effective with respect to all persons owning or claiming any right, title, or interest in, or lien upon, any such parcel, notwithstanding that one or more of such persons are minors, incompetents, absentees or nonresidents of the state, or convicts in confinement.

(b)(i) A receiver appointed pursuant to divisions (C)(2) and (3) of section 3767.41 of the Revised Code may file an answer pursuant to division (B)(2)(a) of this section, but is not required to do so as a condition of receiving proceeds in a distribution under division (B)(1) of section 5721.17 of the Revised Code.

(ii) When a receivership under section 3767.41 of the Revised Code is associated with a parcel, the notice of foreclosure set forth in division (B) of section 5721.181 of the Revised Code and the notice set forth in division (C) of that section shall be modified to reflect the provisions of division (B)(2)(b)(i) of this section.

(3) At the trial of an action in rem under this division, the certificate or master list filed by the auditor with the prosecuting attorney shall be prima-facie evidence of the amount and validity of the taxes, assessments, charges, penalties, and interest appearing due and unpaid on the parcel to which the certificate or master list relates and their nonpayment. If an answer is properly filed, the court may, in its discretion, and shall, at the request of the person filing the answer, grant a severance of the proceedings as to any parcel described in such answer for purposes of trial or appeal.

(C) In addition to the actions in rem authorized under division (B) of this section and section 5721.14 of the Revised Code, an action in rem may be commenced under this division. An action commenced under this division shall conform to all of the requirements of division (B) of this section except as follows:

(1) The prosecuting attorney shall not cause a title search to be conducted for the purpose of identifying any lienholders or other persons with interests in the property subject to foreclosure, except that the prosecuting attorney shall cause a title search to be conducted to identify any receiver's lien.

(2) The names and addresses of lienholders and persons with an interest in the parcel shall not be contained in the complaint, and notice shall not be mailed to lienholders and persons with an interest as provided in division (B)(1) of this section, except that the name and address of a receiver under section 3767.41 of the Revised Code shall be contained in the complaint and notice shall be mailed to the receiver.

(3) With respect to the forms applicable to actions commenced under division (B) of this section and contained in section 5721.181 of the Revised Code:

(a) The notice of foreclosure prescribed by division (B) of section 5721.181 of the Revised Code shall be revised to exclude any reference to the inclusion of the name and address of each lienholder and other person with an interest in the parcel identified in a statutorily required title search relating to the parcel, and to exclude any such names and addresses from the published notice, except that the revised notice shall refer to the inclusion of the name and address of a receiver under section 3767.41 of the Revised Code and the published notice shall include the receiver's name and address. The notice of foreclosure also shall include the following in boldface type:

"If pursuant to the action the parcel is sold, the sale shall not affect or extinguish any lien or encumbrance with respect to the parcel other than a receiver's lien and other than the lien for land taxes, assessments, charges, interest, and penalties for which the lien is foreclosed and in satisfaction of which the property is sold. All other liens and encumbrances with respect to the parcel shall survive the sale."

(b) The notice to the owner, lienholders, and other persons with an interest in a parcel shall be a notice only to the owner and to any receiver under section 3767.41 of the Revised Code, and the last two sentences of the notice shall be omitted.

(4) As used in this division, a "receiver's lien" means the lien of a receiver appointed pursuant to divisions (C)(2) and (3) of section 3767.41 of the Revised Code that is acquired pursuant to division (H)(2)(b) of that section for any unreimbursed expenses and other amounts paid in accordance with division (F) of that section by the receiver and for the fees of the receiver approved pursuant to division (H)(1) of that section.

(D) If the prosecuting attorney determines that an action in rem under division (B) or (C) of this section is precluded by law, then foreclosure proceedings shall be filed pursuant to division (A) of this section, and the complaint in the action in personam shall set forth the grounds upon which the action in rem is precluded.

(E) The conveyance by the owner of any parcel against which a complaint has been filed pursuant to this section at any time after the date of publication of the parcel on the delinquent tax list but before the date of a judgment of foreclosure pursuant to section 5721.19 of the Revised Code shall not nullify the right of the county to proceed with the foreclosure.

Sec. 5721.19.  (A) In its judgment of foreclosure rendered with respect to actions filed pursuant to section 5721.18 of the Revised Code, the court or the county board of revision with jurisdiction pursuant to section 323.66 of the Revised Code shall enter a finding with respect to each parcel of the amount of the taxes, assessments, charges, penalties, and interest, and the costs incurred in the foreclosure proceeding instituted against it, which that are due and unpaid. The court or the county board of revision shall order such premises to be transferred pursuant to division (I) of this section or may order each parcel to be sold, without appraisal, for not less than either of the following:

(1) The fair market value of the parcel, as determined by the county auditor, plus the costs incurred in the foreclosure proceeding;

(2) The total amount of the finding entered by the court, or the county board of revision, including all taxes, assessments, charges, penalties, and interest payable subsequent to the delivery to the county prosecuting attorney of the delinquent land tax certificate or master list of delinquent tracts and prior to the transfer of the deed of the parcel to the purchaser following confirmation of sale, plus the costs incurred in the foreclosure proceeding. For purposes of determining such amount, the county treasurer may estimate the amount of taxes, assessments, interest, penalties, and costs that will be payable at the time the deed of the property is transferred to the purchaser.

Notwithstanding the minimum sales price provisions of divisions (A)(1) and (2) of this section to the contrary, a parcel sold pursuant to this section shall not be sold for less than the amount described in division (A)(2) of this section if the highest bidder is the owner of record of the parcel immediately prior to the judgment of foreclosure or a member of the following class of parties connected to that owner: a member of that owner's immediate family, a person with a power of attorney appointed by that owner who subsequently transfers the parcel to the owner, a sole proprietorship owned by that owner or a member of that owner's immediate family, or a partnership, trust, business trust, corporation, or association in which the owner or a member of the owner's immediate family owns or controls directly or indirectly more than fifty per cent. If a parcel sells for less than the amount described in division (A)(2) of this section, the officer conducting the sale shall require the buyer to complete an affidavit stating that the buyer is not the owner of record immediately prior to the judgment of foreclosure or a member of the specified class of parties connected to that owner, and the affidavit shall become part of the court records of the proceeding. If the county auditor discovers within three years after the date of the sale that a parcel was sold to that owner or a member of the specified class of parties connected to that owner for a price less than the amount so described, and if the parcel is still owned by that owner or a member of the specified class of parties connected to that owner, the auditor within thirty days after such discovery shall add the difference between that amount and the sale price to the amount of taxes that then stand charged against the parcel and is payable at the next succeeding date for payment of real property taxes. As used in this paragraph, "immediate family" means a spouse who resides in the same household and children.

(B) Each parcel affected by the court's finding and order of sale shall be separately sold, unless the court orders any of such parcels to be sold together.

Each parcel shall be advertised and sold by the officer to whom the order of sale is directed in the manner provided by law for the sale of real property on execution. The advertisement for sale of each parcel shall be published once a week for three consecutive weeks and shall include the date on which a second sale will be conducted if no bid is accepted at the first sale. Any number of parcels may be included in one advertisement.

The notice of the advertisement shall be substantially in the form of the notice set forth in section 5721.191 of the Revised Code. In any county that has adopted a permanent parcel number system, the parcel may be described in the notice by parcel number only, instead of also with a complete legal description, if the prosecuting attorney determines that the publication of the complete legal description is not necessary to provide reasonable notice of the foreclosure sale to potential bidders. If the complete legal description is not published, the notice shall indicate where the complete legal description may be obtained.

(C)(1) Whenever the officer charged to conduct the sale offers any parcel for sale the officer first shall read aloud a complete legal description of the parcel, or in the alternative, may read aloud only a summary description, including the complete street address of the parcel, if any, and a parcel number if the county has adopted a permanent parcel number system and if the advertising notice prepared pursuant to this section includes a complete legal description or indicates where the complete legal description may be obtained. Whenever the officer charged to conduct the sale offers any parcel for sale and no bids are made equal to the lesser of the amounts described in divisions (A)(1) and (2) of this section, the officer shall adjourn the sale of the parcel to the second date that was specified in the advertisement of sale. The second date shall be not less than two weeks or more than six weeks from the day on which the parcel was first offered for sale. The second sale shall be held at the same place and commence at the same time as set forth in the advertisement of sale. The officer shall offer any parcel not sold at the first sale. Upon the conclusion of any sale, or if any parcel remains unsold after being offered at two sales, the officer conducting the sale shall report the results to the court.

(2)(a) If a parcel remains unsold after being offered at two sales, or if a parcel sells at any sale but the amount of the price is less than the costs incurred in the proceeding instituted against the parcel under section 5721.18 of the Revised Code, then the clerk of the court shall certify to the county auditor the amount of those costs that remains unpaid. At the next semiannual apportionment of real property taxes that occurs following any such certification, the auditor shall reduce the real property taxes that the auditor otherwise would distribute to each taxing district. In making the reductions, the auditor shall subtract from the otherwise distributable real property taxes to a taxing district an amount that shall be determined by multiplying the certified costs by a fraction the numerator of which shall be the amount of the taxes, assessments, charges, penalties, and interest on the parcel owed to that taxing district at the time the parcel first was offered for sale pursuant to this section, and the denominator of which shall be the total of the taxes, assessments, charges, penalties, and interest on the parcel owed to all the taxing districts at that time. The auditor promptly shall pay to the clerk of the court the amounts of the reductions.

(b) If reductions occur pursuant to division (C)(2)(a) of this section, and if at a subsequent time a parcel is sold at a foreclosure sale or a forfeiture sale pursuant to Chapter 5723. of the Revised Code, then, notwithstanding other provisions of the Revised Code, except section 5721.17 of the Revised Code, governing the distribution of the proceeds of a foreclosure or forfeiture sale, the proceeds first shall be distributed to reimburse the taxing districts subjected to reductions in their otherwise distributable real property taxes. The distributions shall be based on the same proportions used for purposes of division (C)(2)(a) of this section.

(3) The court, in its discretion, may order any parcel not sold pursuant to the original order of sale to be advertised and offered for sale at a subsequent foreclosure sale. For such purpose, the court may direct the parcel to be appraised and fix a minimum price for which it may be sold.

(D) Except as otherwise provided in division (B)(1) of section 5721.17 of the Revised Code, upon the confirmation of a sale, the proceeds of the sale shall be applied as follows:

(1) The costs incurred in any proceeding filed against the parcel pursuant to section 5721.18 of the Revised Code shall be paid first.

(2) Following the payment required by division (D)(1) of this section, the part of the proceeds that is equal to five per cent of the taxes and assessments due shall be deposited in the delinquent tax and assessment collection fund created pursuant to section 321.261 of the Revised Code.

(3) Following the payment required by division (D)(2) of this section, the amount found due for taxes, assessments, charges, penalties, and interest shall be paid, including all taxes, assessments, charges, penalties, and interest payable subsequent to the delivery to the county prosecuting attorney of the delinquent land tax certificate or master list of delinquent tracts and prior to the transfer of the deed of the parcel to the purchaser following confirmation of sale. If the proceeds available for distribution pursuant to division (D)(3) of this section are sufficient to pay the entire amount of those taxes, assessments, charges, penalties, and interest, the portion of the proceeds representing taxes, interest, and penalties shall be paid to each claimant in proportion to the amount of taxes levied by the claimant in the preceding tax year, and the amount representing assessments and other charges shall be paid to each claimant in the order in which they became due. If the proceeds are not sufficient to pay that entire amount, the proportion of the proceeds representing taxes, penalties, and interest shall be paid to each claimant in the same proportion that the amount of taxes levied by the claimant against the parcel in the preceding tax year bears to the taxes levied by all such claimants against the parcel in the preceding tax year, and the proportion of the proceeds representing items of assessments and other charges shall be credited to those items in the order in which they became due.

(E) If the proceeds from the sale of a parcel are insufficient to pay in full the amount of the taxes, assessments, charges, penalties, and interest which are due and unpaid; the costs incurred in the foreclosure proceeding instituted against it which are due and unpaid; and, if division (B)(1) of section 5721.17 of the Revised Code is applicable, any notes issued by a receiver pursuant to division (F) of section 3767.41 of the Revised Code and any receiver's lien as defined in division (C)(4) of section 5721.18 of the Revised Code, the court, pursuant to section 5721.192 of the Revised Code, may enter a deficiency judgment against the owner of record of the parcel for the unpaid amount. If that owner of record is a corporation, the court may enter the deficiency judgment against the stockholder holding a majority of that corporation's stock.

If after distribution of proceeds from the sale of the parcel under division (D) of this section the amount of proceeds to be applied to pay the taxes, assessments, charges, penalties, interest, and costs is insufficient to pay them in full, and the court does not enter a deficiency judgment against the owner of record pursuant to this division, the taxes, assessments, charges, penalties, interest, and costs shall be deemed satisfied.

(F)(1) Upon confirmation of a sale, a spouse of the party charged with the delinquent taxes or assessments shall thereby be barred of the right of dower in the property sold, though such spouse was not a party to the action. No statute of limitations shall apply to such action. When the land or lots stand charged on the tax duplicate as certified delinquent, it is not necessary to make the state a party to the foreclosure proceeding, but the state shall be deemed a party to such action through and be represented by the county treasurer.

(2) Except as otherwise provided in divisions (F)(3) and (G) of this section, unless such land or lots were previously redeemed pursuant to section 5721.25 of the Revised Code, upon the filing of the entry of confirmation of sale, the title to such land or lots shall be incontestable in the purchaser and shall be free and clear of all liens and encumbrances, except a federal tax lien notice of which is properly filed in accordance with section 317.09 of the Revised Code prior to the date that a foreclosure proceeding is instituted pursuant to division (B) of section 5721.18 of the Revised Code and the easements and covenants of record running with the land or lots that were created prior to the time the taxes or assessments, for the nonpayment of which the land or lots are sold at foreclosure, became due and payable.

(3) When proceedings for foreclosure are instituted under division (C) of section 5721.18 of the Revised Code, unless the land or lots were previously redeemed pursuant to section 5721.25 of the Revised Code, upon the filing of the entry of confirmation of sale, the title to such land or lots shall be incontestable in the purchaser and shall be free of any receiver's lien as defined in division (C)(4) of section 5721.18 of the Revised Code and, except as otherwise provided in division (G) of this section, the liens for land taxes, assessments, charges, interest, and penalties for which the lien was foreclosed and in satisfaction of which the property was sold. All other liens and encumbrances with respect to the land or lots shall survive the sale.

(4) The title shall not be invalid because of any irregularity, informality, or omission of any proceedings under this chapter, or in any processes of taxation, if such irregularity, informality, or omission does not abrogate the provision for notice to holders of title, lien, or mortgage to, or other interests in, such foreclosed lands or lots, as prescribed in this chapter.

(G) If a parcel is sold under this section for the amount described in division (A)(2) of this section, and the county treasurer's estimate exceeds the amount of taxes, assessments, interest, penalties, and costs actually payable when the deed is transferred to the purchaser, the officer who conducted the sale shall refund to the purchaser the difference between the estimate and the amount actually payable. If the amount of taxes, assessments, interest, penalties, and costs actually payable when the deed is transferred to the purchaser exceeds the county treasurer's estimate, the officer shall certify the amount of the excess to the treasurer, who shall enter that amount on the real and public utility property tax duplicate opposite the property; the amount of the excess shall be payable at the next succeeding date prescribed for payment of taxes in section 323.12 of the Revised Code.

(H) If a parcel is sold or transferred under this section or sections 323.28 and 323.65 to 323.78 of the Revised Code, the officer who conducted the sale or made the transfer of the property shall collect the recording fee and any associated costs to cover the recording from the purchaser or transferee at the time of the sale or transfer and, following confirmation of the sale or transfer, shall prepare execute and record the deed conveying title to the parcel to the purchaser or transferee. For purposes of recording such deed, by placement of a bid or making a statement of interest by any party ultimately awarded the parcel, that purchaser or transferee thereby appoints the officer who makes the sale or is charged with executing and delivering the deed as agent for the purchaser or transferee for the sole purpose of accepting delivery of the deed. For such purposes, the confirmation of any such sale or order to transfer the parcel without appraisal or sale shall be deemed delivered upon the confirmation of such sale or transfer.

(I) Notwithstanding section 5722.03 of the Revised Code, if the complaint alleges that the property is delinquent vacant land as defined in section 5721.01 of the Revised Code, abandoned lands as defined in section 323.65 of the Revised Code, or lands described in division (E) of section 5722.01 of the Revised Code, and the value of the taxes, assessments, penalties, interest, and all other charges and costs of the action exceed the auditor's fair market value of the parcel, then the court or board of revision having jurisdiction over the matter on motion of the plaintiff, or on the court's or board's own motion, shall, upon any adjudication of foreclosure, order, without appraisal and without sale, the fee simple title of the property to be transferred to and vested in an electing subdivision as defined in division (A) of section 5722.01 of the Revised Code. For purposes of determining whether the taxes, assessments, penalties, interest, and all other charges and costs of the action exceed the actual fair market value of the parcel, the auditor's most current valuation shall be rebuttably presumed to be, and constitute prima-facie evidence of, the fair market value of the parcel. In such case, the filing for journalization of a decree of foreclosure ordering that direct transfer without appraisal or sale shall constitute confirmation of the transfer and thereby terminate any further statutory or common law right of redemption.

Sec. 5723.01.  (A)(1) Every tract of land and town lot, which, pursuant to foreclosure proceedings under section 323.25 or 5721.18 of the Revised Code, has been advertised and offered for sale on two separate occasions, not less than two weeks apart, and not sold for want of bidders, shall be forfeited to the state or to a political subdivision pursuant to division (A)(3) of this section.

(2) The county prosecuting attorney shall certify to the court that such tract of land or town lot has been twice offered for sale and not sold for want of a bidder. Such forfeiture of lands and town lots shall be effective when the court by entry orders such lands and town lots forfeited to the state or to a political subdivision pursuant to division (A)(3) of this section. A copy of such entry shall be certified to the county auditor and, after the date of the certification, all the right, title, claim, and interest of the former owner is transferred to and vested in the state to be disposed of in compliance with this chapter.

(3) After having been notified pursuant to division (A)(2) of this section that the tract of land or town lot has been twice offered for sale and not sold for want of bidders, the court shall notify the political subdivision in which the property is located and offer to forfeit the property to the political subdivision, or to an electing subdivision as defined in section 5722.01 of the Revised Code, upon a petition from the political subdivision. If the political subdivision does not petition the court within ten days of the notification by the court, the court shall forfeit the property to the state. If the political subdivision requests through a petition to receive the property through forfeiture, the forfeiture of land and town lots is effective when, by entry, the court orders such lands and town lots forfeited to the political subdivision. The court shall certify a copy of the entry to the county auditor and, after the date of certification, all the right, title, claim, and interest of the former owner is transferred to and vested in the political subdivision.

(B) Every parcel against which a judgment of foreclosure and forfeiture is made in accordance with section 5721.16 of the Revised Code is forfeited to the state on the date the court enters a finding under that section. After that date, all the right, title, claim, and interest of the former owner is transferred to the state to be disposed of in compliance with the relevant provisions of this chapter.

SECTION 2.  That existing sections 323.25, 323.28, 323.47, 2303.11, 2323.07, 2327.01, 2327.02, 2329.17, 2329.18, 2329.19, 2329.23, 2329.26, 2329.27, 2329.30, 2329.31, 2329.36, 2703.26, 5309.64, 5721.18, 5721.19, and 5723.01 of the Revised Code are hereby repealed.

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