Opinion ID: 1140625
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: did the first partition sale comply with the intent of the trial court?

Text: In an action for partition, the trial court is vested with the authority to order the sale of real estate subject to or free of encumbrances. Miss. Code Ann. § 11-21-9. If the real estate is sold free of encumbrances, then the mortgage or lien will attach to the proceeds of the sale. If the real estate is sold subject to the encumbrance, then the encumbrance remains a lien upon the land in the hands of the purchaser unless the mortgagee or encumbrancer ratifies the sale and sues for the purchase money. 4 Thompson, Commentaries of the Modern Law of Real Property, § 1828, p. 321 (1979). It appears from the orders of the trial court that the proceeds from the partition sale would be used to release the mortgagors from their liability on the property. In its July 31, 1985 order, the trial court directed that the proceeds of the sale be determined at a date subsequent to the partition sale. The order setting aside the partition sale expressly directed that the property be sold for a total cash purchase and sale including an amount sufficient to pay and satisfy the first mortgage on and against the property. While the better practice would be to adjudicate the parties' equities prior to sale in order to guide the parties bidding procedure and financing as well as avoid multiplicity of lawsuits, the chancellor did not err in reserving jurisdiction and deferring that consideration until after the sale. Daughtrey v. Daughtrey, 474 So.2d 598, 603 (Miss. 1985). The first partition sale, therefore, did not comply with the intent of the trial court and the trial court was not in error in setting it aside.