Court Opinion

ID: 6605732
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-20 20:12:00.962207+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:58:10.668638
License: Public Domain

Eton, J.
From the foregoing statement of facts it appears that the tax certificate in question was issued six years, — less four days,— before this action was commenced. The premises were continuously occupied by the defendant Bond during all that time, and no notice of application fór a tax deed upon the certificate was ever served upon him, pursuant to the requirements of sec. 1175, R. S. That section requires the notice to be served three months prior' to themxecution of the deed. Sec. 1182 prohibits the issuing of a tax deed after the expiration of six years from the day of sale of the land for nonpayment of taxes. Hence, when. this action was commenced, the plaintiff was not entitled, and could not entitle himself, to a tax deed upon such certificate. •
Under these circumstances, can'he maintain this action to foreclose such certificate. The circuit court resolved this question in the negative. Sec. 1181 provides that “the holder of any tax certificate may at his option, in lieu of *368taking a tax deed, at any time after three years from the date of such certificate, and before he would be barred from demanding a tax deed thereon, foreclose the same by action, as in case of a mortgage upon real estate.” Counsel for plaintiff contends that this proceeding, under the statute, to foreclose the certificate, being “ in lieu of taking a tax- deed,” must necessarily dispense with the necessity of giving the notice required by sec. 1115. We are inclined to think this position is correct. It would seem to be a useless proceeding to give such notice when the holder of the certificate had already elected not to take a tax deed, but to foreclose the certificate. Yet the requirement of sec. 1181 remains, that the action must be commenced before the holder of the certificate is barred from, demanding a tax deed thereon. This means, as a matter o'f course, that he must bring his action while he is entitled, or at least while he can entitle himself, to a tax deed. When this action was commenced, the plaintiff was not entitled to a tax deed, and could not entitle himself thereto. Before he could give the three months notice required by sec. 1115, the limitation of sec. 1182 would have run against his certificate. So, when he commenced this action, he was barred from demanding a tax deed on his certificate, and hence was barred from maintaining this action. We conclude that the circuit court ruled correctly in this behalf.
By the Court.— The judgment of the circuit court is affirmed.