34-2-133. Tax deeds; possession and affidavits of possession.

(a) Possession by the grantee for a continuous period of not less than six (6) months at any time after one (1) year and six (6) months have elapsed since the date of recording the tax deed extinguishes forever all the claims, right, title and interest, including the right to possession, of the former owner, and vests in the grantee any title conveyed or purportedly conveyed by the tax deed. Proof of possession by the grantee and the record of the tax deed constitutes conclusive evidence of the legality and effectiveness of the deed and any proceedings upon which the deed is based, and of the title of the grantee. As a means of proving possession and preserving evidence of possession under a tax deed, the then owner or holder of the title conveyed or purportedly conveyed by the tax deed may, at any time after two (2) years from the date of recording of the tax deed, file for record in the office of the county clerk in which the real estate is located an affidavit substantially in the following form:

AFFIDAVIT OF POSSESSION AND CLAIM UNDER TAX DEED

State of .... )

) ss

.... County )

I, ...., (name) residing at .... (address), being first duly sworn, depose and say that on .... (date) a tax deed was issued to .... (grantee) for the following described real estate: .... .... that said tax deed was filed for record in the office of the county clerk for .... county, ...., on .... (date), and appears in the records of that office in .... County as recorded in book .... page .... of the .... records; that I am now in possession of such real estate and claim title to the same by virtue of such tax deed; that I have been in possession of such real estate for a continuous period of not less than six (6) months immediately preceding the date of this affidavit; and that the facts concerning the possession of such real estate from the date of recording the tax deed to the date of this notice are, insofar as known to me, as follows:

....

....

Subscribed and sworn to before me this .... day of ...., (year).

.................

Notarial Officer in and for

.......... County

......... (state)

(b) In any action, suit or proceeding in which the tax deed, any proceedings upon which it is based, or the title of the grantee is contested or drawn in question, a certified copy of the record of any affidavit of possession and claim under tax deed which has been of record for not less than sixty (60) days constitutes prima facie evidence of the facts recited therein and of the application of this act.