Publishing Notices Of Sheriff's Sales In Indiana

We’ve got a sheriff’s sale next month, in connection with a commercial foreclosure case, in Montgomery County. There, like many counties in Indiana, the sheriff’s office contracts with a third-party company that serves as the sheriff’s agent for purposes of preparing for, and holding, sheriff’s sales. In Montgomery County, the vendor is SRI. Other counties use Lieberman Technologies. Many county sheriff’s departments, such as Marion County’s here in Indianapolis, still run all aspects of the sale internally, however.

Check county rules. Don’t forget that local rules, customs and practices control (pardon any outdated links from that 2010 post). For our sale next month, Montgomery County requires the plaintiff/lender to handle the pre-sale notice publication process. Many if not most counties will cover publication, and then invoice you for the costs. The need for us to do this particular step caused me to dust off the applicable statute to make sure we published the sale notice properly, and timely.

Publication laws. The three critical elements of publication are: (1) advertising in a newspaper circulated in the county where the real estate is located, (2) running the ad for three successive weeks and (3) initiating the first ad at least thirty days befor the sale. Here is the pertinent statutory provision, Ind. Code 32-29-7-3(d):

Before selling mortgaged property, the sheriff must advertise the sale by publication once each week for three (3) successive weeks in a daily or weekly newspaper of general circulation. The sheriff shall publish the advertisement in at least one (1) newspaper published and circulated in each county where the real estate is situated. The first publication shall be made at least thirty (30) days before the date of sale.

Notice to owner. Section 3(d) goes on to require that:

at the time of placing the first advertisement by publication, the sheriff shall also serve a copy of the written or printed notice of sale upon each owner of the real estate. Service of the written notice shall be made as provided in the Indiana Rules of Trial Procedure governing service of process upon a person.

(See, Service of Process” Fundamentals for the Plaintiff Lender.) My understanding is that, in most instances when a sheriff or its agent requires the plaintiff/lender to handle publication, the sheriff or agent still will perfect service upon the owner themselves. Normally, this is done by certified mail or hand delivery. By the way, if counsel represents the owner, I always include notice to the attorney.
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I represent lenders, as well as mortgage loan servicers, in connection with foreclosure cases and sheriff’s sales. If you need assistance with a similar matter, please call me at 317-639-6151 or email me at [email protected]. Also, don’t forget that you can follow me on Twitter @JohnDWaller or on LinkedIn, or you can subscribe to posts via RSS or email as noted on my home page.

From Marion County (Indianapolis) Civil Sheriff's Office: Judgment Assignment and Costs Forms

This post essentially is a copy and paste of Laurie Gipson's email from last Friday.  You can download the two forms by clicking each hyperlink:

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Good afternoon!

Attached, please find two forms to be included with your sale documents beginning with the February 21, 2018 Sheriff Sale and all future Sheriff Sale dates.

The first form is the Assignment of Judgment Cover Sheet that should accompany each individual sale #. The specific language and format that we have provided you in the Assignment of Judgment Cover Sheet may be incorporated within the filed Assignment of Judgment and/or may be attached as a cover sheet with a copy of the filed Assignment of Judgment for verification of the same. This format will eliminate any confusion that may exist within our interpretation, allowing us clear documentation of your intent and help us all to be firm, fair and consistent across the board.

The second form is the Added Costs Sheet which should be used for your added costs for each individual sale #.

All bids; tax clearance forms; cost checks; added costs sheets (to include bid justification); assignment of judgments; and assignment of judgment cover sheets are due in our office no later than 3:00 p.m. on the day prior to the respective Sheriff Sale date.

Deeds; Clerk Returns; Sales Disclosure Forms; recording checks; and removal checks are due in our office no later than 3:00 p.m. the Friday after the respective sale.

Please pass this information along to all it my concern.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.

Thank you for your cooperation,
Laurie

Laurie Gipson
Marion County Sheriff’s Office
Judicial Enforcement Division

Real Estate/Mortgage Foreclosures:  (317) 327-2450

Redemption From Tax Sale - Interest On Surplus Now 5%, Not 10%

In 2010, I posted Indiana Tax Sales, Part II: Redemption, which discussed how parties can redeem real estate from a tax sale.  Lenders who lose mortgaged property at a tax sale have the ability to redeem, and one of the issues always is amount of money needed to do so.  My prior post includes a discussion of the amounts needed to redeem.  One of the elements is interest on any surplus.  The purpose of today's post is advise that, as of July 1, 2014, the per annum interest redeemers must pay on the tax sale surplus is 5%.  Previously, the amount was 10%.  So, it's now less expensive to redeem.   

To review the entire Indiana statutory provision applicable to the amount of money required for redemption, click on Ind. Code 6-1.1-25-2. 

Enjoy the Patriots loss on Sunday....

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I often represent lenders, as well as their servicers, entangled in loan-related litigation, including disputes arising out of tax sales. If you need assistance with such a matter, please call me at 317-639-6151 or email me at [email protected]. Also, don’t forget that you can follow me on Twitter @JohnDWaller or on LinkedIn, or you can subscribe to posts via RSS or email as noted to your left.