New Jersey § acts:saved-54 - (9)

§ acts:saved-54. (9)

9. In case any owner, mortgagee or other person appearing to have an interest in the

lands which shall be sold for arrears of taxes or assessments under the provisions

of this act, is unknown to or cannot be ascertained by the purchaser or his legal

representatives or assigns, after due inquiry, application shall be made to the circuit

court of the county wherein such lands are situate for an order for a deed, by petition

duly verified, which shall describe the said lands so sold, not only by lot and block

numbers, but also by metes and bounds; and shall also set out the manner in which

the purchaser or his legal representatives or assigns have made inquiry for such unknown

owner, mortgagee or other interested person; and the court, upon being satisfied

by the said petition or otherwise, that such owners, mortgagees or other interested

persons are unknown to said purchaser, his legal representatives or assigns, and that

due inquiry to ascertain their names, places of residence and post-office address

has been made and cannot be ascertained, may make an order requiring such unknown

owner, mortgagee or other person interested in said lands to show cause before said

court at a day to be therein specified, not less than six months from the date of

said order, why a deed should not be made and delivered for the said lands to the

purchaser or to his legal representatives or assigns, and in case such unknown owner,

mortgagee or other interested person shall not appear and show cause or redeem the

said lands within the time limited by the said order, then the court shall, on the

return day thereof, or afterwards, make an order directing the town collector or other

collecting officer of the town wherein such lands are situate, to make a deed of conveyance

of said lands to said purchaser, or to his legal representatives or assigns, which

shall convey the said lands, free of all interest or estate in or lien upon, or claim

thereto, of any such unknown owner, mortgagee or person so proceeded against; provided,

that within ten days after the date of such order the said purchaser shall cause to

be published in one of the newspapers published in the county in which such town is

situated and circulating in the town in which said lands are situate, a notice directed

to such unknown owner, mortgagee or other person appearing to have an interest in

said lands, describing the lands as in said petition and requiring them to redeem

said lands or to show cause why a deed therefor should not be delivered to the purchaser

thereof or his legal representatives or assigns, within the time specified in said

order, which notice shall be published in such newspaper at least once a week thereafter

for at least six weeks, and proof of such publication shall be filed in the office

of the clerk of the said circuit court; in case such owner, mortgagee or other person

interested shall appear and answer the said petition the court may hear the same in

a summary manner and make such order thereon as shall be equitable and just.