3950-3972

REVENUE AND TAXATION CODE
SECTION 3950-3972




3950.  Whenever tax-defaulted property has been purchased at tax
sale, including purchases made under Chapter 8 (commencing with
Section 3771), and all subsequent taxes levied and payable have been
paid, the purchaser, or any person claiming through the purchaser,
may bring an action to determine adverse claims to or clouds upon
that property. The complaint shall be verified and shall aver the
matters above enumerated.



3951.  The complaint shall include as defendants to the action, all
persons who are known to plaintiff or who appear of record to have
some interest in or claim or cloud on the land described in plaintiff'
s complaint, arising prior to the date of the tax deed, other than
persons owning a special assessment unless plaintiff seeks to
determine the interest or claim of those persons. The state may be
made a party defendant where the property was sold prior to September
10, 1984.



3952.  The complaint may further include as defendants persons
unknown to plaintiff who claim any right, interest, lien, or claim on
the land or cloud upon the title of plaintiff thereto arising prior
to the date of the tax deed. In any case in which any person who
appears to have had an interest in the land or any claim or cloud
upon the title of the plaintiff thereto is known to be dead, the
heirs and devisees of that person may be sued as "the heirs and
devisees" of the person, naming him or her, or if the person is
believed to be dead and that belief is alleged in the complaint on
information and belief then the heirs and devisees of that person may
also be sued as "the heirs and devisees" of that person, naming him
or her, provided that the person is also named as a defendant.



3953.  All unknown defendants, except unknown defendants owning a
special assessment, shall be described in the complaint, as follows:
"Also all other persons unknown, claiming any right, title, estate,
lien or interest in the real property described in the complaint,
adverse to plaintiff's ownership or any cloud upon plaintiff's title
thereto."



3954.  Unknown defendants owning or claiming an interest in a
special assessment shall be described in the complaint, as follows:
"The owner or any person claiming an interest in a special assessment
lien (here describe said lien as it is described in the bond or
assessment records of the district in which it was issued)."




3955.  Whenever unknown defendants owning or claiming an interest in
special assessments are made parties defendant, the following
persons shall also be made parties defendant: (a) The payee, as shown
by the bond representing the special assessment, if any; (b) the
owner of the special assessment, or any person claiming an interest
therein, as shown by the treasurer's records; and (c) the treasurer,
as collecting agent and trustee of the funds collected for unknown
owners of a special assessment or persons claiming an interest
therein.


3956.  Within 10 days after the filing of the complaint, plaintiff
shall file or cause to be filed in the office of the county recorder
of the county where the property is situated, a notice of the
pendency of the action, containing the matters required by Section
409 of the Code of Civil Procedure.



3957.  Any summons that is issued shall contain the matters required
by Section 412.20 of the Code of Civil Procedure, and in addition, a
description of the property and a statement of the object of the
action. In the summons, the unknown defendants shall be designated as
they are in the complaint.


3958.  Within 30 days after the issuance of the summons, the
plaintiff shall post, or cause to be posted, a copy thereof in a
conspicuous place on the property.



3959.  All known defendants shall be served in the manner provided
by law for the service of a summons in a civil action.



3960.  All unknown defendants shall be served by publication as
provided for in Section 415.50 of the Code of Civil Procedure, but it
must appear by affidavit that the plaintiff used reasonable
diligence to ascertain the identity of the unknown defendants and to
ascertain the identity of any persons sued as heirs and devisees.




3961.  All unknown defendants served by publication shall have the
same rights as are provided by law for other defendants upon whom
personal service or service by publication is made. The action shall
proceed against the unknown defendants in the same manner as against
the other defendants who are served personally or by publication.
Regardless of any legal disability, any unknown defendant, who has
been served, and anyone claiming under him, who has or claims to have
any right, title, estate, lien or interest in the property, or cloud
upon the title thereto, or who owns or claims to own an interest in
a special assessment lien adverse to plaintiff at the time of the
commencement of the action, shall be concluded by a judgment in the
action as if the action were brought against and personal service
made upon that person by his or her name. Service shall be deemed
complete upon the completion of the publication.



3962.  No decree quieting title or establishing the rights of any of
the defendants as to the property shall be granted on default of the
defendant, unless the court requires proof of the facts alleged.



3963.  On the trial of the action, the court shall determine the
rights of all the parties thereto.



3964.  If the court determines that any of the defendants have any
right, title, interest, lien or estate in or to the parcel of
property involved, the court shall render its decree establishing
these rights and may order the sale of the property or the partition
thereof.



3965.  If the court orders a sale of the property or a partition
thereof, the same shall be made in accordance with the provisions of
Title 10.5 (commencing with Section 872.010) of Part 2, of the Code
of Civil Procedure, except that proceeds of sale belonging to unknown
special assessment owners, or persons claiming an interest in said
special assessments, shall be paid to the treasurer, to be held by
him as in like instances of collections by said treasurer of special
assessments.



3966.  If the right, title, interest, lien or estate of a known or
unknown defendant established by the decree of the court, is based
upon a special assessment or arises from a special assessment, the
decree establishing such rights shall direct the treasurer to cancel
the special assessments on his records.



3967.  If the court determines that none of the defendants have any
right, title, interest, lien or estate in the property, the court
shall render its final decree quieting the plantiff's title under the
tax deed and, if any of the defendants claims to be the owner of or
have an interest in a special assessment, which special assessment
the court determines to be invalid or inferior to plaintiff's title,
the decree shall direct that the treasurer cancel the assessment on
his records.



3968.  The decree, after it has become final, is conclusive against
all the persons named in the complaint who have been served and all
unknown persons and the heirs and devisees of any named defendant
served as in this chapter provided.


3969.  After the judgment has become final, a certified copy thereof
shall be delivered to the treasurer. Upon receipt of the copy, he
shall cause to be canceled the special assessments described in the
decree. The treasurer shall, upon his records, mark the special
assessment as follows: "Canceled by judgment of court, superior court
case number (here give number)."



3970.  The remedy provided in this chapter shall be construed as
cumulative and not exclusive of any other remedy, form or right of
action or proceeding now allowed by law.



3971.  "Treasurer," as used in this chapter, means any person who is
the custodian of the funds collected on special assessments and/or
has the duty to cancel the assessments upon the payment thereof.



3972.  "Special assessment," as used in this chapter, means any
assessment levied pursuant to any of the improvement acts of the
State of California, whether or not represented by a bond, and which
are liens upon a specific parcel of real property.