323.68 Title search to identify persons with interest in land.

(A)(1) If a county treasurer adopts a resolution under division (B) of section 323.67 of the Revised Code and certifies a copy of the resolution to the prosecuting attorney, the prosecuting attorney shall cause a title search to be conducted for the purpose of identifying any lienholders or other persons having a legal or equitable ownership interest or other security interest of record in abandoned land appearing on the list compiled under division (A) of that section.

(2) If a certificate holder compiles a list of the parcels that the certificate holder determines to be abandoned land under division (A) of section 323.67 of the Revised Code, the certificate holder shall cause a title search to be conducted for the purpose of identifying any lienholders or other persons having a legal or equitable ownership interest or other security interest of record in abandoned land appearing on the list.

(B) Notwithstanding section 5301.252 of the Revised Code, an affidavit of a type described in that section shall not be considered a lien or encumbrance on the abandoned land, and the recording of an affidavit of a type described in that section shall not serve in any way to impede the bona fide purchaser status of the purchaser of any abandoned land sold at public auction under sections 323.65 to 323.78 of the Revised Code or of any other recipient of abandoned land transferred under those sections. However, any affiant who records an affidavit pursuant to section 5301.252 of the Revised Code shall be given notice and summons under sections 323.69 to 323.78 of the Revised Code in the same manner as any lienholder.

Effective Date: 09-28-2006