Cal. Civ. Code § 11-25-3
Purchaser at sale for taxes.
Operative Text
The purchaser of land at a sale for taxes, or his vendee, after two years from the date of the sale for taxes, and within three years from such date, may bring the action of unlawful detainer, for the recovery of possession of the land; and a judgment in his favor in the action shall be a bar to any action in any court brought after one year from the date of such judgment, to controvert the tax title to the land, saving the rights of infants and persons of unsound mind to redeem the same. History Codes, 1880, § 538; 1892, § 4461a; 1906, § 5040; Hemingway’s 1917, § 3312; 1930, § 3457; 1942, § 1034.
Under Miss. Code Ann. tit. 11, ch. 25 § 11-25-3, a person who buys land at a tax sale—or someone who later acquires that buyer's interest—has a specific window to pursue an unlawful detainer action to gain possession: no sooner than two years after the tax sale and no later than three years after it. If that purchaser wins a judgment in the unlawful detainer action, that judgment acts as a legal bar against any challenge to the tax title brought more than one year after the judgment date. The statute carves out a protection for minors and persons of unsound mind, preserving their right to redeem the property even after that bar would otherwise apply.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners or managers who have acquired land through a tax sale, or who hold title derived from a tax-sale purchaser, should be aware that Miss. Code Ann. tit. 11, ch. 25 § 11-25-3 establishes a precise timeframe—between two and three years from the date of the tax sale—during which an unlawful detainer action may be brought to recover possession. Operators who obtain a favorable judgment in such an action generally benefit from a one-year post-judgment period after which title challenges are barred, strengthening the security of the tax title. Keeping careful records of the original tax-sale date and any subsequent conveyances is a practice consistent with managing these time-sensitive rights.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Occupants of land that has been sold at a tax sale should know that Miss. Code Ann. tit. 11, ch. 25 § 11-25-3 gives the tax-sale purchaser or their successor a defined period to bring an unlawful detainer action—meaning a legal claim for possession can arise between two and three years after the tax sale occurred. If a judgment is entered against an occupant in such an action, challenges to the underlying tax title generally must be raised within one year of that judgment. Tenants or occupants facing such a proceeding may wish to consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid office to understand available defenses, including any redemption rights that may apply, particularly for those who are minors or have been adjudicated as persons of unsound mind.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 30, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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