Section 48-4-81. Sale procedures; time; minimum bid; finality; right of redemption by owner; execution of tax deed; report of sale

   (a) Following the hearing and order of the superior court in accordance with Code Section 48-4-79, a sale of the property shall be advertised and conducted on the date, time, place, and manner which are required by law of sheriffs' sales. Such sale shall not occur earlier than 45 days following the date of issuance of such order of the superior court.

(b) Except as otherwise authorized by law, the minimum bid price for the sale of the property shall be the redemption amount. In the absence of any higher bid, the petitioner may, but shall not be obligated to, tender its own bid in an amount equal to the minimum bid price and thereby become the purchaser at the sale.

(c) From and after the moment of the sale, the sale shall be final and binding, subject only to the right of the owner of the property to redeem the property from the sale upon payment into the superior court of the full amount of the minimum bid price of the sale. Such right of redemption of the owner shall exist for a period of 60 days from and after the date of the sale and shall be in accordance with the following provisions:

   (1) Redemption by an owner in accordance with this subsection shall result in a dismissal of the proceedings. Immediately following such redemption by an owner, if the property was sold to a third party at the sale, the petitioner shall refund to such purchaser the full amount paid by such purchaser at the sale;

   (2) For purposes of redemption under this subsection, "owner" shall mean the owner of record of fee simple interest in the property as of the date of filing of the petition, together with such owner's successors-in-interest by death or operation of law. This right of redemption shall not otherwise be transferable; and

   (3) This right of redemption shall automatically terminate and expire upon failure to redeem in accordance with the provisions of this subsection within the 60 day period following the date of the sale.

(d) If the property is not redeemed by the owner in accordance with subsection (c) of this Code section, then within 90 days following the date of the sale, the petitioner shall cause to be executed on behalf of the petitioner and delivered to the foreclosure sale purchaser a deed for the property in substantially the form set forth in subsection (g) of this Code section, together with such real estate transfer tax declaration forms as may be required by law.

(e) Within 90 days following the date of the sale, the petitioner shall file a report of the sale with the superior court, which report shall identify whether a sale took place, the foreclosure sale price, and the identity of the purchaser.

(f) In the event that the foreclosure sale price exceeds the minimum bid amount at the foreclosure sale, the petitioner shall deposit into the registry of the superior court the amount of such surplus. Such surplus shall be distributed by the superior court to the interested parties, including the owner, as their interests appear and in the order of priority in which their interests exist.

(g) The form of the deed provided for in subsection (d) of this Code section shall be substantially as follows:
 
   When recorded, please                                       CROSS-REFERENCE:
 
   return to:                                          Deed Book    , page    ,
 
                                                                                County, Georgia Records
 
                      
 
                      
 
   STATE OF GEORGIA
 
   COUNTY OF         
 
 
                                   TAX DEED                                    

   This indenture (the "Deed") made this              day of               , 
                  , by and between             , a               ("Grantor") and 
                      , a               ("Grantee").
 
 
                                  WITNESSETH                                   
 
   WHEREAS, on the              day of               ,     , during the legal hours 
   of sale, Grantor did expose for sale at public outcry to the highest bidder 
   for cash before the courthouse door in              County, Georgia, the Property 
   (as hereinafter defined) at which sale Grantee was the highest and best 
   bidder for the sum of $          and the Property was then and there knocked 
   off to Grantee for said sum. The sale was made by Grantor pursuant to and 
   by virtue of the power and authority granted to it in that certain Order 
   granted               ,      , Case No.       , Superior Court of          
   County, Georgia (the "Order"). Said sale was made after advertising the 
   time, place, and terms thereof in the                            , 
   published in               , Georgia, in the aforesaid county, and being 
   the publication in which Sheriff's advertisements for said county are now 
   published, once a week for four consecutive weeks prior to said sale on the 
        ,      ,      , and       of       ,       , and said advertisement in 
   all respects complied with the requirements of Code Section          of the 
   Official Code of Georgia Annotated. Notice of the time, place, and terms of 
   the sale of the Property was given pursuant to Code Section          of the 
   Official Code of Georgia Annotated. Said sale was made for the purpose of 
   paying the ad valorem taxes owed to                     , the interest and 
   penalties on said indebtedness, the expenses of the sale including 
   attorneys' fees, all of which were mature and payable because of failure of 
   the owner to pay the ad valorem taxes owed.
 
 
 

   NOW, THEREFORE, Grantor, acting under and by virtue of the Order and 
   pursuant to Code Section              of the Official Code of Georgia 
   Annotated, for and in consideration of the facts hereinbefore recited, has 
   bargained, sold, and conveyed and does hereby bargain, sell, and convey 
   unto Grantee, its successors and assigns, the following described property 
   (herein referred to as the "Property"); to wit:
      All that tract or parcel of land lying and being in Land Lot       of 
      the       District,        County, Georgia, and being more particularly 
      described on Exhibit "A" attached hereto and by this reference made a 
      part hereof.
   This Deed is given subject to all restrictions and easements, if any, to 
   which the Deed is junior and inferior in terms of priority, and any and all 
   tax liens which pursuant to subsection (b) of Code Section 48-2-56 of the 
   Official Code of Georgia Annotated are superior to the rights conveyed 
   herein relating to the Property.
 
 
 

   TO HAVE AND TO HOLD, the Property unto Grantee, its successors and assigns 
   in fee simple.
 
 
 

   IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Grantor, has caused its duly authorized officer to sign 
   and seal this Deed as of the day and year first above written.
 
 
 

 
                                                                              
   Signed, sealed, and
   delivered in the
 
   presence of:
 
                       
 
   Unofficial Witness
 
 
 

 
                                                   By:                   (SEAL)
 
                                                   Its:                       
 
                 
 
   Notary Public
 
   Commission Data:
 
                 
 
   (NOTARIAL SEAL)
 
 
                                   EXHIBIT A                                   
                          Description of the Property                          
 
 
 
 

 
                                                                              
 
                                                                              
 
                                                                              
   Together with all right, title, and interest running with the 
   above-described property but not taxed under a separate tax reference 
   number as delineated on the tax maps of the petitioner for the year(s) for 
   the taxes being foreclosed.

Code 1981, § 48-4-81, enacted by Ga. L. 1995, p. 272, § 1.