1. (a) As used in this chapter, "unknown or missing owner" means a person:

   1. (1) vested of record or by operation of IC 32-23-10 with a property interest in:

      1. (A) a mineral estate in land; or
      2. (B) a portion of a mineral estate in land; and

   2. (2) whose identity or location cannot be determined:

      1. (A) from the records in the chain of title in the county in which the land is located;
      2. (B) by diligent inquiry in the vicinity of the record owner's last known place of residence or location; and
      3. (C) from a search of tax records in the county in which the property is located.
2. (b) The term includes the person's heirs and devisees and successors and assigns.

As added by P.L.28-2015, SEC.1.