Mo. Rev. Stat. § 141.550 – Conduct of sale — interests conveyed — special sale procedures for certain counties — cost of publication (first class charter counties)

1. The sale shall be conducted, the sheriff's return of the sale made, and the sheriff's deed pursuant to the sale executed, all as provided in the case of sales of real estate taken under execution except as otherwise provided in sections 141.210 to 141.810, and provided that such sale need not occur during the term of court or while the court is in session.
2. The sale shall be held on the day for which it is advertised, between the hours of nine o'clock a.m. and five o'clock p.m. and continued day to day thereafter to satisfy the judgment as to each respective parcel of real estate sold.
3. The sale shall be conducted publicly, by auction, for ready money. The highest bidder shall be the purchaser unless the highest bid is less than the full amount of all tax bills included in the judgment, interest, penalties, attorney's fees and costs then due on the real estate. No person shall be eligible to bid on a parcel at the time of the sale if such person is the owner of any other parcel of real estate in the county which is affected by a delinquent tax bill.
4. Such sale shall convey the whole interest of every person having or claiming any right, title or interest in or lien upon such real estate, whether such person has answered or not, subject to rights-of-way thereon of public utilities upon which tax has been otherwise paid, and subject to the lien on the real estate, if any, of the United States of America.
5. The collector shall advance the sums necessary to pay for the publication of all advertisements required by sections 141.210 to 141.810 and shall be allowed credit therefor in the collector's accounts with the county. The collector shall give credit in such accounts for all such advances recovered by the collector. Such expenses of publication shall be apportioned pro rata among and taxed as costs against the respective parcels of real estate described in the judgment; provided, however, that none of the costs enumerated in this section, including the costs of publication, shall constitute any lien upon the real estate after such sale.

(L. 1943 p. 1029 § 26, A.L. 1945 p. 1761, A.L. 1998 S.B. 778)

*This section was amended by both H.B. 977 & 1608 and S.B. 778 during the 2nd Regular Session of the 89th General Assembly, 1998. Due to possible conflict, both versions are printed here