MARVIN MANDEL, Governor

2579

"SURVEYOR" MEANS ANY PROFESSIONAL LAND SURVEYOR

LICENSED TO PRACTICE LAND SURVEYING UNDER ARTICLE 75 1/2
OF THE CODE.

(K) VACANT LAND.

"VACANT LAND" MEANS LAND FOR WHICH A PATENT NEVER
HAS BEEN ISSUED OR FOR WHICH THE APPLICANT BELIEVES THAT
A PATENT NEVER HAS BEEN ISSUED.

(L) VERIFY.

"VERIFY" MEANS TO STATE IN WRITING, UNDER PENALTIES

OF PERJURY, THAT THE MATTERS AND FACTS SET FORTH IN THE

DOCUMENT TO WHICH THE STATEMENT RELATES ARE TRUE AND

COMPLETE TO THE BEST OF THE KNOWLEDGE, INFORMATION, AND

BELIEF OF THE PERSON MAKING THE STATEMENT.

13-102. PURPOSE AND INTENT.

(A)   PURPOSE.

A PRIMARY PURPOSE OF LAND PATENT PROCEEDINGS IS TO:

(1)    AVOID UNCERTAINTIES CAUSED BY THE
EXISTENCE OF VACANT LAND, BY PROMPTLY RULING ON THE CLAIM
OF A PATENT APPLICANT; AND

(2)   TO BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY BY EXPANDING THE
TAX BASE AS PREVIOUSLY UNTAXED, VACANT LAND IS RECOGNIZED
AND MADE TO CONTRIBUTE ITS RIGHTFUL SHARE TOWARDS
FINANCING GOVERNMENT.

(B)       INTENT.

IT IS THE INTENTION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY,

THEREFORE, THAT THE STATE'S LAND PATENT PROCEEDINGS
PROVIDE A SIMPLE, CONVENIENT, AND PROMPT METHOD FOR
PROMOTING PRIVATE OWNERSHIP OF VACANT LAND AND, IN
CERTAIN INSTANCES, FOR CLARIFYING THE OWNERSHIP OF LAND
PREVIOUSLY PATENTED.

13-103. PATENT PROCEEDINGS GOVERNED BY TITLE.

ALL PROCEEDINGS FOR THE ISSUANCE OF A PATENT SHALL
BE CONDUCTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS TITLE.

13—104. WHO MAY OBTAIN PATENT.

IN THE MANNER AND TO THE EXTENT PROVIDED IN THIS
TITLE, ANY PERSON MAY:

(1)       OBTAIN A PATENT FOR VACANT LAND; AND

(2)             OBTAIN A PATENT FOR LAND THAT WAS
PREVIOUSLY PATENTED AND IS OWNED IN FEE SIMPLE BY THE
PERSON, NOTWITHSTANDING THE EXISTENCE OF ANY MORTGAGE,
DEED OF TRUST, EASEMENT, RIGHT-OF-WAY,        OR SIMILAR