At the Nov. 14 Rankin County supervisors meeting, resident Leon Seals of Pearl told the board he believes a neighbors home sits on property he owns and that the neighbor has claimed a homestead on a parcel Mr. Seals says is his. Seals said he had been arrested multiple times in connection with attempts to resolve the dispute and that the tax records and homestead designation are incorrect.

The county attorney advised the board that Mr. Sealss claim appears to stem from a tax deed resulting from a tax sale and that a tax deed is "inchoate" until a chancery-court petition confirms title. The attorney said the chancery court (Judge Roberts was named in the discussion) must determine competing claims to title and possession and that the assessor may act after the court issues a final order.

Mr. Seals asked whether he would be denied a homestead claim while the dispute is pending; the county attorney replied that without a chancery-court order confirming the tax deed against other claims, the assessor would have difficulty legally allowing a homestead claim on the property. The county encouraged Mr. Seals to seek remedy in Chancery Court and to provide pertinent case numbers and documents to staff.

Next steps: Mr. Seals said he will continue pursuing court review and return to the board if new court action is taken; staff suggested he review the chancery docket (case G85017 was referenced) and follow the court's determination before the assessor acts.