Sec. 78-9Redemption rights of defendant in fi.fa.; vesting of title in grantee

(a) Whenever real property is sold for taxes or any special assessment, the defendant in fi.fa. or any person having any right, title, or interest in or lien upon such property may redeem the property from the sale by the payment of the redemption price or the amount required for redemption as fixed by O.C.G.A. § 48-5-42, at any time within 12 months from the date of sale, and at any time after the sale until the right to redeem is foreclosed by the giving of the notice provided for in O.C.G.A. § 48-5-45, which Code sections by reference are incorporated herein as a part of this article.

(b) Where notice of foreclosure of the right to redeem real property sold at a tax sale has not been given as required in paragraph (a) immediately above, title shall ripen by prescription after a period of four years from the date of recording of the deed in the county where the property is situated, provided the defendant in fi.fa. was not laboring under any legal disability at the time of sale. Unless the tax deed indicates a lesser interest was levied upon and sold, a fee simple title to the property shall vest absolutely in the grantee in the deed or in the grantee's heirs or assigns. In the event the defendant in fi.fa. is laboring under any legal disability, the prescriptive term shall begin from the time the disabilities are removed or abated.