Chapter 559 — Action to Determine Adverse Claims

559.01 Action to Determine Adverse Claims A person who owns or possesses real property can file a lawsuit (called a 'quiet title' action) to settle disputes about … 559.013 State as Defendant The state of Minnesota can be named as a defendant in a quiet title lawsuit. The attorney general must be served with … 559.02 Unknown Defendants In a quiet title lawsuit, the plaintiff can name "unknown defendants," people who might claim an interest but whose … 559.03 Disclaimer; Default; Costs If the defendant in a quiet title action disclaims any interest in the property or lets judgment go against them without … 559.04 Claimants Under Common Grantor; Joinder When multiple people claim different parcels of land through the same original seller, and someone else challenges that … 559.05 Action Against Cotenant; Denial of Right If a co-owner of property (such as a joint tenant or tenant in common) wants to bring a quiet title action against … 559.06 Termination of Plaintiff's Right Pending Action If someone has the right to recover property when they file a lawsuit but loses that right while the case is pending, … 559.07 Ejectment; Trial, How Conducted; No Second Trial Ejectment actions (lawsuits to remove someone from real property) are tried the same way as other civil lawsuits. There … 559.08 Ejectment; Damages; Improvements In an ejectment case, damages for withholding property are limited to the fair rental value (not counting improvements … 559.09 Removal of Building Erected in Good Faith If someone builds on land in good faith, honestly believing they owned it, and later finds out they do not own it, they … 559.10 Occupying Claimant; Compensation for Improvements If someone occupies land in good faith under what they believed was a valid title and made improvements (like building a … 559.11 Pleadings; Trial; Verdict In a title dispute, the occupant can claim the value of improvements they made and the taxes and assessments they paid, … 559.12 Compensation Before Execution If the true owner wins a title case against an occupant who made improvements, the true owner cannot take possession … 559.13 Occupant to Pay Value of Land, When In certain cases (unless the occupant holds under an official deed or U.S. land office entry, or the claimant had notice … 559.14 May Remove Crops If an occupant is ejected from land, they have the right to come back and harvest any crops they planted before the … 559.15 Occupant Not in Actual Possession; Actions in Other Form The occupying claimant rules apply whether or not the occupant is actually living on the property. They also apply in … 559.16 Order for Survey During a lawsuit over real property, either side can ask the court for permission to enter the property and have it … 559.17 Mortgage Not a Conveyance; Mortgagee Cannot Possess A mortgage does not transfer ownership of the property to the lender. The lender cannot take possession of the property … 559.18 Conveyance by Mortgagor to Mortgagee When a borrower gives a deed to their lender for the same property that is mortgaged, the law does not assume the deed … 559.19 Action to Declare Mortgage; Limitation You have 15 years from the date a deed is signed to file a lawsuit claiming that the deed was really meant to be a … 559.20 Application This section sets out the scope of two related provisions. It states that sections 559.18 and 559.19 apply to all … 559.201 This section has been repealed and is no longer in effect. It was removed by the 2024 legislature. 559.202 This section has been repealed and is no longer in effect. It was removed by the 2024 legislature. 559.205 Contracts for Deed; Modification A renegotiated contract for deed or an agreement that changes the terms of a valid contract for deed is not turned into … 559.209 Mediation Notice and Conditions for Agricultural Property This section requires mediation before a contract for deed on agricultural property can be terminated when the remaining … 559.2091 This section has been repealed and is no longer in effect. 559.21 Contract Termination; Notice; Service; Costs; Conditions If a buyer falls behind on payments under a contract for deed, the seller can cancel the contract by serving a formal … 559.211 Restraining, Enjoining Proceedings to Terminate A buyer under a contract for deed who receives a termination notice can ask the court for a temporary order to stop the … 559.213 Prima Facie Evidence of Termination When a seller terminates a contract for deed under section 559.21 and records the notice of default, proof that the … 559.214 Supplementary Affidavit After the notice of default, proof of service, and affidavit of noncompliance have been recorded in a contract for deed … 559.215 Validating Terminations of Contract of Sale This section makes a termination of a contract for the conveyance of real property legal and valid once the time period … 559.216 Application of Curative Provisions This section sets the waiting periods after which the curative provisions of section 559.215 apply to a contract for … 559.217 Cancellation of Residential Purchase Agreement This section governs how either the purchaser or the seller may cancel a purchase agreement for residential real … 559.22 In Recovery Action Defendant's Buyer May Be Liable This section provides that a lawsuit to recover real property from a person who is in possession or receiving the rents … 559.23 Action to Determine Boundary Lines A property owner can bring a lawsuit to have the boundary lines between their land and a neighbor's land officially … 559.24 Pleadings; Additional Parties This section sets the pleading rules for boundary-line actions and allows the court to bring in additional parties. Such … 559.25 Judgment; Landmarks When a court decides a boundary dispute, the judgment must describe the boundary lines using well-known permanent …