Indiana Enacts Foreclosure and Loan Administration Bills

Foreclosure

On March 16, Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels signed House Bill 1238, which includes provisions allowing a mortgage creditor to file a petition to have a state court determine whether a property is abandoned. The bill also sets forth criteria and procedures for use by the court in making its determination. A finding from the court that a property is abandoned allows for an expedited foreclosure process.

Recently, Indiana enacted Senate Bill 298. The new law provides that if a mortgage or vendor's lien does not show the due date of the last installment, the mortgage or lien expires 10 years after the date of execution of the mortgage or lien instead of 20 years under the current law. The bill makes exceptions to the expiration period if a foreclosure action is brought prior to the expiration. It also provides for civil actions concerning an omitted party's interest in a property and sets forth factors that the court must consider in determining any rights of redemption. Lastly, the bill provides that: (i) the senior lien on which the foreclosure action was based is not extinguished by merger with the title to the property conveyed to a purchaser at the judicial sale until the interest of any omitted party has been terminated; and (ii) until an omitted party's interest is terminated, the purchaser at the judicial sale is the equitable owner of the senior lien.