When the State has taxed real estate in unorganized territory, and the State Tax Assessor has conveyed it, or part of it, for nonpayment of tax, by deed purporting to convey the interest of the State by forfeiture for such nonpayment, or it or a part of it has been conveyed under authority given by the Legislature by a deed purporting to convey the interest of the State acquired under sections 1281 to 1283, and the pertinent records of the State Tax Assessor show that the grantee, his heirs or assigns, has paid the state and county taxes thereon, or on his acres or interest therein, as stated in the deed, continuously for the 20 years subsequent to such deed; and when a person claims under a recorded deed describing real estate in unorganized territory taxed by the State, and the pertinent records of the State Tax Assessor show that he has, by himself or by his predecessors under that deed, paid the state and county taxes thereon, or on his acres or interest therein as stated in the deed, continuously for 20 years subsequent to recording that deed; and whenever, in either case, it appears that the person claiming under such a deed, and those under whom he claims, have, during that period, held such exclusive, peaceable, continuous and adverse possession thereof as comports with the ordinary management of real estate in unorganized territory in this State, and it further appears that during such period no former owner, or person claiming under him, has paid any such tax, or any assessment by the county commissioners, or done any other act indicative of ownership, no action may be maintained by a former owner, or those claiming under him, to recover such real estate or to avoid such deed, unless commenced within those 20 years. That payment shall give the grantee or person claiming, his heirs or assigns, a right of entry and seizin in the whole, or such part, in common and undivided, of the whole tract as the deed states, or as the number of acres in the deed is to the number of acres assessed. [1981, c. 706, §16(AMD).]
This section shall apply to rights and interests acquired under tax sales made by the State Tax Assessor for the nonpayment of taxes. [1981, c. 706, §16(AMD).]
36 M.R.S. § 1286