V. The Application Process.
A. Review by the Secretary of State.
Applications shall be reviewed by the Secretary of State to determine if they have been
fully and accurately completed and are accompanied by proper payment. Applications
determined to be incomplete, illegible or defective shall be returned to the applicant
with written reasons for said return.
B. Applications determined to be complete
and accepted shall be stamped, marking the date of receipt and processed in the order in
which they are received. Miss. Code Ann. § 29-1-37. (But note Rule IV, Rule V D. and Rule
VII.)
1. The property described in the application shall be located
in the County Sales Book to verify state ownership.
a. The applicant shall be notified if the property does not appear in the County
Sales Book, if the property descriptions do not match precisely, or if the property has
been sold.
2. The Secretary of State shall verify that the applicant is
eligible pursuant to Rule III A. However, the following persons are excepted from the 160
acre per year limitation set forth in Rule III A. 4. (Miss. Code Ann. § 29-1-73):
a. Original owner, his heirs, and executors or administrators;
b. The mortgagee of the land at the time that the title matures in the State;
c. Board of drainage commissioners of any drainage district in the purchase of
lands situated in such drainage district; and
d. The United States government under the provisions of laws authorizing the
sale of such lands.