Neither the sheriff conducting an execution sale nor his deputies, nor any person for them, shall purchase at such sale and all purchases so made shall be void.
Rule 76.20.Sheriff Not to Purchase Property.
Part I · Rule 76: Executions · Last amended January 1, 1981 · Last verified July 22, 2026
In one sentenceRule 76.20 bars the sheriff conducting an execution sale, the sheriff's deputies, or anyone acting for them from purchasing property at that sale, and voids any purchase made in violation of that bar.
Full Text of Rule 76.20
Amendment History
Adopted June 10, 1980, eff. Jan. 1, 1981.
Official Comment
This is substantially the same as prior Rule 76.45.
Plain-English Summary
The officer running an execution sale is supposed to be a neutral conductor of the process, not a bidder competing to buy the same property under the officer's own control. Rule 76.20 draws a firm line against that conflict of interest. Neither the sheriff conducting the sale, nor the sheriff's deputies, nor anyone purchasing on their behalf may buy at the sale.
The consequence for breaking this rule is total: any purchase made in violation is void. There is no partial remedy or opportunity to ratify the transaction — a sale to the sheriff or a deputy does not count as a valid purchase.
The rule protects the integrity of execution sales generally. If the officer running the auction could also bid, that officer would have every incentive to steer the sale toward personal advantage, undermining the fairness the whole notice-and-auction process is designed to guarantee.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is barred from purchasing at an execution sale under this rule?
The sheriff conducting the sale, the sheriff's deputies, and any person purchasing for them.
What happens if the sheriff or a deputy buys property at the sale anyway?
The purchase is void.
Does this rule cover purchases made through a third party acting for the sheriff?
Yes. It reaches purchases made by any person acting for the sheriff or deputies, not just direct purchases in their own names.
Why does the rule void rather than merely penalize such purchases?
Voiding the purchase removes any benefit the prohibited buyer could gain, which discourages the conduct far more effectively than a separate penalty would.
Does this rule apply to both real estate and personal property sales?
The rule speaks generally to purchases at execution sales conducted by the sheriff, without limiting itself to one property type.
What is the underlying concern behind this rule?
Preventing the officer who controls the sale process from also profiting as a bidder, which would compromise the fairness of the auction.
Source & verification. Rule text and amendment history are
reproduced verbatim from the Missouri State & Federal Court Rules, adopted by the
Supreme Court of Missouri. Last verified July 22, 2026. ·
Official source
Also known as: sheriff conflict of interestvoid purchase by officerprohibited purchasersheriff barred from bidding