The title by which the successful claimant succeeds against the occupying claimant, in all cases of lands sold for taxes, by virtue of any of the laws of this state, shall be considered an adverse and better title, under the provisions of this article, whether it be the title under which the taxes were due, and for which said land was sold, or any other title or claim whatever; and the occupying claimant holding possession of land sold for taxes, as aforesaid, having the deed of a collector of taxes or county clerk for such sale for taxes, or a certificate of sale of said land from a collector of taxes or a county treasurer, or shall claim under the person or persons who hold such deed or certificate, or any other title or claim whatever, shall be considered as having sufficient title to said land to demand the value of improvements under the provisions of this article.
§ 1482.Tax Title, Sufficiency
Chapter 27: Occupying Claimants · Not amended since adoption on record · Last verified August 3, 2026
In one sentenceSection 1482 treats a tax title as an adverse and better title for occupying claimant purposes regardless of what claim it rests on, and holds that a claimant possessing land under a tax deed or sale certificate, or a claim derived from one, has sufficient title to demand improvement value.
Full Text of § 1482
Amendment History
R.L. 1910, § 4934.
Plain-English Summary
This section works both sides of a tax sale. When a successful claimant defeats an occupying claimant using a title obtained through a tax sale, that tax title counts as an adverse and better title under this chapter -- it doesn't matter whether it's the same title the taxes were owed on and for which the land sold, or some entirely different title or claim.
The same tax sale can also work in the occupying claimant's favor. An occupying claimant who holds possession under a tax sale -- with a collector's or county clerk's deed, a certificate of sale from a tax collector or county treasurer, or a claim derived from someone who holds one of those -- has sufficient title to demand compensation for improvements under this chapter, the same as any other occupying claimant.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a title obtained through a tax sale count as an "adverse and better title" against an occupying claimant?
Yes. Section 1482 treats it as such, regardless of whether it's the same title the taxes were originally owed on.
Can someone holding land under a tax deed claim occupying claimant protection?
Yes. Holding a tax collector's or county clerk's deed, or a certificate of tax sale, gives sufficient title to demand the value of improvements under this chapter.
What if I claim under someone else who holds the tax deed or certificate?
The section covers that too -- claiming under the person who holds the deed or certificate still gives sufficient title to demand compensation.
Source & verification. Section text is reproduced verbatim from
Title 12 of the Oklahoma Statutes, enacted by the Oklahoma Legislature.
Last verified August 3, 2026.
· Official source
Also known as: tax deed occupying claimant oklahoma12 O.S. § 1482tax sale title sufficiency oklahomatax certificate occupying claimant rights