First Amendment to Agreement - University of Notre Dame - Resident Legal Assistant Program

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VACANT PROPERTY INITIATIVE RESIDENT LEGAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM CITY OF SOUTH BEND Program Overview In collaboration with the Notre Dame Clinical Law Center, the City of South Bend is offering the Resident Legal Assistance Program for residents of the City of South Bend who are interested in acquiring a vacant lot through the St. Joseph County Tax. Sale (Fall) and/or the Commissioners' Certificate Sale (Spring) processes. Qualifying applicants will be referred to the Notre Dame Clinical Law Center for legal assistance and will have all of the costs associated with filing paperwork to obtain ownership paid for by the City of South Bend. Purpose of the Program The intent of the Resident Legal Assistance Program is to work to return vacant lots to productive use, The program will help the applicant with the process of bidding on property and acquiring it through the St. Joseph County Tax Sale or Commissioners' Certificate Sale. The city recognizes acquiring a property through: this process can be long, complicated and costly (could otherwise cost the applicant more than $1,000). Program Terms The City of South Bend will assume the costs associated with the required legal process for acquiring a property through the St. Joseph County Tax Sale or Commissioners' Certificate Sale (valued at over $1,000), including: • Title Work Required Tax Sale Notices Filing of Quiet Title Recording Deed The applicant can submit a request to the City for payment of title insurance in a case where the applicant is acquiring a property adjacent to their current property and plans to consolidate both properties . immediately following obtaining ownership. Requests will be considered on a case -by -case basis. The Applicant is responsible to pay the following costs: • Winning bid amount • Registering on the SRI website (required to bid) • Future property taxes (will accrue during the redemption period) The Applicant will commit to the following program requirements: • Attend an informational session prior to the tax / commissioners' certificate sale • Register on the SRI Tax System and complete the bidding process Be responsive when contacted by the Notre Dame Clinical Law Center and attend all scheduled appointments • Maintain the property: i . During the redemption period, Applicant must maintain the property under Indiana's Good Samaritan Law (Indiana Code Section 34-30-26-5). 2. If Applicant obtains ownership of the property they are responsible for all on -going property maintenance and payment of annual property taxes (including taxes that will accrue during the legal process to take ownership).