In Rem foreclosure requires which initial action?

• A. Certificate must be recorded with County Clerk.
• B. A resolution is required.
• C. Personal property may be foreclosed.
• D. Title is fee simple after recording.

Answer: (A)

In Rem foreclosures hinge on a claim against the property itself, not against the owner personally. The initial step is to record a certificate with the County Clerk. This creates a formal, public record of the delinquent taxes tied to that parcel and establishes the lien against the land, which is essential for proceeding with a foreclosure that targets real property. Without recording, there’s no enforceable lien to compel foreclosure, so the process can’t start.

The other options don’t fit because a resolution isn’t the starting action in this context, in rem foreclosures concern real property rather than personal property, and recording a certificate does not instantly transfer fee simple title—the title transfer comes later through the court process and sale or deed.