Missouri Revised Statutes Title X. Taxation and Revenue § 141.900. Action to be in name of state--tax bills--evidence

1. All actions commenced under the provisions of sections 141.820 to 141.970 shall be prosecuted in the name of the state of Missouri, at the relation and to the use of the collector, and against the owner of the property, if known, and if not known, then against the last owner of record as shown by the city records at the time the suit was brought.

2. All lands owned by the same person or persons may be included in one petition and in one count thereof, for the taxes for all such years as taxes may be due thereon, and the petition shall show the different years for which taxes are due, as well as the several kinds of taxes or funds to which they are due, with the respective amounts due to each fund; all of which shall be set forth in a tax bill of said back taxes, duly authenticated by the certificate of the collector and filed with the petition; and the tax bill or bills, so certified, shall be prima facie evidence that the amount claimed in said suit is just and correct.

3. All notices and process in suits under sections 141.820 to 141.970 shall be sued out and served in the same manner as in civil actions in circuit courts; and in case of suits against nonresident unknown parties, or other owners on whom service cannot be had by ordinary summons, the proceedings shall be the same as now provided by law in civil actions affecting real or personal property. In all suits under sections 141.820 to 141.970, the general laws of the state as to practice and proceedings in civil cases shall apply so far as applicable and not contrary to sections 141.820 to 141.970.