Any person named in and served with a complaint and declaration of taking shall have twelve (12) months from the date of service thereof to file an answer. Failure to answer within the time shall constitute an admission that the amount deposited is just compensation and shall be a waiver of any further proceeding to determine just compensation. In such event, the judge shall enter final judgment in the amount deposited and order disbursement of the money to the owner. However, at any time before the entry of the final judgment, the judge, for good cause shown and after notice to the plaintiff, may extend the time for filing the answer for thirty (30) days. Laws, 1997, ch. 439, § 6, eff. 7/1/1997.
Mississippi Legal Code