§6-8-1. Trial of title or adverse claim issues.

In actions for partition of lands, either by metes and bounds or by sale for division when the same cannot be equitably partitioned among the owners, if the defendant denies the title of the plaintiff or asserts an adverse claim or title in himself, the circuit court need not dismiss the complaint, but may direct the issue as to the title of the plaintiff or as to such adverse claim or title of the defendant, to be tried as other issues of fact are triable. If neither party to the action demands a jury, the circuit court shall try such issues as to the title of plaintiff or as to such adverse claim or title of the defendant, together with the other facts or issues of the case.

(Code 1867, §3466; Code 1876, §3893; Code 1886, §3588; Code 1896, §828; Code 1907, §3205; Code 1923, §6635; Code 1940, T. 7, §326.)