(a) If a purchaser of land dies, the heirs or legal representatives of the deceased have one year following November 1 after the purchaser's death in which to make payment before the commissioner declares the land to be forfeited.
(b) If the forfeiture is declared by the commissioner within the time period stated in Subsection (a) of this section, it will be set aside on proper proof of death if no rights of third parties have intervened.