The facts stated in an application to sell land for distribution may be proved or disproved by the deposition of disinterested witnesses, or by oral examination of disinterested witnesses in open court, which must be reduced to writing, filed and recorded; and if the facts stated in such application are proven to the satisfaction of the court by the evidence, the court may order a sale of the land, which must be sold on such terms as the court may direct, not exceeding a credit of three years.
Ala. Code § 43-2-451 (1975)