adverse possession

Definition

The legal doctrine allowing someone to gain ownership of property by openly squatting on it long enough without the owner objecting. It's like the real estate version of 'finders keepers,' except you have to keep it for years and pay property taxes.

Example Usage

After maintaining that strip of land for 20 years, we successfully claimed it through adverse possession even though it was technically the neighbor's.

Origin

From Roman law concept of 'usucapio,' incorporated into English common law

Fun Fact

The required time period for adverse possession varies by state from as little as 5 years to as long as 30 years—meaning your timeline for legal squatting depends on your zip code.

Source: Common property law terminology

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