Adverse Possession Laws in Select States

Every state within the U.S. has its own statutory scheme regulating the doctrine of "adverse possession" -- in which someone who has used property belonging to another for a particularly long time, in a manner that suggests that he or she was the owner, can be granted legal ownership by a court. While the basic principles to this type of law are similar across the U.S., the statutory time period varies a good deal. Whether you're a land owner wanting to protect your boundaries or have been using land that you've come to believe should rightfully be yours, learn more about your state's adverse possession law here.