Adverse Possession

Adverse possession lets a trespasser ripen use into TITLE when possession is open and notorious (visible), hostile (without permission), actual, exclusive, and continuous for the statutory period — remember 'OHACE'. Tacking lets successive adverse possessors add their periods together. Permission defeats the claim instantly: a licensee can never adversely possess. Compare the easement by prescription: same elements, but the squatter gains only a USE right, not title, and exclusivity is not required. Government land generally cannot be adversely possessed. To perfect the claim, the possessor usually files a quiet-title action.