What is meant by "adverse possession" in real estate?

Adverse possession refers to a legal doctrine that allows a person to claim ownership of land under certain conditions, primarily through prolonged and continuous occupation of that land without the permission of the original owner. In essence, if an individual occupies a piece of property for a specified period of time and meets other legal requirements, they may be able to assert their right to ownership, even if they do not hold the title.

This process is fundamentally based on the idea that the true owner has neglected their property rights, allowing someone else to take rightful possession. The requirements typically include continuous and exclusive possession, open and notorious use, and a claim of right. In North Carolina, the statutory duration for adverse possession is generally twenty years.

This concept stands in contrast to the other options: claiming compensation by a tenant focuses on rental agreements; maintaining property boundaries addresses property surveying and delineation; and contesting a property title involves challenging ownership, which does not imply the act of claiming land through occupancy. Thus, the definition of adverse possession as claiming ownership through prolonged occupation is clearly distinct from these other legal concepts.