Adverse Possession
Acquiring title by possession that is open, notorious, continuous, hostile, and exclusive for the statutory period.
The possession must be sufficiently visible to put a reasonable owner on notice. ‘Hostile’ means without the owner’s permission — the possessor’s subjective belief is irrelevant in most states. Once the statutory period runs, the possessor can obtain marketable title via a quiet-title action. Adverse possession does not run against government land.