| Alabama: |
In
Alabama, the duration of such possession is ten (10) years
if the claimant and/or his predecessor has a deed or other
color of title recorded at least ten (10) years, has
annually listed the land for ten (10) years for taxation,
or, has acquired title by descent or devise from a
predecessor who had title and was in possession.
Twenty (20) years possession is necessary if the
claimant does not possess the land under color of title.
Alabama Code §6-5-200. |
| Alaska: |
In
Alaska, the duration of such possession is seven (7) years
if the possession is under color and claim of title and
ten (10) years without color of title.
Alaska Code §09.10.030;
09.25.050. |
| Arizona: |
In
Arizona, two (2) years uninterrupted possession is
sufficient to claim real estate by adverse possession
against persons who have no better right to real estate.
To recover a real estate claim by another person by
adverse possession, one must file suit within the time
period specified in Arizona Code §12-523.
Arizona Code §12-521
through 528. |
| Arkansas: |
In
Arkansas, the duration of such possession is seven (7)
years for unimproved and unenclosed land held under color
of title, and fifteen (15) years for wild and unimproved
land held under color of title.
Arkansas Code §16-56-105;
18-11-102-03;
18-60-212. |
| California: |
In
California, the duration of such possession is five (5)
years, including payment of taxes.
California CCP §322-25. |
| Colorado: |
In
Colorado, the duration of such possession is seven (7)
years if the claimant claims under color of title.
If the claimant does not make his/her claim under
color of title, the duration of possession is eighteen
(18) years. Colorado
Code §38-41-101,
108, 109. |
| Connecticut: |
In
Connecticut, the duration of such possession must be
fifteen (15) years to establish title by adverse
possession. Connecticut
Code §52-575. |
| Delaware: |
In
Delaware, the duration of such possession is twenty (20)
years. Delaware
Code §10-7901,
7902. |
| Florida: |
In
Florida, the duration of such possession under color of
title is seven (7) years.
To claim real estate by adverse possession without
color of title, a person must have possession for a period
of seven (7) years and pay the assessed taxes.
Florida Code §95.16-.18. |
| Georgia: |
In
Georgia, the duration of such possession is seven (7)
years under color of title and twenty (20) years in other
cases. Georgia
Code §44-5-163,
164. |
| Hawaii: |
In
Hawaii, the duration of such possession is twenty (20)
years and must be in good faith.
Title by adverse possession is not applicable to
real estate where title has been properly registered with
the land court. Hawaii
Code §656-31,
31.5. |
| Idaho: |
In
Idaho, the duration of such possession is five (5) years.
The person claiming title by adverse possession
must pay taxes and assessments on real estate during the
time of adverse possession.
The claimant must enclose the real estate,
cultivate it, make improvements on it, or otherwise use it
for its ordinary and actual purpose.
Idaho Code §5-208
through 210. |
| Illinois: |
In
Illinois, the duration of such possession is seven (7)
years when made under color of title and twenty (20) years
otherwise. Illinois Code §735-5/13
through 101, 107, 109, 110. |
| Indiana: |
In
Indiana, the duration of such possession is ten (10) years
and one must pay taxes and assessments.
Indiana Code §32-1-20-1. |
| Iowa: |
In
Iowa, the duration of such possession is ten (10) years
under claim of right or color of title. |
| Kansas: |
In
Kansas, the duration of such possession is fifteen (15)
years. Kansas
Code §60-503. |
| Kentucky: |
In
Kentucky, the duration of such possession is seven (7)
years if held under patent from the state and fifteen (15)
years otherwise. Kentucky
Code §413.010,
.050, .060. |
| Louisiana: |
In
Louisiana, the duration of such possession is ten (10)
years where title has been acquired in good faith and
thirty (30) years in other cases.
Louisiana CC §3474,
3469. |
| Maine: |
In
Maine, the duration of such possession is twenty (20)
years. Maine
T. 14, §801,
815. |
| Maryland: |
In
Maryland, the duration of such possession is twenty (20)
years. Maryland
Courts Art. §5-103. |
| Massachusetts: |
In
Massachusetts, the duration of such possession is more
than twenty (20) years.
Massachusetts C. 185, §53. |
| Michigan: |
In
Michigan, the duration of such possession is five (5)
years if the claimant as color of title by a court deed,
ten (10) years if the claimant has color of title by a tax
deed, and fifteen (15) years in all other cases.
To have marketable title, the claimant also
receives a court decree granting him/her quiet title. Michigan CLA §600.5801. |
| Minnesota: |
In
Minnesota, the duration of such possession is fifteen (15)
years. Title
by adverse possession is not available against properly
registered land. Minnesota
Code §508.02;
541.01-02. |
| Mississippi: |
In
Mississippi, the duration of such possession is ten (10)
years. Mississippi
Code §15-1-7,
13. |
| Missouri: |
In
Missouri, the duration of such possession is ten (10)
years. Missouri
Code §516.010-.030. |
| Montana: |
In
Montana, the duration of such possession is five (5)
years. The
person claiming title by adverse possession must pay taxes
and assessments on real estate during the time of adverse
possession. Montana
Code §70-19-405
through 411. |
| Nebraska: |
In
Nebraska, the duration of such possession is ten (10)
years. Nebraska
Code §25-202. |
| Nevada: |
In
Nevada, the duration of such possession is five (5) years.
Nevada Code §11.070-.080. |
| New
Hampshire: |
In
New Hampshire, the duration of such possession is twenty
(20) years. New
Hampshire C. 508, §2. |
| New
Jersey: |
In
New Jersey, the duration of such possession is sixty (60)
years for uncultivated land and thirty (30) years for
other real estate. New
Jersey Code §2A-14-30. |
| New
Mexico: |
In New
Mexico, the duration of such possession is ten (10) years.
New
Mexico Code §37-1-22. |
| New
York: |
In
New York, the duration of such possession is ten (10)
years. New
York Real Prop. A&P.L. §501-551. |
| North
Carolina: |
In
North Carolina, the duration of such possession is seven
(7) years under color of title and twenty (20) years
elsewhere. North
Carolina Code §1-35
through 43. |
| North
Dakota: |
In
North Dakota, the duration of such possession is ten (10)
years. The
person claiming title by adverse possession must pay taxes
and assessments on real estate during the time of adverse
possession. The
person also must claim the real estate by a written
instrument or decree, or in the alternative, protect it by
substantial enclosure, or cultivate and improve it.
North Dakota Code §28-01-01
onward; 47-06-03. |
| Ohio: |
In
Ohio, the duration of such possession is twenty-one (21)
years. Ohio
Code §2305.04. |
| Oklahoma: |
In
Oklahoma, the duration of such possession is fifteen (15)
years. Oklahoma
Code §12-93;
60-333. |
| Oregon: |
In
Oregon, the duration of such possession is ten (10) years.
Oregon Code §105.620;
12.050. |
| Pennsylvania: |
In
Pennsylvania, the duration of such possession is
twenty-one (21) years.
Pennsylvania Code §42-5530. |
| Rhode
Island: |
In Rhode
Island, the duration of such possession is ten (10) years.
Rhode
Island Code 34-7-1, 8. |
| South
Carolina: |
In
South Carolina, the duration of such possession is twenty
(20) years. South
Carolina Code §15-67-210 through 260. |
| South
Dakota: |
In South
Dakota, the duration of such possession is twenty (20)
years.
South
Dakota Code §15-3-7, 10; 43-14-2.
|
| Tennessee: |
In
Tennessee, the duration of such possession is seven (7)
years for someone claiming under color of title and twenty
(20) years for someone without color of title.
Tennessee Code §28-2101 onward. |
| Texas: |
In
Texas, the duration of such possession is three (3) to
twenty-five (25) years, depending upon the circumstances
of the case. Texas
Civ. Prac. Rem. Code §16.021
through 16.032. |
| Utah: |
In
Utah, the duration of such possession is seven (7) years.
The person claiming title by adverse possession
must pay taxes and assessments on real estate during the
time of adverse possession.
Utah Code §78-12-7.1
through 21. |
| Vermont: |
In
Vermont, the duration of such possession is fifteen (15)
years. Vermont
Code §12-501. |
| Virginia: |
In
Virginia, the duration of such possession is fifteen (15)
years. Virginia
Code §8.01-236. |
| Washington: |
In
Washington, the duration of such possession is seven (7)
years. The person claiming title by adverse possession
must pay taxes and assessments on real estate during the
time of adverse possession.
Washington Code §7.28.050-.090. |
| West
Virginia: |
In West
Virginia, the duration of such possession is ten (10)
years. West
Virginia Code §55-2-1. |
| Wisconsin: |
In
Wisconsin, the duration of such possession is ten (10)
years for a claim under color of title, and twenty (20)
years when the claim is not under color of title. Wisconsin
Code §893.25-.33. |
| Wyoming: |
In
Wyoming, the duration of such possession is ten (10)
years. Wyoming
Code §1-3-103. |
