What must an owner do to establish legal ownership over property they have possessed through adverse possession?

To establish legal ownership over property claimed through adverse possession, an owner must meet the statutory requirements for possession. Adverse possession is a legal doctrine that allows a person to claim ownership of land under certain conditions, typically by occupying the land in a manner that is open, notorious, exclusive, hostile, and continuous for a specific statutory period, which can vary by jurisdiction.

Meeting these statutory requirements is crucial because they form the basis of the claim. For instance, the possession must be actual, meaning the claimant must physically use the property, and it must be exclusive, indicating that the claimant is the only one possessing it. Moreover, the possession must be hostile, meaning without permission from the original owner, and continuous for the duration required by law.

This process does not generally require filing a lawsuit against the original owner or obtaining a survey of the property as prerequisites, though legal action may ultimately be necessary to formally establish title after meeting the requirements. Similarly, paying the previous owner's debts is not a requirement for claiming adverse possession, as the essence of the doctrine is based on the claimant's use and occupation of the property rather than financial obligations to the original owner.