Can I claim squatters right?
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Can I claim squatters right?
My late grandma owns a piece of land and we
move a mobile home on it 15 years ago, my
neighbor is now saying he owns the land and is
getting it surveyed after 30 year. There is a
creek seperating our properties. My grandma
always said she own to the creek. The
neighbor is saying he owns across the creek
and the land my mobile home sitting on. If his
survey says he owns it will I have to get off the
land or would they could I do squatters right?
What would be the best thing I could do?
Asked on March 1, 2016 under Real Estate Law, Kentucky
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 8 years ago | Contributor
You may be able to claim the land that your mobile home sits on under the legal doctrine of "adverse possession" (that's the correct term--not "squatter's rights). In your state, to make an adverse possesion claim, you must--
* actually occupy land
* in an obvious way (so the true owner(s) can tell you're occupying it)
* for at least 15 years
* and your claim must be "hostile" to the true owner's claim--basically, you are not there with any sort of permission to be there, but because you either believe the land is yours or are intending to assert a claim over it.
d on what you write, you may fulfill these requirements, though the fact that you thought it was your grandma's land (and not your own) may complicate matters. Still, you have described a strong enough claim that it would be well worth it to consult with a real estate attorney about your rights in more detail.
Good luck.
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