hben
07-23-2006, 12:05 AM
A few years ago I inherited my mother's home which was also where I grew up. I have found out that there is a 25' lot between the house and the outside lot of our yard. My family bought this property before I started to school, and I am now 52 years old. Do the math, and you'll find that our family has mowed and maintained a lot that we didn't own for at least 47 years or more. We have used it as a driveway, played football and baseball on it, and basically treated it as our own for all these years without ever seeing the owner or even knowing who the owner was. I understand it is owned by some heirs living in another state. Since my mother's passing, I have thought of finding out who the owners are and sending them a bill for the mowing of the lot for a minimum of 47 years, but when I figured the estimated cost, it came to more than 5 times what the lot is worth. I recently was told that I could claim legal ownership of this property through a law called "Adverse Possession". Does anyone know anything about this law and if my situation would qualify me to claim this property under this law? Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.