Legal Question in Real Estate Law in California
Do you have a form to file for adverse occupation to obtain title to property that has been occupied and taxes paid for approx 20 years?
4 Answers from Attorneys
It's called a lawsuit to quiet title, and there's no form for it. The attorney you retain will draw up the papers.
There is no official judicial council form for a lawsuit to quiet title, unlike other causes of action like motor vehicle negligence or breach of contract. Complaints to quiet title are prepared on pleading paper, and there are many intricate rules governing them.
The quiet-title lawsuit to claim title by adverse possession is not all that complex. Although it should not be drafted carelessly, there are numerous models, examples or formulas to use as guides. The trickier part can be determining whom to sue, and serving them with process. After 20 years, some careful detective work may be necessary to determine all of the current claimants and successors of the one-time record-title owners.