Legal Question in Real Estate Law in Maryland
Adverse Possession Lost Case
We have just lost a case of Adverse Possession in Maryland. The MD. Court of Appeals has said that someone who specifically acknowledges that she is not the owner of the property, and specifically acknowledges that she knows who the owner is, to nevertheless acquire title by Adverse Possession. Is there any other recourse? Can you bring a civil suit against her and if so, on what grounds?
1 Answer from Attorneys
Re: Adverse Possession Lost Case
The essence of adverse possession is that it is open and "hostile", which in legal terms means that the adverse possessor occupies the property without the permission of the owner. Once such possession continues for a period of 20 years, the owner loses his claim on the property.
So if this is what happened in your case, the decision of the appeals court means you've lost your ownership of the property.