It's a concept founded in English Common Law and Western legal systems that is in almost all legal systems including the United States. Steal it and keep it for a set period of years with the knowledge of the "legal" owner and it's your, now. The excuse is that the squatter has a better use for the land and/or the property. But, in whose opinion and is basically legalized theft.
With the knowledge of the owner and in the hope that the owner doesn't sue you before the period of years is up. Do you feel lucky?
We have some temporary homeless in my little town from time to time for various reasons, but the homeless lifestyle is not really encouraged by our locals. Aggressive panhandling or sidewalk camping is in no way accepted, and those participants have been known to be given a free ride out of the county with an invitation not to come back. Barbaric perhaps by some standards.... BUT: Our National Parks usually have signs telling visitors who may not know better not to feed the bears. They don't do this because they hate the bears...
neighbors across the street from my parents beach house tried this decades ago. they built a sea wall 6' onto my parents property to enlarge their lawn area. my parents didn't survey it, and let it go because they weren't using it, and they were friendly. few decades later, the neighbors were both gone, house for sale, and they tried to survey the land to include the 6' that was my parents. they claimed adverse possession in court, but the judge claimed nonsense, and ordered the wall to be torn down, and the survey redone.
The Preemption Acts of 1830 and 1841 of Federal Lands didn't help either, although they were repealed in 1891. What did the Preemption Act of 1830 do? – Colors-NewYork.com
i once read that if someone randomly started washing your windshield and you don't tell them to stop, they can legally charge you.
I remember that sea wall back when we were kids... on Sundays you used to put a whole package of cookies along the top and smash them all with your toy electric car. You always used to claim it was like going to church, but better. Little did we know that was one day going to make you famous. Still don't know why your family puts up with your strange ways though?
Common-law adverse possession often requires over 2 decades in order to quiet title. A. P. has been codified in some states' statutes. Here in California, there's a requirement to pay taxes on that land you squat on. Anyone see property tax payments being paid by the homeless - next to your Town's Sports Stadium? .
