ICC Permit Technician Practice Exam

What is the term for acquiring title to property by possessing it for a specified period under specific circumstances?

1. Eminent domain

2. Adverse possession

3. Inverse possession

4. Inverse condemnation

The correct answer is: Adverse possession

The term for acquiring title to property by possessing it for a specified period under specific circumstances is known as adverse possession. Adverse possession allows a person who possesses someone else's land for an extended period of time under certain conditions—such as open and notorious use, actual possession, exclusive possession, hostile use, and continuous use—to claim legal ownership of that land. This legal doctrine encourages the productive use of land and can settle disputes over ownership when someone has occupied a property for an extended time without the permission of the original owner. By requiring a specific period of possession and particular characteristics of that possession, the law ensures that ownership is effectively transferred when the rightful owner fails to enforce their rights. Other terms like eminent domain, inverse possession, and inverse condemnation refer to different legal concepts that do not involve the same criteria or process for acquiring property rights through possession.