What legal principle allows a person to claim ownership of land through continuous possession?

The legal principle that allows a person to claim ownership of land through continuous possession is known as adverse possession. This doctrine enables an individual to acquire legal title to a property if they have occupied it in a manner that is continuous, open, notorious, exclusive, and hostile to the true owner's interests for a specified period of time, which varies by jurisdiction.

The essence of adverse possession is that it rewards individuals who have actually used and maintained a piece of property, encouraging the productive use of land and resolving disputes concerning land ownership. It is designed to prevent land from being left idle or abandoned, promoting legal clarity over time if the true owner does not act to reclaim their property.

While boundary by acquiescence and prescriptive easement also relate to land use and possession, they pertain to different circumstances. Boundary by acquiescence involves mutual acceptance of a boundary line between properties, and prescriptive easement allows for use of someone's property without full ownership, rather than claiming actual ownership of the land itself. Extinguished title refers to situations where a property title is rendered void and does not apply to the concept of claiming ownership through continuous possession.