{"id":371484,"date":"2016-03-31T21:34:22","date_gmt":"2016-04-01T02:34:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/arizona-law\/arizona-adverse-possession-laws.html"},"modified":"2017-09-19T15:56:59","modified_gmt":"2017-09-19T20:56:59","slug":"arizona-adverse-possession-laws","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/arizona-law\/arizona-adverse-possession-laws.html","title":{"rendered":"Arizona Adverse Possession Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Arizona Adverse Possession Laws<\/h1>\n
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Created by FindLaw’s team<\/a> of legal writers and editors<\/i><\/p>\n\n | Last updated\n

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The legal doctrine known as "adverse possession<\/a>" allows trespassers who openly inhabit and improve an otherwise abandoned piece of property to gain title to that property after certain conditions are met. To be eligible, the person acquiring the property must do so publicly and pay property taxes or otherwise act as though he or she already has the right to possess it.<\/p>\n

Otherwise known as "squatters’ rights," adverse possession laws are frequently are invoked by squatters who inhabit land or structures otherwise left unused. The term "adverse" refers to the fact that those claiming land are doing so against the interests of the actual title holders. Seems strange, doesn’t it? It is a unique area of real estate law.<\/p>\n

Arizona makes it fairly easy for squatters to take possession of property. Unlike some states that require two decades of occupation, the Grand Canyon State will let a squatter take possession after as little as two years (under certain circumstances).<\/p>\n

Arizona’s adverse possession laws require an individual to occupy an otherwise neglected property publicly for at least 2 years. The Arizona statute (ARS 12-523) states:<\/p>\n