{"id":373187,"date":"2016-03-31T21:35:14","date_gmt":"2016-04-01T02:35:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/indiana-law\/indiana-adverse-possession-laws.html"},"modified":"2016-06-20T19:51:07","modified_gmt":"2016-06-21T00:51:07","slug":"indiana-adverse-possession-laws","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/indiana-law\/indiana-adverse-possession-laws.html","title":{"rendered":"Indiana Adverse Possession Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Indiana 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 last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

Maybe you heard a story about someone who had a bit of land out in the country, only to lose it to trespassers. Or maybe you see a few acres just sitting there and you think it\u2019s going to waste. \u201cAdverse possession\u201d tends be a pretty confusing area of the law. So how does it all work? Is it an acceptable award to a person who will actually put the property to good use or an unjust land robbery by squatters? And what are the particulars in the Hoosier State? This is a brief summary of adverse possession laws in Indiana.<\/p>\n

Adverse Possession Laws<\/h2>\n

There is a legal doctrine known as "adverse possession<\/a>" by which trespassers who openly inhabit and improve a piece of property that is otherwise abandoned may gain title to that property after some specific conditions are met. Indiana’s adverse possession laws require an individual to occupy a neglected property publicly for at least 10 years.<\/p>\n

Adverse Possession in Indiana<\/h2>\n

The main provisions of Indiana adverse possession laws are listed in the following chart.<\/p>\n\n

Code Section<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

32-21-7-1 et seq.; 34-11-1-2<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>

Time Period Required for Occupation<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

10 yrs. (15 yrs. if cause of action arose before Sept. 1, 1982)-<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>

Time for Landowner to Challenge\/Effect of Landowner’s Disability<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

After disability lifted: 2 yrs.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>

Improvements<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

–<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>

Payment of Taxes<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

Required<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>

Title from Tax Assessor<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

–<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\n

For a valid adverse possession claim, you must demonstrate four general elements:<\/p>\n