{"id":374959,"date":"2016-03-31T21:35:56","date_gmt":"2016-04-01T02:35:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/new-jersey-law\/new-jersey-adverse-possession-laws.html"},"modified":"2017-09-25T23:54:24","modified_gmt":"2017-09-26T04:54:24","slug":"new-jersey-adverse-possession-laws","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/new-jersey-law\/new-jersey-adverse-possession-laws.html","title":{"rendered":"New Jersey Adverse Possession Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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New Jersey 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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Also referred to "continuous trespassers’ rights," the legal theory of adverse possession<\/a> allows someone who has publicly inhabited and improved an otherwise neglected parcel of property to gain title after a certain amount of time has passed. New Jersey adverse possession laws, for instance, require a 30-year period of occupation before the squatter may be granted title.<\/p>\n

Adverse possession laws, or "squatter’s rights" are — in a sense — a logical extension of trespassing laws. Essentially, the statute of limitations for trespassing charges must expire before the squatter may claim title; which means the squatter may stay by default. In most states, including New Jersey, a continuous trespasser must meet the following criteria in order to have a legitimate claim on a piece of property:<\/p>\n