{"id":377371,"date":"2016-03-31T21:37:24","date_gmt":"2016-04-01T02:37:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/wyoming-law\/wyoming-adverse-possession-laws.html"},"modified":"2016-06-20T19:51:08","modified_gmt":"2016-06-21T00:51:08","slug":"wyoming-adverse-possession-laws","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/wyoming-law\/wyoming-adverse-possession-laws.html","title":{"rendered":"Wyoming Adverse Possession Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Wyoming 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

Have you ever heard about urban squatters taking over a downtown building – and then refusing to leave? Or how about someone who had a bunch of land out in the country but lost some of it to trespassers. Under the law, the act of trespassing for so long that you gain a right of ownership is a real thing. Albeit, there are some very specific rules involved.<\/p>\n

This legal process is known as \u201cadverse possession,\u201d and can be pretty disconcerting to a layperson. So how does adverse possession work, and how does the Cowboy State treat cases under state law? This is a brief summary of adverse possession laws in Wyoming.<\/p>\n

Adverse Possession Laws in General<\/h2>\n

The legal doctrine known as "adverse possession<\/a>" stretches back a long way and is designed to encourage landowners to keep an eye on and make beneficial use of their land. The concept allows trespassers to gain legal title to property by openly inhabiting and improving the property and meeting some other specific conditions. Under Wyoming’s adverse possession law, an individual must occupy property for at least 10 years before the possibility of ownership.<\/p>\n

Adverse Possession in Wyoming<\/h2>\n

The main provisions of adverse possession laws in Wyoming are highlighted in the chart below.<\/p>\n\n
Code Section<\/td>\n1-3-103, 104<\/td>\n<\/tr>
Time Period Required for Occupation<\/td>\n10 yrs.-<\/td>\n<\/tr>
Time for Landowner to Challenge\/Effect of Landowner’s Disability<\/td>\nAfter disability lifted: 10 yrs.<\/td>\n<\/tr>
Improvements<\/td>\n–<\/td>\n<\/tr>
Payment of Taxes<\/td>\n–<\/td>\n<\/tr>
Title from Tax Assessor<\/td>\n–<\/td>\n<\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\n

The minimum time requirement is not the only hurdle for most adverse possessions. Generally speaking, a trespasser must also prove four additional elements to have a legitimate adverse possession claim:<\/p>\n