SQUATTING

[Pafra & Scott Catledge]

In Florida, I knew several landowners who closed access to the beach through
their property every New Year's Day to prevent such claims.   One guy did it
on December 1; I asked "Why?" He responded that he was not going to be there
one New Years so he did it early and his lawyer told him that he had to keep
on doing it early unless he wanted to make people mad twice in one short
season or grant an easement.
----- Original Message -----
From: Bob Fitzke <fitzke at VOYAGER.NET>
To: <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
Sent: Monday, August 23, 1999 1:37 PM
Subject: Re: SQUATTING


> Squatting is comparable to a legal concept called "adverse possession".
The
> elements are "open, notorious, and adverse" possession of property for a
> period of years, 15 is probably about the number in most state laws. After
> that period the adverse possessor gains ownership. A comparable concept
> exists for adverse usage which results in gaining the permanbent right to
> continued use. Footpaths and driveways are often the subject of adverse
> usage.
>
> Bob
>
> G S C wrote:
>
> > Depending on the laws of a given state, squatting could be something as
> > 'simple' as walking/driving across someone's property, on a regular
> > basis, and establishing the legal right, after several years, to
> > continue to cross that property.  In the 1950s, I heard references to
> > squatter's rights, when used with private property.  Later, I was told
> > that the legal nicety dealt with 'notorious use'.  Again, the basic
> > differences are in the laws of the various states.
> >
> > George S. Cole  gscole at ark.ship.edu
> > Shippensburg University