What does "adverse possession" mean?

Adverse possession refers to a legal doctrine that allows a person to claim ownership of land under certain conditions, primarily through occupying the land without the permission of the original owner for a specified duration, which varies by jurisdiction. This possession must be actual, open, notorious, exclusive, and hostile to the original owner's interests. Essentially, if someone uses someone else's property in this manner for a certain period, they can ultimately gain legal title to that property.

The other choices do not accurately describe adverse possession. Claiming ownership through legal actions typically involves a lawsuit rather than the specific circumstances required for adverse possession. Foreclosure refers to a legal process that banks or lenders use to reclaim property when mortgagors default on their loans, which is not related to the concept of adverse possession. Finally, while tax delinquency can lead to property seizure or sale by government authorities, it does not reflect the principles of adverse possession, which revolves around unpermitted occupation rather than failure to pay taxes. Therefore, the most accurate definition of adverse possession is indeed the occupation of land for a specific period, leading to a claim of ownership.