Used Neighbor's Land

Expert, localized Los Angeles answers provided by Heather Roy

Used Neighbor's Land
	I have lived in my house for 9 years. 8 years and one month ago I put up a fence along my neighbors driveway. The drive way is 30 feet long and 20 feet of it the fence is next to and the rest is grass. I have maintained the grass ( cutting , watering) all nine years. He had the property surveyed this week and 11 inches of my fence is on his property. He asked that I move the fence. By law, do I have to or do I now have rights after 8 years of the fence being up? Also can I claim the 11 inches of grass along the driveway that I take care of?

	Even if you met all the other requirements for obtaining ownership by using someone else's land, the necessary period in Connecticut is for an uninterrupted 15 years. What you're thinking of is known as "adverse possession" and assuming you did meet those requirements, your neighbor cut off the period of time when he protested. If the fence is really on his land, he technically owns it and has the right to remove it himself.
	Edith Originally published on July 17, 2007

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