obtaining a piece of land

We bought our house three years ago. There is an acre of property beside us that is not ours. We do however take care of it. The people that lived here before us have always taken care of that piece of property and they also did some landscaping on it. As did the people that lived here before them. This has been this way for the last 20+ years that we know of. However we were told we have rights to obtaining this piece of property as if it were ours. We went to the court house and checked to see who may own this piece of property. They had no idea, they guessed it to be Met-Ed/GPU as they used to have powerlines that ran real close to the property line. We contacted Met-Ed/GPU and spoke with their company lawyer. He reassured us that they do not own this. He told us where their stakes were in the ground and from there over on the otherside was theirs. We found the stakes and they are on the far edge of this acre piece of land just as he described. Now is there a law that states we have a right to obtaining this piece of land. If so, what is the name of it? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Chris

However we were told we have rights to obtaining this piece of property as if it were ours.

You were told wrong. The specific law you are referring to is called 'Adverse Possession' and the requirements are 'notorious' use and possession of the property from 7to 20 years. However, the time frame is not transferrable therefore, it matters not who cared for the property before you.

The moment the previous owners left, the clock started again and frankly, not enough time has elapsed for you to claim ownership.

You would also need to not only care for the property but pay taxes, use the property in the open as if it were yours and other requirements per state law (which I don't have time to look up because the coffee is still brewing).

Needless to say, your only option at this point is to find the owner and purchase the property.

[JETX]

"However we were told we have rights to obtaining this piece of property as if it were ours."
*** Clearly, you were told wrong. What you are describing is called 'adverse possession' and there are far more requirements to do so than just mowing and maintaining.

"We went to the court house and checked to see who may own this piece of property. They had no idea, they guessed it to be Met-Ed/GPU as they used to have powerlines that ran real close to the property line."
*** Even in the smallest county, the 'court house' has LOTS of offices. So, who EXACTLY in the courthouse had "no idea" who the land was owned by??
'Powerline' companies usually have easements allowing their lines to 'run real close' to the property line.... but are not the owners of the property.

"Now is there a law that states we have a right to obtaining this piece of land. If so, what is the name of it?"
*** Presumably what you are describing is called 'adverse possession'. However, since you didn't follow the rules of the forum..... we can't provide specifics.

[HomeGuru]

A title search of the property tax assessor may have the property owner listed.