North Carolina § 1-40 - Twenty years adverse possession.

§ 1-40. Twenty years adverse possession.

No action for the recovery or possession of real property, or the issues and profits thereof, shall be maintained when the person in possession thereof, or defendant in the action, or those under whom he claims, has possessed the property under known and visible lines and boundaries adversely to all other persons for 20 years; and such possession so held gives a title in fee to the possessor, in such property, against all persons not under disability. History (C.C.P., s. 23; Code, s. 144; Rev., s. 384; C.S., s. 430.) Cross References. - As to adverse possession for seven years under color of title, see G.S. 1-38 . Legal Periodicals. - For article on recent developments in North Carolina law of eminent domain, see 48 N.C.L. Rev. 767 (1970). For article, "Transferring North Carolina Real Estate Part I: How the Present System Functions," see 49 N.C.L. Rev. 413 (1971). For comment, "Taking Without Compensation: Measure of Permanent Damages Modified by Application of Limitation of Actions for Trespass," see 20 Wake Forest L. Rev. 671 (1984). For note, "Walls v. Grohman: Adverse Possession in Mistaken Boundary Cases," see 64 N.C.L. Rev. 1496 (1986). For article, "Torrens Title in North Carolina-Maybe a Hundred Years Is Long Enough," see 39 Campbell L. Rev. 271 (2017).