Adverse possession will begin as soon as an individual takes over the full and exclusive occupation and control of the land in question without permission or consent.

According to the legal definition of adverse possession, a person who has lived on a piece of land without a title for 12 years with the owner’s consent could be able to claim ownership of the land in question.

The doctrine of adverse possession provides that a person who occupies land or property for a specified statutory period can become its legal owner, even if they are not the original owner. The key element here is that the possession must be hostile to the interests of the true owner.

To qualify as adverse possession sufficient to get ownership, the trespasser's occupation of the land typically must be: exclusive and continuous for a certain period of time. The time period that the trespasser must occupy the land varies by state.