Legal Definitions - continuous-adverse-use principle

The continuous-adverse-use principle is a rule that states that if someone uses a piece of land without permission for a long time, they can claim ownership of that land. This is called adverse possession. The use of the land must be uninterrupted, meaning that the person must use it continuously without any breaks.

For example, if someone builds a fence on a piece of land that they do not own and uses it as their own for many years without anyone objecting, they may be able to claim ownership of that land through adverse possession.

Another example is if someone plants a garden on a piece of land that they do not own and tends to it for many years without anyone objecting, they may be able to claim ownership of that land through adverse possession.

The continuous-adverse-use principle is one of the elements of adverse possession, along with exclusivity, hostility, open and notorious use, and a claim of right. If all of these elements are present, the person using the land may be able to claim ownership of it.