Adverse Possession in Mississippi
State-specific overview · Property & Real Estate
Mississippi requires 10 years of adverse possession with payment of property taxes for the entire period.
How Mississippi treats Adverse Possession
Mississippi has one of the shortest adverse possession periods in the nation, requiring only 10 years of open, exclusive, continuous, and hostile occupation. The adverse possessor must pay all property taxes on the land throughout the entire 10-year period; failure to pay taxes defeats the claim. The possession must be actual and visible, meaning the possessor uses and maintains the land as a true owner would. Mississippi courts do not require the possessor to have any particular intent to claim ownership, only that the possession itself be hostile and without permission.
The general definition of Adverse Possession
Gaining legal ownership of land by occupying it openly and continuously for a set period.
If someone uses another person's land openly, without permission, and continuously for many years (typically 7–21 years depending on the state), they may eventually become the legal owner. The original owner must not have stopped them during that time. This doctrine rewards people who improve and maintain land while punishing owners who abandon or ignore their property.
Read the full Adverse Possession entry →This page is a plain-English reference and is not legal advice. State laws change frequently. For specific situations consult a licensed attorney in Mississippi.