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    William Yamaji's Avatar
    William Yamaji Posts: 1, Reputation: 1
    New Member
    		  
    #1

    Nov 24, 2013, 02:35 PM
    Adjoining vacant property
    Hello I am a resident of berkeley township nj and my question is. Is it possible for me to acquire this land using legal means rather than a sqatters situation , which I don't understand yet. I have not yet began a dedicated effort ,but would not like to waste my time,money or go to a gun fight w/a knife
    I have been maintaining a piece 40x80ft for 27 years. The maintenance has included clearing underbrush,clearing fallen trees from various storms. These trees had fallen onto my property landing on my vehicle , utility lines and fence.
    As I stated in the beginning,I have yet to begin a dedicated process and after all this rambling I am really looking for a starting point. Thank you for your time.
    ma0641's Avatar
    ma0641 Posts: 15,675, Reputation: 1012
    Uber Member
    		  
    #2

    Nov 24, 2013, 02:39 PM
    The legal means would be to go to the tax office, find out who owns it and contact them with an offer.
    joypulv's Avatar
    joypulv Posts: 21,591, Reputation: 2941
    current pert
    		  
    #3

    Nov 24, 2013, 02:49 PM
    The term is adverse possession, and in NJ, undeveloped land has a 60 year minimum; developed property 30 years.
    Plus, you can't just clear brush and trees; you have to put up a fence, structure, or path or driveway.
    There is something in NJ (because of the very long time to wait) called tacking, in which you can apply earlier if you can prove that the previous owner of your property also used the land.

    First thing you do is go to the town hall and look up the deed to see who owns it. The staff will help you find the book and page, starting with the address, or if none, with the plot drawings.
    Then you go to the tax office and find out who, if anyone, has been paying the taxes for 27 years.
    Ordinarily a town would have put a tax lien on it by now, and sold it for back taxes, if no one was paying them.
    You will probably be denied a court claim of adverse possession.
    But you will know who owns it, and can offer to buy it.
    ScottGem's Avatar
    ScottGem Posts: 64,966, Reputation: 6056
    Computer Expert and Renaissance Man
    		  
    #4

    Nov 24, 2013, 03:11 PM
    As Joy says, just clearing brush and trees is not going to be enough. If the trees fell because of negligence, you might have a case for damages against the owner. Otherwise, you do not have enough to claim adverse possession.
    ballengerb1's Avatar
    ballengerb1 Posts: 27,378, Reputation: 2280
    Home Repair & Remodeling Expert
    		  
    #5

    Nov 24, 2013, 06:14 PM
    Who has been paying the tax bill on this land, that's who you contact.
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