When legal title has not emanated from the United States
If someone has lived on land for more than 20 years and claimed it as their own, but the official government title was never formally issued, anyone else who wants to claim that land has only one year after the government issues the title to take legal action. If that person does not act within that one year, they lose all rights to the land forever, and ownership automatically goes to the person who has been living there.
516.080. When has not from the United States. — In all cases in which the legal title has not yet of the United States, but in which there has been an for more than twenty years, under which a has had a by the statutes of this state, and in which the land has been in the of any person for twenty years, claiming the same in fee, any person claiming against the shall bring his under the legal title within one year after it issues from the government, and , he shall be forever , and his right and shall, , in such possessor.
(RSMo 1939 § 1010)
Prior revisions: 1929 § 858; 1919 § 1313; 1909 § 1885
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Legal information, not legal advice. Always confirm with the official source at revisor.mo.gov.