Re: Adverse Possession under Hostile Circumstances.

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On 7/16/07, Duane wrote:
> Mr. Payne, I'm attempting to clear up some old family
> business in Virginia. This particular situation deals with
> real property belonging to my Great-Grandfather's Estate
> when he died in 1962. His daughter, my great aunt held the
> property in trust as Administratix of his estate. She
> wrote us a letter, stating she was paying the property
> taxes on the land and could get clear title in 1971 then
> would have the property surveyed and divided equally in to
> 2 parcels. 1 for her and 1 for us. That never happened.
> She died in Aug. 1975 and her husband, my great uncle
> stopped paying the property taxes.
>
> Because of local Court Documents linking us to(a Chancery
> suit that was file in 1963 by the other heirs of his
> estate which included this property), the local County
> Attorney contacted us in 2007 and notified us the property
> was to be sold for back taxes.
>
> We were informed that NO TAXES had been paid for the last
> 32 years. Being shocked and angry with this information,
> we ended up paying the outstanding back property taxes,
> including penalties and foreclosure costs, to protect our
> interests in the property.
>
> We were informed by one of the County Attorney's, that
> because we have paid the taxes for over 25 years, we could
> pursue getting a clear DEED by filing for Adverse
> Possession under hostile circumstances here in VA. The
> property is vacant land but does have a private lane that
> 4 other adjoining properties use as access into their
> lots.
>
> My Question is; Is there such a Virginia Statue for
> claiming "Adverse Poessession Under Hostile
> Circumstances"? If so, where could I find it and
> supporting case laws to investigate this further.
>
> Thanks