Color of Title Act

Color of Title Act

This act, 43 U.S.C. §1068, authorizes the secretary of the interior to issue a patent—original deed from the government—to a person who has occupied a certain area of land for at least 20 years with color of title,under circumstances that would otherwise constitute adverse possession if it were not for the rule prohibiting adverse possession against the government. The occupier is able to tack his or her possession on to that of his or her ancestor or grantor,in order to arrive at a cumulative time of 20 years or more.

The Complete Real Estate Encyclopedia by Denise L. Evans, JD & O. William Evans, JD. Copyright © 2007 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.