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Adverse Possession Laws in Mississippi

In Mississippi, full title vests in an occupant after 10 years of actual adverse possession, and no special squatter removal law has been enacted.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Mississippi at a glance

Standard period
10 years
Property taxes required
No
The statute sets no property tax payment requirement.
Squatter removal law
No
Bills to create a squatter removal procedure died in committee in 2024 (HB 1508) and 2025 (SB 2209, SB 2307, SB 2326).

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Mississippi

How many years of possession are required for adverse possession in Mississippi?

Standard period in Mississippi: 10 years.

Does the occupant have to pay property taxes to claim adverse possession in Mississippi?

No. Property taxes required in Mississippi: no. The statute sets no property tax payment requirement.

Does Mississippi have a special law for removing squatters?

No. Squatter removal law in Mississippi: no. Bills to create a squatter removal procedure died in committee in 2024 (HB 1508) and 2025 (SB 2209, SB 2307, SB 2326).

Where do the Mississippi adverse possession laws come from?

The rules above come from Miss. Code Ann. 15-1-13. Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

Good to know

Under Miss. Code Ann. 15-1-13(2), an owner can file a written notice with the chancery clerk within the 10 year period about a fence or driveway built on the land without permission, which keeps it from vesting title.

What this means in practice

Courts usually require possession that is actual, open, continuous, exclusive and hostile (without the owner's permission) for the full statutory period. The person claiming the land generally has to prove each element, and courts read these requirements strictly.

Owners can protect themselves by inspecting vacant or rural land regularly, keeping boundary lines marked, and responding quickly to fences, buildings or other uses that cross the line. Written permission, such as a simple license or lease, can make a neighbor's use permissive instead of hostile.

Adverse possession does not usually transfer title automatically. The occupant often needs a court judgment, such as in a quiet title action, before the new ownership can be recorded. Boundary disputes between neighbors are often settled with a survey and a recorded deed instead of a lawsuit.

General information, not legal advice. Laws change, and cities can add their own rules, so check the current statute before you rely on it.