Q: Is it true if you maintain a section of property for seven years it is then yours.
If so how do you go about taking it over legally?
A: In Illinois, no, the amount of time for achieving "adverse possession" is an open and conspicuous ownership for twenty consecutive years. Obviously, if you hold title to the property your ownership is more defined. There is some law that states if you have "color of title" and pay taxes on the subject real estate for seven consecutive years, then you have defined rights in the property, but these rights might still be subordinate to other title holders.
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