Which statement best describes the elements of adverse possession?

• A. Possession that is open and improved but not hostile.
• B. Possession that is secret and with owner's permission.
• C. Possession that is open, actual, exclusive, continuous, and hostile for the statutory period, resulting in title vesting to the possessor.
• D. Possession by tenants under lease for the statutory period.

Answer: (C)

Adverse possession rests on five elements: the possessor must actually use the land; the use must be open and notorious so the owner is put on notice; it must be exclusive to the possessor (not shared with the owner or the public); it must be continuous for the full statutory period; and it must be hostile or adverse to the owner's interests (without permission). When all of these conditions are met for the statutory period, title vests in the possessor.

The statement that best fits is that the possession is open, actual, exclusive, continuous, and hostile for the statutory period, resulting in title vesting in the possessor. The other descriptions fail because they omit or negate one or more requirements: the first lacks hostility, the second lacks openness and permission, and the last involves a tenant under a lease, which typically indicates permission and thus is not adverse.