Under common law, land is protected for ____ years?

• A. 10 years
• B. 15 years
• C. 20 years
• D. 25 years

Answer: (C)

The main idea is prescription through open, continuous occupancy. Under common law, a person who occupies land openly, exclusively, and without the owner's permission for a long period can acquire legal title by prescription. The traditional period required is twenty years. This timeframe reflects a balance: it protects a possessor who treats the land as their own while giving the rightful owner a reasonable window to enforce rights. The possession must be uninterrupted and adverse to the owner's rights; any break or permission from the owner can interrupt or defeat the claim. So, the standard common-law period for protecting land through prescriptive possession is twenty years.