Final answer:
To claim adverse possession under Georgia law, the possession must be actual, open, exclusive, continuous, and hostile for typically 20 years. These requirements are designed to demonstrate the possessor's claim to ownership over the legal owner's claim.
Step-by-step explanation:
Under Georgia law, to claim adverse possession, the claim must be actual, open and notorious, exclusive, continuous, and hostile or adverse for a period of time specified by statute, which is generally 20 years. Actual possession means that the possessor is treating the property as their own, often through some form of improvement or maintenance. Open and notorious possession indicates that the possessor's use of the property is visible and obvious to anyone, including the legal owner, that the property is being used without permission. Exclusive possession requires that the possessor is not sharing possession with the legal owner or the public. Continuous possession demands that the use of the property is not interrupted during the statutory period. Finally, hostile possession implies that the possessor's claim to the property is against the rights of the true owner. These requirements ensure that the possessor has demonstrated a claim to the property that would warrant a transfer of ownership under adverse possession laws.