(1)  In an action for the recovery or possession of real property, to quiet title to or determine the property‘s owner, the person establishing a legal title to the property is presumed to have been in possession of the property within the time required by law. The occupation of the property by any other person is considered to have been under and in subordination to the legal title, unless it appears that the property has been held and possessed adversely to the legal title for seven years before the commencement of the action.

Terms Used In Utah Code 78B-2-209

  • action: as used in this chapter includes counterclaims and cross-complaints and all other civil actions in which affirmative relief is sought. See Utah Code 78B-2-101
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • Person: means :Utah Code 68-3-12.5
  • Property: includes both real and personal property. See Utah Code 68-3-12.5
  • real property: includes :Utah Code 68-3-12.5
  • Real property: Land, and all immovable fixtures erected on, growing on, or affixed to the land.
(2)  If in any action a party establishes prima facie evidence of ownership of any real property under a tax title held by him and his predecessors for four years prior to the commencement of the action, he is presumed to be the owner of the property by adverse possession. This presumption may be rebutted if it appears that the owner of the legal title or his predecessor has actually occupied or been in possession of the property under the title or that the tax title owner and his predecessors have failed to pay all the taxes levied or assessed upon the property within the four-year period.

Renumbered and Amended by Chapter 3, 2008 General Session

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