U.S. Couple says strangers moved into home they just bought and won't leave

It's not entirely wrong, it's called Adverse Possession. The exact law varies by state but regardless it's a very long process. For example in PA it's something like you have to provide proof of continuous and uncontested residence at the place for 20 years to claim ownership of the property. Obviously not long enough to apply the people the article or those you are talking about though.

Plus you have things like truly abandoned properties, owner didn't live at the location and had no descendants when passing away. If the title had been lost long prior than the property might sit for years or decades without anybody knowing the owner is long gone from the world.

 

True, the law is designed to allow occupancy of those properties but does not differentiate between true abandon properties and owned properties. You also have to pay the taxes on those properties either as you are squatting or after the said time is up you have to pay the back taxes the day you claim the property. You also must show proof of occupancy for the time required to claim the property.

 

Here's a legal analysis on this case.

 

My family would never pay someone and miss out on the fun part!

 

Sounds like one of those couples where the male weighs half as much as his girlfriend and his testicles haven't dropped yet.