Leader-Call – Local man losing his land to adverse possession

Local man losing his land to adverse possession

LAUREL — A Jones County resident and business owner said a portion of his land on Highway 84 East is being taken from him in what is known as adverse possession.

Billy Joe Pitts Sr., owner of Pitts Swabbing Service Inc., said he is currently in court regarding part of his land at 2777 Highway 84 East which he said is being taken away under the adverse possession law. He has owned the property since 1973.

Pitts said there is a fence located on his property which was never moved. He said that another person recently claimed land on the other side of the fence and it is being deemed his due to the law.

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Donna Pitts-Boyanton, Pitts’ daughter, said people need to be aware of the law.

“If someone puts a fence up and lives there for so long, they can take your land,” she said. “The deed said it was our land. The survey said it was our dad’s land. The man ended up getting our land, even though our dad paid taxes on it.

“It hurts him really bad to lose his land,” Pitts-Boyanton added. “We don’t know what we’re going to do about it, whether we’re going to appeal it.”

Added Pitts, “The public ought to know about this. I figured since I’ve got the deed, that’s mine. Evidentially, the deed don’t hold up.”

Leader-Call
6/19/11