Arkansas Adverse Possession (Squatter's Rights)

Ark. Code 18-11-106 provides that 'to establish adverse possession of real property, the person... must have actual or constructive possession of the real property being claimed and have... held color of title to the real property for a period of at least seven (7) years and during that time paid ad valorem taxes.' Color of title plus 7 years of tax payments is the core path; wild and unimproved land can require up to 15 years of tax payments (Ark. Code 18-11-103). Possession must also be open, notorious, hostile, and continuous under case law. A trespasser without color of title or tax receipts gains nothing. Owners remove squatters through the civil unlawful-detainer process (Ark. Code 18-60-304), not self-help.

No specific statutory penalty. A failed adverse-possession claimant or trespasser is simply removed by court order; a holdover after notice can fall under the criminal failure-to-vacate statute (Ark. Code 18-16-101).