Banks took her to court to try and reclaim the land, but Schrock claimed squatter’s rights.
Explaining her counter-claim, Schrock said: ‘It’s just always been my backyard since i was a kid.’
Superior Court Judge Craig Karsnitz ruled in February in Schrock’s favor, noting that Banks lived primarily in Atlanta and ‘only occasionally’ came to the Delaware site.
Karsnitz felt Schrock met the threshold in proving her 20-year occupation, Delaware Online reported.
If a resident can prove they’ve occupied a plot for 20 years, they can claim ownership, which Schrock did successfully.
Another neighbor’s plot also encroached on Banks’ property. That unnamed resident agreed to move animal enclosures they’d set up - but because Schrock refused, Banks was ultimately unable to regain control of his family’s property.
Because Banks and his husband live in Atlanta and visit Delaware only occasionally, it made it harder for them to prove that Schrock hadn’t been openly using their land for the last 20 years.
Enforce your property rights or lose them.
George Washington after leaving the Presidency travelled hundreds of miles on horseback to kick squatters off of his lands in Pennsylvania.
If Banks has been paying taxes on that land it’s his and i would be going to another court . Squatters rights my @SS!
This is how the law works though generally you not only have to prove occupation but also upkeep, paying taxes etc on said land etc. don’t know this states exact laws but this is a legal Avenue to become the owner of land.