An interest in title to real property obtained by action at law based on adverse possession is known as what?

The concept involved here relates specifically to how ownership of real property can be acquired through the legal doctrine of adverse possession. When someone occupies a property openly and notoriously, continuously, for a statutory period without the permission of the original owner, they can potentially gain legal title to that property through a prescriptive action. This legal process is recognized as a "prescriptive suit."

This term highlights the nature of the action taken by the individual seeking to claim title after meeting the required conditions. The focus is on the right to obtain title through long-term use that contradicts the original owner's rights, and this legal recognition ultimately leads to a title that is defensible against claims from the original owner.

In contrast, the other choices do not accurately describe the mechanism by which title is obtained through adverse possession. Acquisition and homestead refer to different aspects of property rights and ownership, while escheat pertains to the process by which property reverts to the state when an owner dies without a will and has no heirs. Each of these terms serves a different function within real estate law and does not capture the specific legal action characterized by adverse possession.