What is the most common way to destroy a claim of adverse possession?

The most common way to destroy a claim of adverse possession is through legal action, specifically by suing for trespass. This legal action serves to challenge the possessor's claim and assert the rights of the true owner against the unauthorized use of their property. When the rightful owner sues for trespass, they effectively disallow the continuous and uninterrupted possession necessary for an adverse possession claim to be valid. The act of filing a lawsuit can reset the timeline for adverse possession, as it demonstrates that the owner is actively asserting their rights.

Other methods, while they may have some impact, do not directly negate the claim of adverse possession as effectively as a legal suit. For instance, buying the land legally shifts ownership, but this would only prevent future claims rather than dismantle an existing assertion of adverse possession. Reporting to authorities or negotiating a settlement may provide some external resolutions but do not carry the same weight legally in contesting the occupation of the land. Thus, suing for trespass remains the most definitive way to challenge and destroy a claim of adverse possession.