# A.R.S. § 12-523: 12-523 Real property in adverse possession under title or color of title; three year limitation

> Arizona · Statutes · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AZ_T12_C5_A2_S523

## Section

- **Citation:** A.R.S. § 12-523
- **Heading:** 12-523 Real property in adverse possession under title or color of title; three year limitation
- **Jurisdiction:** Arizona
- **Kind:** Statutes
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** Arizona Code / Title 12 / Chapter 5 / Article 2 / Section 523

## Text

12-523. Real property in adverse possession under title or color of title; three year limitation

A. An action to recover real property from a person in peaceable and adverse possession under title or color of title shall be commenced within three years after the cause of action accrues, and not afterward.

B. "Title" means a regular chain of transfer from or under sovereignty of the soil. "Color of title" means a consecutive chain of such transfer down to the person in possession without being regular, as if one or more of the memorials or muniments is not recorded or not duly recorded or is only in writing, or such like defect as does not extend to or include the want of intrinsic fairness and honesty, or when the party in possession holds the real property by a land warrant or land scrip, with a chain of transfer down to him in possession.

## Nearby sections

- [A.R.S. § 12-521 12-521 Definitions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AZ_T12_C5_A2_S521.md)
- [A.R.S. § 12-522 12-522 Real property claimed only by right of possession; two year limitation](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AZ_T12_C5_A2_S522.md)
- [A.R.S. § 12-523 12-523 Real property in adverse possession under title or color of title; three year limitation](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AZ_T12_C5_A2_S523.md)
- [A.R.S. § 12-524 12-524 City lot claimed under recorded deed; five year limitation](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AZ_T12_C5_A2_S524.md)
- [A.R.S. § 12-525 12-525 Real property in adverse possession and use under duly recorded deed with possessor paying taxes; five year limitation; exception](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AZ_T12_C5_A2_S525.md)
- [A.R.S. § 12-526 12-526 Real property in adverse possession and use by possessor; ten year limitation; limit of area; fixing of boundaries under duly recorded memorandum of title](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AZ_T12_C5_A2_S526.md)
- [A.R.S. § 12-527 12-527 Effect of limitation on title](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AZ_T12_C5_A2_S527.md)
- [A.R.S. § 12-528 12-528 Persons under disability](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AZ_T12_C5_A2_S528.md)
- [A.R.S. § 12-529 12-529 Defenses available for certain actions by the state or person claiming through the state](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AZ_T12_C5_A2_S529.md)
- [A.R.S. § 12-530 12-530 Home inspector liability; four year limitation](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AZ_T12_C5_A2_S530.md)
- [A.R.S. § 12-531 12-531 Real estate appraiser liability; four-year limitation; exception; definition](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AZ_T12_C5_A2_S531.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AZ_T12_C5_A2_S523. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.