CHAPTER 3. INTERESTS IN TITLE
IC 32-20-3
Chapter 3. Interests in Title
IC 32-20-3-1
Unbroken chain of title; definition
Sec. 1. A person who has an unbroken chain of title of record to
an interest in land for at least fifty (50) years has a marketable record
title to that interest, subject to section 2 of this chapter. A person is
considered to have this unbroken chain of title when:
(1) the official public records disclose a title transaction of
record that occurred at least fifty (50) years before the time the
marketability is determined; and
(2) the title transaction purports to create an interest in:
(A) the person claiming the interest; or
(B) a person from whom, by one (1) or more title
transactions of record, the purported interest has become
vested in the person claiming the interest;
with nothing appearing of record purporting to divest the
claimant of the purported interest.
As added by P.L.2-2002, SEC.5.
IC 32-20-3-2
Interests and defects affecting marketable record title
Sec. 2. Marketable record title is subject to the following:
(1) All interests and defects that are inherent in the muniments
of which the chain of record title is formed. However, a general
reference in the muniments, or any one (1) of them, to:
(A) easements;
(B) use restrictions; or
(C) other interests created before the root of title;
is not sufficient to preserve them, unless specific identification
is made in the muniments of a recorded title transaction that
creates the easement, use restriction, or other interest.
(2) All interests preserved by:
(A) the filing of proper notice; or
(B) possession by the same owner continuously for at least
fifty (50) years, in accordance with IC 32-20-4-1.
(3) The rights of any person arising from adverse possession or
adverse user, if the period of adverse possession or adverse user
was wholly or partly subsequent to the effective date of the root
of title.
(4) Any interest arising out of a title transaction recorded after
the effective date of the root of title from which the unbroken
chain of title of record is started. However, the recording shall
not revive or give validity to any interest that has been
extinguished before the time of the recording by the operation
of section 3 of this chapter.
(5) The exceptions stated in IC 32-20-4-3 concerning:
(A) rights of reversioners in leases;
(B) rights of any lessee in and to any lease; and
(C) easements and interests in the nature of easements.
(6) All interests of the department of environmental
management arising from the recording of a restrictive covenant
under IC 13.
As added by P.L.2-2002, SEC.5. Amended by P.L.18-2008, SEC.2.
IC 32-20-3-3
Transactions before root of title
Sec. 3. Subject to section 2 of this chapter, marketable record title
is held by its owner and is taken by a person dealing with the land
free and clear of all interests, claims, or charges whose existence
depends upon any act, transaction, event, or omission that occurred
before the effective date of the root of title. All the interests, claims,
or charges, however denominated, whether:
(1) legal or equitable;
(2) present or future; or
(3) asserted by a person who is:
(A) sui juris or under a disability;
(B) within or outside Indiana;
(C) natural or corporate; or
(D) private or governmental;
are void.
As added by P.L.2-2002, SEC.5.