In property law, what is the term for the legal concept of having an enforceable claim to land based on one's physical possession?

The correct term for the legal concept of having an enforceable claim to land based on one's physical possession is known as "Adverse Possession." This doctrine allows a person to claim ownership of land under certain conditions, primarily when they possess and use the land openly, continuously, and without the permission of the original owner for a legally specified period.

Adverse possession serves to encourage the productive use of land while preventing owners from sitting on their rights indefinitely, thus allowing for more efficient land use and resolution of disputes over property. It essentially recognizes the rights of those who have acted as if they owned the property, providing a legal pathway for them to obtain formal ownership over time.

The other terms do not correctly fit this definition. Seisin refers to the possession of a feudal estate, which is less about the enforceability of claims through physical possession. The Statute of Limitations relates to the time limits for bringing legal actions, rather than defining a claim to land. Res Judicata refers to a legal doctrine preventing the same issue from being tried again once it has been judged, which is unrelated to property possession.