What is the term for the involuntary transfer of title from an owner who neglects their property for years?

The correct term for the involuntary transfer of title from an owner who neglects their property for years is adverse possession. This legal doctrine allows a person to claim ownership of land under certain conditions, typically after continuous and open use of the property without the consent of the original owner for a statutory period, which varies by jurisdiction.

The key elements of adverse possession include that the occupation must be continuous, open, notorious, exclusive, and hostile, meaning that the individual treating the land as their own is doing so in a way that is apparent and without permission from the actual owner. If these conditions are met over many years, the original property owner can lose their claim to the property, effectively transferring title to the person who occupied it.

In contrast, the other options refer to different concepts. Transfer of title is a more general term that doesn't specifically apply to the situation of neglect. Eminent domain involves the government's right to take private property for public use, with compensation to the owner, which is unrelated to neglect. Foreclosure pertains to the process by which a lender can take ownership of a property when the borrower fails to meet the mortgage obligations, again not directly relating to neglect over time.