Which legal principle is used to bar dated claims due to unreasonable delay in asserting rights?

The doctrine of laches is a legal principle that prevents a party from asserting a claim or right if they have unreasonably delayed in doing so, and this delay has adversely affected the other party. This concept is based on the idea that it is unfair to allow someone to delay their claims to a point where evidence may have been lost, memories have faded, or the opposing party has been led to believe that the claim will not be pursued.

In real estate and other legal matters, if a claimant waits too long to bring a lawsuit or enforce a right, particularly when they had the opportunity and means to do so, the court may choose to dismiss their claim under the doctrine of laches. This doctrine serves to promote fairness and prevent injustice by ensuring that legal matters are resolved in a timely manner.

In the context of the other choices, the doctrine of estoppel relates to preventing a party from arguing something contrary to a claim made or implied by their previous behavior, the doctrine of necessity addresses situations where an individual acts to prevent harm under emergency conditions, and the doctrine of equal protection pertains to ensuring that individuals are treated equally under the law. Hence, they do not apply to the issue of delaying claims in the manner described in the question.