Which term describes the government's right to seize ownerless land?

• A. Escheat
• B. Lien
• C. Eminent Domain
• D. Condemnation

Answer: (A)

Escheat is the government's right to take ownership of property when there is no identifiable owner or heirs, so ownerless land reverts to the state. This mechanism keeps land from remaining without an owner and ensures it becomes part of public control. It’s different from eminent domain, which allows the government to seize private property for public use with compensation to the owner; condemnation is the formal process used to exercise that power. A lien, by contrast, is a claim against property to secure a debt and does not transfer ownership. So escheat best describes the government’s authority over ownerless land.