Which of the following describes the illegal occupation of land without the owner's consent?

The concept of adverse possession involves the illegal occupation or use of land that rightfully belongs to someone else, without the consent of the property owner. For an individual to claim adverse possession, certain criteria typically must be met, such as continuous and open use of the property for a specified period, often defined by state law. This legal doctrine ultimately allows the occupant to gain ownership rights, despite the original owner's claims.

In contrast, encroachment refers to the physical intrusion of a property built or placed on another's land, which also lacks the owner's permission but does not necessarily lead to ownership rights. Merger involves combining two or more properties owned by a single entity into one, which is unrelated to unauthorized occupation. Abandonment indicates a property owner's intention to relinquish ownership, and does not pertain to illegal occupation. Thus, adverse possession is the correct answer as it specifically addresses the unauthorized occupation of land with the potential to gain legal ownership over time.