Ask George & Chuck: Landowner faces title challenge when trying to sell

Q: I've owned several parcels of property in one subdivision for years. I've paid taxes on them and maintained them. I had a prospective buyer contact me and I signed a contract to sell them, but the title company says there was a "break in the chain of title" 40 years ago on one of the lots and refuses to issue a title policy. This can't be right.
A: Yes it can. You may be able to convince them that you have title by adverse possession over all these years, but they get to decide what they want