Cal. Civ. Code § 32-31-12-4
Removal of a squatter by law enforcement
Operative Text
Sec. 4. (a) A property owner may provide a law enforcement agency with a copy of the affidavit described in section 3 of this chapter. (b) Except as provided in subsection (c), not later than forty-eight (48) hours after receipt of the affidavit, the law enforcement agency shall dispatch one (1) or more law enforcement officers to remove the squatter from the owner's property. (c) A law enforcement agency may dispatch one (1) or more law enforcement officers to remove a squatter later than forty-eight (48) hours after receipt of the affidavit for reasons of public safety. However, the law enforcement agency shall dispatch one (1) or more law enforcement officers to remove the squatter as soon as practicable. (d) Nothing in this section shall prohibit: (1) a property owner from executing an affidavit described in section 3 of this chapter; and (2) a law enforcement officer from removing a squatter upon receipt of an executed affidavit under section 3 of this chapter; at the time a law enforcement officer is responding to a complaint that a squatter is occupying the owner's property.
Indiana Code § 32-31-12-4 establishes a process by which a property owner can trigger law enforcement removal of a squatter by submitting a completed affidavit (as described in § 32-31-12-3) to a law enforcement agency. Once the agency receives that affidavit, it is generally required to dispatch officers to remove the squatter within 48 hours, though the deadline may be extended for public safety reasons, with removal to occur as soon as practicable. The provision also clarifies that an officer responding to an active complaint about a squatter may accept and act on the affidavit on the spot, without waiting for a separate submission process.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Ind. Code § 32-31-12-4, property owners who have prepared the affidavit described in § 32-31-12-3 can deliver it directly to a local law enforcement agency to initiate the squatter-removal process. Compliant operators typically keep a properly executed copy of the affidavit readily available so it can be presented to responding officers at the time of a complaint or submitted to the agency without delay. Being aware that the 48-hour dispatch window may be extended for public safety reasons helps owners set realistic expectations about the timeline for removal.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Ind. Code § 32-31-12-4 is directed at the removal of individuals occupying property without any legal right or tenancy agreement — commonly called squatters — and does not apply to people who have a rental agreement or other recognized legal basis for occupancy. If you believe you have a legitimate tenancy or legal right to occupy a property and are facing removal under this provision, that distinction may be relevant to how the law applies to your situation. Tenant-rights organizations and legal aid services can help clarify whether a person's occupancy status falls outside the scope of this squatter-removal process.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 14, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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