A quiet title action—also known as a trespass to try title action—is a lawsuit against a party who claims an interest in a piece of real property (land). In a quiet title action, the plaintiff seeks to establish the plaintiff’s title (ownership interest) in the land by forcing the adverse claimant (the defendant) to establish or prove an interest in the land or be forever estopped (precluded) from asserting an interest in the land.

The resolution of such a lawsuit is designed to settle or quiet a disputed claim to title or ownership of the land.

Laws regarding quiet title actions may vary from state to state and may be located in a state’s statutes or in its court opinions (common law or case law). The terms used for such a claim may also vary and in some states there may be a distinction between a quiet title claim and a trespass to try title claim—or a quiet title claim may be treated as an informal reference to a trespass to try title claim.

In Maryland, a quiet title action is a legal proceeding used to resolve disputes over the ownership of real property. This type of lawsuit is brought by an individual or entity (the plaintiff) who seeks to 'quiet' any challenges or claims to their title by requiring any adverse claimants (the defendants) to prove their legal interest in the property. If the adverse claimants cannot establish their claims, they are barred from any future claims to the property. Maryland's approach to quiet title actions is governed by state statutes and case law. The process involves filing a complaint in the circuit court in the county where the property is located, serving all interested parties, and sometimes involves a trial where evidence is presented. The court's judgment in a quiet title action provides a legally binding determination of the parties' rights to the property in question. It's important to note that the specifics of the process and the applicable law can be complex, and an attorney with experience in real estate law would be able to provide guidance tailored to the individual case.