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 Rhode Island, a quiet title action is a legal proceeding used to resolve disputes over the ownership of real property. This type of lawsuit allows a person or entity (the plaintiff) to seek a court judgment confirming their title to the property and eliminating any challenges or claims to the title by others (the defendants). The goal is to 'quiet' any competing claims and provide clear and uncontested ownership of the property. Rhode Island law governs the procedures and requirements for filing a quiet title action, which typically involves providing notice to any potential claimants, presenting evidence of ownership, and allowing the court to make a determination on the validity of the claims. The outcome of a quiet title action is a court order that clarifies the legal ownership of the property and can be recorded to provide public notice of the plaintiff's clear title. It's important to consult with an attorney experienced in real estate law to navigate the specifics of a quiet title action in Rhode Island.