Florida Broker Practice Exam

What does 'reliction' refer to in the context of land ownership?

1. Anthropogenic changes to land

2. Increase of land due to rising water

3. Gradual receding of water uncovering land

4. Damage to land from natural disasters

The correct answer is: Gradual receding of water uncovering land

Reliction refers to the gradual receding of water that uncovers previously submerged land, increasing the land area owned by a property owner along a waterway. This process can occur over time due to natural changes in the water level, such as drought or geological shifts. In the context of property rights, when water recedes and exposes land that was previously not accessible, the owner of the adjacent property typically gains rights to this newly exposed land. This is an important concept in real estate law, particularly in Florida, where many properties are located near bodies of water. The context of the other options involves different concepts related to land and water interaction. Anthropogenic changes to land encompass human-induced alterations, which do not specifically address the land exposure from water receding. An increase of land due to rising water would typically refer to accretion, which is the opposite of reliction, as it involves water adding to the land rather than water receding. Damage to land from natural disasters refers to losses or alterations in property due to events like hurricanes or floods, which are unrelated to the gradual exposure of land as seen in reliction.