Property Disputes
Have you had a dispute with your neighbor over a property? You’re not alone. It is not unusual for those who own land to find themselves in disagreements with neighbors, even if they have friendly relationships with them.
There may be some inaccurate deed descriptions or someone may have overestimated the extent of his/her land and built a fence past it’s original boundary line. There could also be multiple unrecorded deeds conveying ownership to different people which can complicate things further. Regardless of what has happened, most serious disputes need attention in order to resolve them. A Fort Lauderdale property dispute lawyer at Magnolia Law can help.
Common Types Of Property Disputes
It is a good idea to know about the common types of property disputes so you can better understand the situation that you are dealing with. The most common property disputes include:
- Property line disputes
- Disputes between landlords HYPERLINK “https://requestlegalhelp.com/landlord-tenant-attorney/”& HYPERLINK “https://requestlegalhelp.com/landlord-tenant-attorney/” tenants regarding who is at fault for property damage
- Homeowners & real estate developers disagreeing over who is responsible for repairs on construction
- Zoning Issues
- People blocking their neighbor’s view via a “spite fence” or any structure specifically created with intent to annoy their neighbor
- Disputes between mortgage lenders and creditors over who can foreclose a property and who receives proceeds from a sale
- Homeowners and government agency disputes about whether they have a utility easement
- Ownership disputes about who is the rightful owner of a property
This is not an exhaustive list and there may be other situations where a property dispute occurs. If you are a property owner, it is important to ensure that others are not using it in an illegal way or trying to claim it as their own.
Who Can Be Involved In A Broward County Property Dispute?
A property dispute can involve anyone who has an interest in the property in question.
For instance, the majority of property disputes involve the owner of the property in some way, but they can also involve:
- Neighbors
- Family Members
- Landlords and Tenants
- Trespassers
- Homeowner Associations
- Builders and Developers
- Government Agencies
- Municipalities
Anticipate Defenses The Other Party May Raise
A neighbor’s most likely defenses with regard to a boundary dispute may include:
- Your facts are wrong or you have incorrectly read the deed to your property.
- Your neighbor owns the disputed property through adverse possession, a doctrine that allows for somebody who has used a piece of property without the owner’s objection for a statutorily prescribed number of years to gain ownership over it
- You already gave consent to use your property.
- Property use established a prescriptive easement, authorizing your neighbor to come across your property.
- You waited too long to file a lawsuit, and now the statute of limitations has run out.
Familiarity with the legal issues can help you better understand your situation and communicate with your real estate lawyer in order to find the best way to solve your dispute.
How A Property Dispute Lawyer In Fort Lauderdale Can Help
Due to changes in the land, improvements made on the property and alterations through time, the expertise of a property dispute lawyer often becomes necessary in these disputes. Your attorney may provide advice and recommendations that are invaluable in dealing with these matters.
While litigation can take a tremendous amount of time, energy, and money, the help from a skilled Fort Lauderdale property dispute lawyer may help to relieve stress and assist in guiding you to the best decision for your situation. An experienced attorney can anticipate possible defenses the neighbor in question may raise when attempting to take possession of the land.
With something so valuable, such as your home, you need the best representation to protect your investment. If you have a property dispute, contact Magnolia Law today and let us help protect your property.
