When it comes to boundary and easement issues, it can be difficult to know where to draw the line. Property line disputes, unlawful land usage, and other such problems are very common real estate legal issues, and they may require thorough investigation and legal understanding to sort through. If you need counsel on your boundary and easement issues, Stevenson, Smith, Hood, Knudson, P.C can help.
Boundary Issues
As human beings, we like things to fit into defined boundaries. This includes our properties. Boundary issues arise when those lines are crossed or become blurred. For example, adverse possession occurs when one party claims land as their own without going through the proper legal or financial channels. This can include situations in which one neighbor installs fencing or pours concrete several feet over a property line, or someone deliberately takes over abandoned or undeveloped land.
Though they provide a sense of de facto definition to a property, fences, sidewalks, and natural features like tree lines and streams do not necessarily define legal boundary lines. This is one common reason why boundary disagreements arise. A change of property ownership or subdivision of larger properties are cause to review legal boundaries of a property, and if what is written in a deed is not in harmony with what property owners have traditionally understood, there can be cause for dispute.
When boundary issues arise, a real estate attorney will is a necessary guide and advocate through a difficult and confusing process.
Easements
In real estate law, an easement is the right to use the property of another for a defined purpose. Easements may be included in deeds or plat maps or they may constitute their own document.
Another type of easement, known as a “negative easement”, may include limitations on the height a property owner can build to, so as not to block views of surrounding properties. When an easement is in play, things can easily become contentious. In disputes, it is better to approach the solution with legal advice or counsel so the right solution can be found.
Managing Boundary and Easement Issues in Utah
For specific legal advice about boundary and easement issues, contact us at Stevenson Smith Hood Knudson, P.C. Our experienced attorneys are highly qualified in the domain of real estate law. We can help you resolve local problems and see that you are properly represented.