As someone who owns a property, it can be extremely frustrating to have a boundary dispute with a neighbor. They might regularly encroach on your space with their own buildings or keep coming onto your property.
If you’re interested in putting up a fence or planting items along a boundary line, now is a good time to make sure the dispute is resolved before you begin. A boundary dispute that isn’t resolved could lead to legal trouble down the line and expensive litigation.
Can you resolve a boundary dispute outside of court?
Yes, you can. If you and your neighbor can talk through the issue and come to an oral agreement on where the true boundary lies, then you can go with that new boundary and, if you’d like, put it down on paper legally, too.
You may both decide to hire a land surveyor to come out to your property to assess the deed and actual boundary of the property. Previous surveys may be available that could help define the actual property line, too.
If your discussion keeps turning into a dispute, consider legal action
If your neighbor isn’t willing to listen to you or negotiate to make sure the boundary is in a good position, you have the option of running the land survey yourself by contacting a land surveyor. Doing this and speaking with your attorney about the situation could help you put together a strong case for the boundary line that you’re sure is present on the property.
Sometimes, a letter from an attorney or an official land survey is all it takes to resolve the problem and get back on good terms with your neighbor. If they won’t agree to the boundary that has been determined, though, you may need to litigate. If they sue, or if you need to pursue a claim in court because they continue to violate the boundary, then you will want to have evidence of the issue, the true boundary and your efforts to resolve the issue amicably. Then, you can talk to a judge to have them rule on the issue officially.