Fences and Boundary Disputes
Where one property ends and the next one begins can be important to your everyday enjoyment of your property -- and takes on particular significance when it's time to sell. Fences can, by themselves, be the subject of major neighbor disputes -- when to repair them, who pays, where exactly they go, and so on. But even if you and a neighbor don't really care about whether the fence is in exactly the right place, or who planted a few extra vegetables on which side of an unmarked property line, a new owner might want to know exactly how much land he or she will be getting. At that point, things might get ugly, with legal arguments arising over whether one owner has managed to lay claim to a piece of another's property through "adverse possession." Learn more about laws regarding fences and boundary lines, and how to protect your rights well before going to court, here.
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How can I protect my property boundary lines when my neighbor wants to build a fence?
How to deal with a neighbor who seems to be taking over some of your property.
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Must my neighbor pay for the damage he's caused to my fence?
Explaining to a neighbor that he is actually responsible for fence maintenance.
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What Can You Do About a Boundary Dispute With a Neighbor?
Fact-checking and negotiation are often important steps before considering suing a neighbor over property-line disagreements.
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Can my neighbor replace our shared fence and require me to pay a share?
Shared payment for a fence is not required in every situation!
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Should we make a title insurance claim over a boundary dispute? How?
Title insurance companies should help resolve disputes about fundamental ownership issues like property lines.
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My neighbor's new fence is on his property, but blocks access to my trash cans. Is this legal?
Most courts will not allow a neighbor to install a fence on what is essentially a shared boundary, particularly if it interferes with your use and enjoyment of your property -- but is a lawsuit the right approach?
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My neighbor won't give me access for remodeling my garage. Now what?
You do need a neighbor's permission to enter property, even for construction. Here's how to get it.
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My neighbor's fence is really ugly. Can I make him take it down?
Without a local statute regulating fences, or a homeowners' association regulating community aesthetics, it’s unlikely that a lawsuit will successfully force your neighbor to replace an ugly fence.
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What's a Spite Fence and What Can I Do About the One My Neighbors Built?
If your neighbor constructs a spite fence, making the neighborhood look terrible and calling attention to the property, can you file suit?
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Can I build a tall fence to put some distance between my crazy neighbor and me?
Making sure to comply with state laws and any homeowners' association rules before constructing a fence, particularly for the express purpose of limiting contact with a neighbor.
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Neighbor Built Fence Over the Property Line. Does He Now Own That Land?
The fact that your neighbors are not actively "using" the portion of your land behind their fence would not stop them from asserting an ownership claim based on adverse possession.
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What Rights Does Neighbor Gain to Your Property If Fence Is Misplaced
Strategies for handling a neighbor who's cutting trees on, or otherwise using, property that's legally yours despite the fence location.
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