Property Disputes in Jonesboro, AR
Property disputes in Jonesboro can turn neighbors into adversaries and simple misunderstandings into legal battles. These conflicts often involve boundaries, easements, or property damages.
Take the first step by learning more about your rights and how legal help can guide you forward.
What Is a Property Dispute?
Property disputes are legal disputes that involve real estate, including single-family homes, apartments, roads, condominiums, and ponds. Jonesboro, AR property disputes can involve a wide range of parties, which might include some of the following:
- Neighbors
- Homeowners’ association
- Landlords and tenants
- Family members
- Trespassers
- Property visitors
- Government agencies
Common Types of Jonesboro, Arkansas Property Disputes
It’s important to know about common disputes to understand your circumstances. The most common property disputes often include:
- Disputes between neighbors regarding where property lines exist
- Disputes between landlords and tenants regarding who is at fault for damage to the property
- Homeowners and real estate developers disagree over who is responsible for repairs on construction
- People blocking their neighbor’s view via a “spite fence” or another structure specifically made to annoy their neighbor
- Disputes between mortgage lenders and creditors over who can foreclose a property and who receives the proceeds of a sale
- Disputes between homeowners and government agencies about whether they have a utility easement
- Ownership disputes about who is the rightful owner of a property
- Issues with zoning
Beyond these examples, you may find other situations in Jonesboro where a property dispute occurs. In general, if you own land, you have to constantly watch out for it and ensure that others are not using it illegally or trying to claim it as their own.
Understanding Typical Jonesboro, Arkansas Property Disputes
In Arkansas, property owners can take legal steps if someone damages their trees. They might get compensation for the tree’s value, restoration costs, and even punitive damages for intentional harm. The state also has laws against deliberately harming trees, with penalties ranging from fines to jail time. Property owners in Jonesboro should know these laws and consider legal help if their trees are damaged.
Arkansas also has laws protecting farmers from nuisance lawsuits related to farming activities like noise or smells. These “right to farm” laws defend farmers against complaints, aiming to preserve Arkansas’s agricultural sector. Both farmers and residents in Jonesboro, AR, and beyond should understand these laws to manage disputes properly.
Legal Process for Boundary Disputes In Jonesboro, Arkansas
Has someone brought a property dispute against you in Jonesboro, or are you starting a property dispute against someone else? If so, you need to understand the legal process you will go through. This process begins with understanding the issue at hand.
Understand the Boundary Issue
To understand the specific boundary dispute, you’ll have to do the following things:
- Complete a land survey to locate the exact boundary of your home as outlined in the legal description of the deed. This survey will help you understand your property and how much of your land is encroached.
- Conduct an appraisal to learn the exact market value of the piece of property that is in dispute.
- Do a title search to find all of the documents in the chain of title of your Jonesboro, AR property. The title search will show if any deeds may affect your ownership.
These things will likely have happened when you purchased the home. If that’s the case, the documents you already have should suffice unless the case goes to court.
Arkansas law sets the standards for resolving property line disputes and fence regulations. Jonesboro property owners must follow these regulations to prevent conflicts with neighbors and accurately mark their land boundaries. The state’s rules detail how to construct fences, specifying their height, materials, and positioning. Furthermore, Arkansas laws cover encroachments, easements, and adverse possession.
Try to Find a Solution with Your Neighbor
Property dispute litigation in Jonesboro, Arkansas can cost a fortune, not to mention it can take a long time to settle a dispute. Therefore, it’s important to open a discussion between you and your neighbor. If you can reach an agreement and settle the dispute without going to court, you can save time and money.
Try to communicate directly with your neighbor. You can attempt sending a letter, email, making a phone call, or visiting their home if that’s a safe option.
If no progress happens and it’s clear that you and your neighbor are still on completely different pages, at this point, you should consider hiring an attorney to assist you. They can help you understand if you have legal grounds upon which to stand. If you do, then you can send a demand letter.
Sending a Demand Letter
Your attorney can draft a letter to your neighbor outlining the property dispute. This letter will include a request for specific actions or propose a fair settlement amount to resolve the issue without going to court.
In most cases, your neighbor will share this letter with their attorney to better understand the boundary dispute. From there, both attorneys can work together to determine the best path forward.
Going to Court or Reaching a Settlement
Typically, the best option for both sides is to settle the dispute out of court to avoid costly litigation fees. But if your negotiations are going nowhere, it might be necessary to file the dispute with the court.
The court will then look closely at the evidence presented and determine who owns the Jonesboro, AR property in question. Keep in mind the court’s decision is legally binding. You may not agree with it, or it may not be exactly the result you wanted to see. That is why it’s typically in your best interest to settle.
Property dispute cases from Jonesboro typically fall under the jurisdiction of the Craighead County Circuit Court.
Work With an Experienced Local Property Dispute Lawyer In Jonesboro, Arkansas
When it comes to property disputes, you should work with an experienced property dispute lawyer. Whether you’re filing a property dispute against your neighbor or you are defending a dispute brought against you, you’ll need a lawyer who understands Jonesboro property law on your side. An experienced lawyer can help you settle before taking the dispute to court, which will save you both time and money. We can even help you connect with an attorney across Arkansas state lines.
Submit a request online or call us today at (866) 345-6784 to speak with an attorney in your area!
About the Author
Aaron is a professional legal writer with a B.S. in English Education from Southern Illinois University – Carbondale. He has written, published, and edited thousands of legal articles for RequestLegalHelp, which has connected over 5 million people to legal help in the United States.
With over five years of experience writing thousands of legal articles for law firms across the U.S. and Canada, Aaron specializes in covering federal, state, and city-level legal issues ranging from auto accidents to wrongful terminations. Contact Aaron at [email protected] for article suggestions, collaborations, or inquiries.
