Property Disputes in Lexington, KY
Property disputes in Kentucky are common between neighbors. They even occur between companies and governments. People want to protect what is legally theirs, but sometimes the boundary lines are not clear.
Find out what you can do if you have a property dispute in Lexington, Kentucky. Discover the legal remedies and actions that can help you clear up a misunderstanding, arrange a settlement, or manage an issue involving your property.
What Is a Property Dispute?
Property disputes are legal conflicts related to real estate, such as single-family homes, apartments, roads, condominiums, and ponds. In , , these disputes can involve various parties, which may include some of the following:
- Neighbors
- Homeowners’ association
- Landlords and tenants
- Family members
- Trespassers
- Property visitors
- Government agencies
The court that hears your Lexington property dispute will depend on the amount of damages sought. If the matter involves $5,000 or less, the Fayette County District Court will handle the case. For larger matters, the Fayette Circuit Civil Division will have jurisdiction.
Common Types of Lexington, Kentucky 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 Lexington 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 Lexington, Kentucky Property Disputes
Trees that grow on or near property boundaries are often a source of Lexington property disputes. Under common law principles, a property owner can trim branches that overhang onto their property from their neighbor’s tree. However, Kentucky statute prohibits damaging the tree. In addition, Lexington-Fayette County Municipal Code requires a permit before trimming or cutting trees on public rights of way.
Another common source of property disputes is complaints about neighboring farms. As in all states, Kentucky legislation protects certain Lexington agricultural activities from nuisance lawsuits. However, Kentucky’s laws cover a broader range of activities than those in some states. Kentucky’s right-to-farm laws apply not only to farming, but to timber operations, ranching, and sustainable agriculture operations. In addition, City Ordinance exempts agricultural land from most Lexington zoning regulations.
Legal Process for Boundary Disputes In Lexington, Kentucky
Has someone brought a property dispute against you in Lexington, 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 Lexington, KY 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.
Kentucky laws permit adjacent Lexington landowners to enter into a binding agreement to construct a division fence between their properties. The neighbors can agree to share the costs of constructing, repairing, and maintaining the fence. In addition, the fence must adhere to both Kentucky’s definition of a legal fence and the City of Lexington’s fence and wall ordinances.
Try to Find a Solution with Your Neighbor
Property dispute litigation in , can be expensive and time-consuming. To avoid the costs and delays of a lengthy court battle, it’s often best to start by discussing the issue directly with your neighbor. Reaching an agreement outside of court can save both time and money.
Start by communicating with your neighbor clearly and respectfully. You can send a letter, email, make a phone call, or visit their home, as long as it’s safe to do so.
If attempts to resolve the issue fail and you’re unable to reach an agreement, it may be time to consult with an attorney. They can assess your situation, determine if you have a valid legal claim, and, if necessary, help you send a demand letter to push for a resolution.
Sending a Demand Letter
This letter will be from your Lexington attorney to your neighbor, and it will outline the property dispute. It will give your neighbor the option to respond via a requested action, or it will provide a reasonable price for settling the dispute out of court.
Your neighbor will likely forward this letter to their attorney to better understand the boundary dispute. From there, the attorneys on both sides will decide the best course of action moving 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 Lexington, KY 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.
Depending on the amount in question, either the Fayette County District Court or Circuit Court will have jurisdiction over your Lexington property dispute.
Work With an Experienced Local Property Dispute Lawyer In Lexington, Kentucky
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 Lexington 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 Kentucky state lines.
Submit a request online or call us today at (866) 345-6784 to get in touch 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.
