Property Disputes in Tulsa, OK

Property disputes in Oklahoma 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 Tulsa, Oklahoma. 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 disputes that involve real estate, including single-family homes, apartments, roads, condominiums, and ponds. Tulsa, OK 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

Anyone who becomes involved may need to appear for hearings or depositions in Tulsa. These events happen with one of the state’s thirty-one district courts currently.

Common Types of Tulsa, Oklahoma 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 disagreeing 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 Tulsa 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 Tulsa, Oklahoma Property Disputes

According to the Arbor Day Foundation, large trees near a street can add anywhere from 3% to 15% to your property value. Over time, they can even reduce your energy bills or the need to use more air conditioning. Unfortunately, timber is also a common cause of property disputes and litigation. Understanding who has the right to trim limbs or remove plants can feel like a frustratingly gray area. As a result, many cases need to involve an attorney to clarify an individual’s legal standing.

Another typical dispute resulted in a vote to amend the Oklahoma Constitution in 2016. In what’s known as a Right to Farm, this law would safeguard agriculture from lawsuits. These civil actions stem from conflicting interests between homeowners, farmers, or ranchers. Anyone who owns property wants to protect their property value, but selling a house near the smell of livestock can be difficult. While the rights of one versus the other remain in question, a Tulsa attorney who understands the law can prove invaluable.

Legal Process for Boundary Disputes In Tulsa, Oklahoma

Has someone brought a property dispute against you in Tulsa, 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 Tulsa, OK 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.

Preparing for how fences factor into your property dispute can be crucial also. There are rules about their construction or livestock enclosure in many situations. In addition, municipalities have rules about what is and is not allowed. Case in point, the Tulsa Code of Ordinances limits fences to eight feet in height.

Try to Find a Solution with Your Neighbor

Property dispute litigation in Tulsa, Oklahoma 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

This letter will be from your Tulsa 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 Tulsa, OK 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.

If a settlement is not possible, property disputes in Tulsa will go to the 14th Judicial District for its decision. But, most cases reach an agreement to avoid the unknowns of a decision from a judge or jury.

Work With an Experienced Local Property Dispute Lawyer In Tulsa, Oklahoma

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 that understands Tulsa 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 Oklahoma state lines.

Submit a request online or call us today at (866) 345-6784 to get in touch with an attorney in your area!