North Carolina Eminent Domain and Land Condemnation Attorney

North Carolina Land Condemnation and Eminent Domain

Eminent domain is the legal right of the government to take private property to repurpose for public use. In order for a municipality to legally claim private property in the process of eminent domain, they must provide just compensation for the land or easement taken. That’s where we come in. We will advocate for our clients in order to help them receive the compensation they deserve when faced with a government taking.

From the moment the eminent domain process begins, the government will be represented by lawyers in order to protect its interests. In order to protect your own interests, you need to equip yourself with a legal team that will put you first.

What is a “taking”?

A “taking” is a term used for when the government acquires your land through the process of eminent domain. This can come in many forms. Any percentage of your property can be taken permanently or for a limited amount of time. What this means is that the government can take your entire parcel of land in a complete taking, or just a portion of that land in a partial taking. They can also choose to take either your entire parcel or a portion of it temporarily. Additionally, a government can claim a right-of-way or easement on your land that would allow them to travel on it or access it for some purpose, such as to install and maintain drainage infrastructure. Regardless of what type of taking the government proposes on your land, it is very important that you are represented by a lawyer who knows the ins and outs of these takings and can advocate for you to receive compensation that is equal to the inconvenience of the taking.

Why would the government want my land?

The government can want to take private property for a number of reasons, such as construction of a new roadway or roadway expansions or extensions, or other transportation infrastructure such as railroads or airport expansions. Additionally, land is often taken for development of public services, such as public schools or public parks. Not only that, but the government also frequently needs to access private property in order to install power lines or drainage and sewer systems. All of these are examples of takings that you deserve to be fairly compensated for.

How can we help?

As soon as you are notified that your property will be impacted by the government or any group that exercises the power of eminent domain, it is important to take action immediately by contacting an attorney. Eminent domain cases are under specific time constraints and waiting too long to seek legal help can impact your ability to be fairly compensated. An attorney specializing in eminent domain will help you navigate the legal deadlines and ensure that you receive the compensation that you deserve.

We can be the liaison between yourself and the entity that will impact your property. We will investigate the value of the property that is being condemned, taken, or impacted using our team and any field experts that may be necessary, and communicate with government right-of-way agents, attorneys, appraisers, engineers and others to negotiate fair compensation and discuss ways to mitigate the impacts on your property. We will review relocation benefits and offers to make your transition as smooth as possible and advocate for you and your property at every step of the eminent domain process.