property dispute over shared walkway..

[livengood]

Question bout a shared walkway that runs between mine and neighbors property?
I live in PA..Ok I have questions bout my property line so I got a survey done. There is a sidewalk walkway that runs between mine and my neighbors back yards.. Upon getting the survey done the sidwalk is a little over halfway on my side of the property line.. I want to claim my property so I can put up a wood fence for privacy and have a seperate walkway within my property.. There is a cement retaining wall also that runs from one end of my property to their property, which is falling over and needs replaced. What rights do I have to remove the existing walkway and retaining wall that is on my side?? Can I just cut right down the property line and remove whats on my side? Also : the deed to my house has no mention of a "SHARED WALKWAY" I think Pa has a 21 yr minimum on adverse possesion and easement. (Is this 21 years from previous owners in total? and How can you find out? or do I need to have personally lived here for 21 years? I have lived here 6 yrs and my neighbor less then that maybe 4...Ps.. My neighbors are very lazy(they've had a couch in their backyard for a year) and do no upkeep on their property they also have 5 kids. SO,I WANT MY PRIVACY..

 

[FarmerJ]

Id say Niether of you have lived in your homes long enough to be able to make any kind of claim of easement to the other party. SO I would suggest using the links above and talk to a atty about your cutting the sidewalk right at the property line and talk to the atty about the best wording for a notice to nieghbor that they no longer have permission to use any part of your property , of course this is likely to anger the nieghbor Id say since there was no attempt by either land owner in the past to legally claim a interest in the others land any claim made now would be one heck of a tough one to prove. Best luck to you and make sure you atleast talk to a atty , even if you had to pay a consult fee , its better than acting with out advice regarding your states laws.