big sky happy
Junior Member
What is the name of your state? Montana
15 years ago I rented a house on a 34 acre piece of property. The neighbors, a ranching family to the south of me, claimed they had a right of way thru the property I rented in order to get to a spring on their property in back. For 15 years they've driven up my driveway and thru the yard to the back of the property in order to get to their gate in back.
The property I rented was sold last year and I was able to buy 3 acres of it and the house and the supposed "right of way"
The neighbors are unfortunately getting a divorce, rumor has it the ranch is going to be sold and while I've not had issues with their infrequent trips thru my yard (short of the average invasion) I'm now worried as to what will happen if the property is sold and the headaches if it's subdivided off like so much of the land around has been.
From what I've been able to gather, there is nothing on paper regarding a written legal easement, just a verbal okay to pass thru the property over the years since they had no other way, other than a very primative road, to get to their spring.
A new road is in to the north of me and with the re-location of a gate they will be able to access their property from that road. The owner of the road (who I bought my property from) said he would grant an easement BUT he'd also like to be able to access their property.
Am I looking at a court date here or is there a gentle way of settling this situation?
Thanks for any input!!!
BSH
15 years ago I rented a house on a 34 acre piece of property. The neighbors, a ranching family to the south of me, claimed they had a right of way thru the property I rented in order to get to a spring on their property in back. For 15 years they've driven up my driveway and thru the yard to the back of the property in order to get to their gate in back.
The property I rented was sold last year and I was able to buy 3 acres of it and the house and the supposed "right of way"
The neighbors are unfortunately getting a divorce, rumor has it the ranch is going to be sold and while I've not had issues with their infrequent trips thru my yard (short of the average invasion) I'm now worried as to what will happen if the property is sold and the headaches if it's subdivided off like so much of the land around has been.
From what I've been able to gather, there is nothing on paper regarding a written legal easement, just a verbal okay to pass thru the property over the years since they had no other way, other than a very primative road, to get to their spring.
A new road is in to the north of me and with the re-location of a gate they will be able to access their property from that road. The owner of the road (who I bought my property from) said he would grant an easement BUT he'd also like to be able to access their property.
Am I looking at a court date here or is there a gentle way of settling this situation?
Thanks for any input!!!
BSH