baffledinmich
Junior Member
What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Michigan
7 years ago, I inherited a farm with a house and 120 acres. I sold the house on .85 acres and kept the land. A year later, the new neighbor (to whom I sold the house and lot) asked if he could have another 15+ foot perimeter surrounding his lot. We walked it off and discussed it but nothing ever became of it, or so I thought. A few years ago he approached me and said, "It's all taken care of." I never asked him what he meant.
I live 40 miles away and worked full time so I wasn't able to come to the farm regularly. Now, 7 years later, I am retired and am coming more often. I was surprised to see that the neighbor cleared the perimeter of his lot and has been using it as his own. Then I remembered his comment a few years back about "it's all taken care of."
Coincidentally, when I was at the Courthouse, I asked to see the deed on the property and was baffled to see that the boundary line had been xx'd out and a new line drawn on the original deed! The clerk was shocked and said there was probably nothing I could do about it because it not only had my signature on it but it was over 7 years old. The neighbor stole over 1 acre of land. He never paid for it and I certainly never agreed to or signed anything.
Did my neighbor steal my land? Do I no longer own it?
How can the original deed be xx'd out and changed? Is it legal?
What is the statue of limitation on real estate?
7 years ago, I inherited a farm with a house and 120 acres. I sold the house on .85 acres and kept the land. A year later, the new neighbor (to whom I sold the house and lot) asked if he could have another 15+ foot perimeter surrounding his lot. We walked it off and discussed it but nothing ever became of it, or so I thought. A few years ago he approached me and said, "It's all taken care of." I never asked him what he meant.
I live 40 miles away and worked full time so I wasn't able to come to the farm regularly. Now, 7 years later, I am retired and am coming more often. I was surprised to see that the neighbor cleared the perimeter of his lot and has been using it as his own. Then I remembered his comment a few years back about "it's all taken care of."
Coincidentally, when I was at the Courthouse, I asked to see the deed on the property and was baffled to see that the boundary line had been xx'd out and a new line drawn on the original deed! The clerk was shocked and said there was probably nothing I could do about it because it not only had my signature on it but it was over 7 years old. The neighbor stole over 1 acre of land. He never paid for it and I certainly never agreed to or signed anything.
Did my neighbor steal my land? Do I no longer own it?
How can the original deed be xx'd out and changed? Is it legal?
What is the statue of limitation on real estate?
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