Boundary Line Dispute

[garypuro]

We are in Minnesota. My wife and her Mother are Joint Tenants of our farm. A neighbor recently sold his farm to another. The new owner there had a survey done. That survey indicates that his boundary line is about 75 feet into our property. This is an over 100 year family owned farm with fencing (albeit very old) that past neighbors have honored. As far as we can determine the fence lines have been there for over 50 years. My wife is 56 years old. My wife has registered a part of the farm in the CRP. This 75 feet X about 600 feet is in the CRP part of the farm. The new neighbor says he is going to bulldoze the CRP trees that she has there and rent the land to another farmer. This other farmer is the one who told us about this. Do we have any recourse to prevent that takeover?

 

[HomeGuru]

Contact an attorney right away to see if you have adverse possession rights.

 

[garypuro]

Thank you. I am waiting for his return call. I recently read a little on adverse possession but I leave the legaleze up to him. Not necessary, but can you give a brief explanation as it would apply to our situation? Maybe you will do that before he calls me back. I think his middle name is Molasses!

 

[HomeGuru]

My middle name is slug.

Anyway there are various criteria that must be met to qualify for an adverse possession claim. Such as a continuous use period, notorious use and possibly the payment of real property taxes on the land.
Mr Moleasses shall advise you further with the details.

 

[ctwdjim]

reply

Hi garypure!
I now live in AZ, and just learned of a law I had never heard of before.....If someone puts up a fence on your property, and it is not removed for a period of seven (7) years, it becomes the property of the person who installed the fence! Interesting, huh?
Might you have something like this in your state???
Wish you the best.

 

[HomeGuru]

Re: reply

Hi garypure!
I now live in AZ, and just learned of a law I had never heard of before.....If someone puts up a fence on your property, and it is not removed for a period of seven (7) years, it becomes the property of the person who installed the fence! Interesting, huh?
Might you have something like this in your state???
Wish you the best.

My response: there is no such law per se. The law you are referring to is discussed in my post to the writer.

 

[garypuro]

To Home(slug)Guru: You were right on. Mr. Molasses called and has advised us to send a registered letter to our neighbor basically telling them that the fence line is the boundary and that their trespassing beyond that line will not be allowed. The first step in an Adverse Possesion action. Thanks again.

 

[HomeGuru]

No problem and good luck to you.