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ABA Family Legal Guide

Home Ownership

Managing Neighborhood Problems

Handling Disputes

How can I handle disputes over boundary lines?

Disputes about boundary lines are less common than other neighbor-related problems, in part because of modern surveying techniques. Boundary lines may be set forth in the property description in your deed. Sometimes, though, if the property description was created decades or even centuries ago, that description may be a bit difficult to trace on the ground. If the neighborhood is platted, your legal description refers to a lot, and you will need to review the recorded plat for the dimensions of the lot.

If you and your neighbor are unsure where the boundaries lie, there are a number of alternatives:

  • Spend a few hundred dollars to hire a surveyor.
  • File a quiet title lawsuit asking a judge to determine the location of the boundary line. This is even more expensive because you will have court filing fees, lawyer fees, and possibly a survey if the court so requires.
  • Agree with your neighbor that a certain imaginary line or a physical object, such as a fence or a large tree, will serve as the boundary. Have a lawyer draw up quitclaim deeds for both parties to sign, each granting to the other neighbor ownership to any land on the other's side of the line. Be sure to record the deed by filing it in the county records office (often called the registry of deeds). This may require the mortgage holder's approval.
    • American Bar Association Family Legal Guide
    Copyright © 2004 American Bar Association
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