In Washington, squatter's rights or adverse possession is a legal concept that applies to property. It refers to the method by which a person can become the owner of a property that does not belong to them without consent from the property's rightful owner....
Meeting Your Legal Needs With
Compassionate Expertise
Our Practice Areas
Estate Planning
Probate and Trust
Real Estate
Guardianship
Neighbor Disputes
What to do if your neighbor encroaches over your property line
Many property owners in Washington don’t realize that they have a boundary disagreement with their neighbor until the neighbor starts encroaching on their property. All of a sudden, a neighbor that you had no issues with before starts building a structure over your...
The two types of boundary disputes
Owning property in Washington can give you a lot of freedom and independence. However, property lines define where you can and cannot plant trees, build a shed or let your animals roam. When property lines are crossed, this can lead to a boundary dispute with your...
How should you handle a boundary dispute in Washington?
Boundary disputes are a common occurrence, and they can be difficult to handle. If you want to avoid issues and probably a costly or time-consuming lawsuit too, it is important to know how to manage a boundary dispute. Run a title search and get your land survey A...
Are your neighbor’s lights too bright?
Your neighbor is worried about someone breaking into their cars at night. To prevent it, they install bright lights over the driveway, which they turn on every evening.While you can see that the lights are a deterrent to crime, they also shine brightly right into your...
Your neighbor can negatively impact your property value
The unfortunate reality is that you are not the only person who is in control of your property value. If you go to sell your house, you may find that your neighbor has driven that value down.This is part of the reason for zoning laws. Putting a gas station next to a...
Lot line agreements and mortgage restrictions
You and your neighbor are unsure exactly where your lot line is situated. There is just one fence, and it was there before either of you owned your current homes. You always thought it was your fence from the orientation, but it appears to be too close to your...
Do you know your neighbor’s name?
Have you met your neighbor and exchanged more than a wave? Do you know their name if someone asked?If so, while you are in the majority, you may be surprised to find that it's not as big of a group as you'd imagine. Roughly 33% of Americans claim they have "never...
What is light trespass?
There are a lot of ways that your neighbor can impact your quality of life. Maybe they refuse to maintain their property, bringing your property value down. Maybe they built a fence that is so tall it breaks local regulations and makes you feel enclosed in your own...
People often do not know what land they own
Do you think you know exactly what land you own? Do you know how big your yard really is?If you do, it may surprise you to find out that many homeowners have no idea. They may think they do, but they do not officially know where the boundary lines are. Part of the...