Plano, TX asked in Land Use & Zoning and Real Estate Law for Louisiana

Q: How do we keep neighbors from squatting on land we recently purchased?

We bought 2 acres in St Tammany Parish, LA about 2 yrs ago that the neighbors have “helped themselves” to for several years prior. We can’t keep them off the property (their driveway crosses the property line, they dug a pond that is 80% on our land, and their trampoline and swing set are on our side). We paid to have a survey done twice and both times they have pulled up our survey stakes. What can we do to have their belongings removed and establish a property line to build a fence and protect our land from these squatters? We have asked them to move their things and reroute their driveway, but they ignore our requests. We have not called the cops yet, but we are running out of peaceful options. I’m afraid they are trying to acquire what’s ours through adverse possession. Help!

1 Lawyer Answer
Christie Tournet
Christie Tournet
Answered
  • Real Estate Law Lawyer
  • Mandeville, LA
  • Licensed in Louisiana

A: If your deed and survey show that you own within certain bounds, you can have an attorney send a formal demand, failing which you could also try to file a report of trespass with law enforcement. If the neighbors continue to resist those efforts, you will have no other option than to file suit - a Petitory action - meaning you claim to be owner and another party is possessing part of the land you own. To prevail, you will need to show that you have better/best title to the area at issue. So, you should consult, and likely, retain counsel well versed in real estate who is local to you and can assist.

Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.

The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.

Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.