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2 Answers | Asked in Real Estate Law, Tax Law and Land Use & Zoning for California on
Q: I've got property in South Carolina and I'd like to know the value of it. I've been getting a few offers from around the

Country. Is there a (Free) state website I can go to and find out the REAL value of my property?

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Nov 28, 2023

Assessing the value of property in South Carolina can be approached in several ways, although there's no specific state website that provides an exact "real value" for your property.

One option is to check the county assessor's website where your property is located in...
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1 Answer | Asked in Land Use & Zoning and Real Estate Law for Michigan on
Q: I purchased some land approximately 10 years ago people from a private subdivision have been driving on a short road on

Through it there is not an easement can i close it and not allow people to use the road

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answered on Nov 28, 2023

In Michigan, if you own land and there is no formal easement allowing others to use a road on your property, you generally have the right to restrict access to it. An easement would typically be recorded in the property's deed or other legal documents, so it's important to verify this... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Land Use & Zoning and Civil Litigation for California on
Q: Do property owners of private property have to give notice to the owner of the vehicle before they tow it
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answered on Nov 27, 2023

In California, the rules regarding towing vehicles from private property are quite specific. Property owners or their agents must provide notice before towing a vehicle, except in certain circumstances. The notice typically involves posting clear signs at the entrance of the property, detailing... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law and Land Use & Zoning for Michigan on
Q: Is there a Michigan law that states property owners are responsible for costs to maintain a private road?

2 long existing, private roads, servicing approximately 50+ properties. (large acreage parcels) These roads are in Menominee County, Holmes Township, in the woods. Ownership of the roads fall on about 10 owners, owning different stretches of the roads. There was never a maintenance agreement... View More

Kenneth V Zichi
Kenneth V Zichi
answered on Nov 27, 2023

Without actually examining the title it is impossible to say what to do. If there were some sort of road maintenance agreement, either created before the splits, or agreed to by ALL the property owners afterward, this is going to be difficult. You 'complicate' things by saying there is a... View More

Q: I am purchasing land to establish a farm and I am told I need a lawyer, but I don't know what kind.

I need to have a purchase agreement with the seller to proceed with the FSA who is giving a farm loan to purchase the land 100%.

Charles M.  Baron
Charles M. Baron
answered on Nov 24, 2023

For the real estate transaction, hire a real estate lawyer. If you still need to set up your business entity for the farm, hire a lawyer handling business formation. You might be able to find a lawyer/law firm that does both. Another issue is whether your land is already zoned for everything you... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law, Civil Litigation and Land Use & Zoning for California on
Q: on a private road, that has a bridge, and is used by all, does one person have the right to tear out said bridge

Bridge is located in a subdivision and used by many residents. Every attempt to reconstruct and repair the bridge gets demolished by one person who also lives in same subdivision. Do we other residents have any legal recourse?

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Nov 22, 2023

Under California law, if a private road and bridge in a subdivision are used by multiple residents, no single individual typically has the unilateral right to remove or damage the bridge. This is especially true if the bridge is considered a common area or is under a homeowners' association... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Land Use & Zoning and Real Estate Law for Kentucky on
Q: If I bought a farm with a private cemetery on it in Kentucky, do I have to allow more people to be buried in it?

A wife buried her grandchild and husband on her land and then sold it to me. Now she wants to bury more family there. Now that I own it, do I have to keep letting her bury people there?

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answered on Nov 20, 2023

In Kentucky, the ownership of land generally includes the right to decide how that land is used, including whether to allow additional burials in a private cemetery on the property. However, there are a few considerations to take into account.

First, review the property sale agreement and...
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1 Answer | Asked in Land Use & Zoning, Real Estate Law and Criminal Law for Arkansas on
Q: Can I move into an abandoned property?
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answered on Nov 17, 2023

In Arkansas, moving into an abandoned property without permission is not typically legal. This action could be considered trespassing or squatting, which are illegal. To legally occupy an abandoned property, you would need to gain ownership through legal means, such as purchasing the property or... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Business Law, Land Use & Zoning and Municipal Law for California on
Q: Can a fitness center (commercial gym) have a business license with a residential address?

If a gym owner is evicted from the commercial space and no longer has an address zoned for commercial use, does this negate the business license?

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Nov 11, 2023

In California, a business license can technically be registered with a residential address, but this does not automatically allow a commercial operation like a gym to function in a residential area. Zoning laws, which vary by locality, determine what activities can occur in a residentially zoned... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Contracts, Real Estate Law and Land Use & Zoning for Texas on
Q: Proposition 1 that just passed in Texas reads like it would override deed restrictions in neighborhood HOA's. True?
John Cucci Jr.
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answered on Nov 9, 2023

Be careful with Prop 1.

It grants a Constitutional right to landowners to conduct farming and similar activities without regulation from local municipalities. This is different from DEED RESTRICTIONS.

If your property is part of a subdivision, which is restricted by a deed that...
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1 Answer | Asked in Gov & Administrative Law, Land Use & Zoning, Real Estate Law and Municipal Law for Georgia on
Q: What are the rules of property boundaries in the city of Rincon and state of georgia?

My Difficult neighbor is trying to state that where the boundary line begins/ends to My property actually is 5 to 7 feet away from the rock That has been placed as a marker by the surveyors of plots/property ownership, Hence saying that I am unable to put a fence up where the actual block to divide... View More

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answered on Nov 7, 2023

Property boundaries in Georgia are generally determined by a recorded plat, a legal land survey, or the property deed descriptions. If there is a dispute about where the actual boundary lies, it's usually necessary to get a new survey conducted by a licensed land surveyor. In Rincon, as... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Land Use & Zoning and Real Estate Law on
Q: what are the requirements to establish someone as legal proxy in real estate matters in the state of Georgia?
T. Augustus Claus
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answered on Oct 23, 2023

To establish someone as a legal proxy for real estate matters in Georgia, you typically need to follow these steps:

1. Execute a Power of Attorney (POA): The principal, the person granting authority, creates a POA to designate an agent or attorney-in-fact to act on their behalf in real...
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1 Answer | Asked in Criminal Law, Cannabis & Marijuana Law and Land Use & Zoning for California on
Q: Had a warrant 2021 for cultivateing was charged a misdemeanor and fined $60,000 that setted for $16,000 put lien on prop

Property for having 325 plants had two permits for up to 99 plants they confesscated all plants

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answered on Oct 21, 2023

If you had two permits allowing for the cultivation of up to 99 plants each but were found cultivating 325 plants, you exceeded the allowable amount by 127 plants. This excess could be the reason for your misdemeanor charge and the associated fines.

The confiscation of all plants,...
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1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law, Construction Law, Land Use & Zoning and Municipal Law for California on
Q: Do unpermitted units (no occupancy release) that were rented out before need to be replaced under CA SB330?

I own a legal duplex (in the title) that has 2 unpermitted units. One of the previous owners created those 2 unpermitted units from one of the duplex's interiors a long long time ago and rented them out. The previous owner (the one who sold the property to me) went through tenant relocation... View More

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answered on Oct 15, 2023

California's SB 330, also known as the Housing Crisis Act of 2019, aims to expedite housing production and prevent the loss of existing housing stock. Under SB 330, local agencies are restricted from reducing the number of housing units on a property, even if some units are unpermitted.... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Land Use & Zoning and Municipal Law for California on
Q: I have a commercial building with permitted use as office space. Can it be rented out for meetings, birthdays?

Are there code enforcement fines if is not considered correct use?

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answered on Oct 14, 2023

In California, the specific permitted uses of a commercial building are generally determined by local zoning ordinances and the Certificate of Occupancy issued for the building. If your building's permitted use is "office space," using it for meetings would typically be consistent... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Land Use & Zoning, Landlord - Tenant and Real Estate Law for California on
Q: I lived on property for eight years. The man I rented from , is now dead but I found out he didn't own the land I lived

on. I payed rent for 8 years , and he wasn't the real property owner. So after he died , the family wanted to sell the property I was renting and tried evicting me off of the property but like I said , it wasn't his property to begin with. The property I rented was right next door to the... View More

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answered on Oct 12, 2023

In California, if you've been paying rent to someone who was not the actual property owner, it complicates your tenancy. The true owner, or their heirs, generally have the right to evict occupants who don't have a valid lease with them. However, given the length of your occupancy and... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Gov & Administrative Law, Land Use & Zoning and Municipal Law for California on
Q: Citations were imposed on property i mantained & paid taxes on since 2015 .Jan2023 case 10,000 pro bono lawyer needed

Citations were imposed on property i have mantained & paid taxes on since 2015 . On Jan2023 case was initiated by complaint by neighbor stating living in rv . Code inspector began notice to abate & has cited every 10 days without fail eventhough i asked & he sgreed to give me time to... View More

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answered on Oct 10, 2023

If you've maintained and paid taxes on the property since 2015, you may have grounds to assert a claim for adverse possession provided other specific requirements are met. Adverse possession in California requires open, notorious, continuous, hostile, and exclusive possession for a period of... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Contracts, Land Use & Zoning, Real Estate Law and Landlord - Tenant for California on
Q: Is a rental contract legally binding if the unit it is for is an illegal dwelling/not properly permitted?

Unit is located in UNINCORPORATED part of LA County, there is an order from Regional Planning requiring unit to be vacated due to: One or more unpermitted dwelling units are being maintained on the premises (Los Angeles County Zoning Code: 22.02.030(B); 22.18.020; 22.18.030(A); 22.18.030(B);... View More

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answered on Oct 9, 2023

In California, a rental contract for an illegal dwelling or unpermitted unit can present complexities. While the rental contract itself may be a legally binding agreement between the parties, its enforceability could be limited or affected by the unit's illegality. If a unit is illegal or not... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law, Land Use & Zoning and Landlord - Tenant on
Q: What can I do to get a land owner to pay for service rendered? No contract only texting me.

I've worked for 10 weeks, put in over $20,000 in the job, and once I got the lease from the lawyer I was told to vacate the property. I also live on the property and he had the police tell me that I would be trespassing in 24 hours.

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answered on Oct 5, 2023

Hire an attorney to sue for your services rendered, at least in quantum meruit. Until you are served with an action for possession, you might stay there. Then you go to Court. Ultimately you will lose possession, but you will cost the owner time and money. If you get a Judgment for money,... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Land Use & Zoning and Real Estate Law for Arkansas on
Q: I'm looking for a pro bono individual rights attorney

It's ever a property case for a gentleman has put up a fence and is trying to steal my mom's property

Tim Akpinar
Tim Akpinar
answered on Sep 30, 2023

An Arkansas attorney could advise best, but your question remains open for a week. At this point, you could try reaching out to legal aid societies and bar associations if they can offer direction. You could also try adding Real Estate as a category - real estate attorneys have insight into matters... View More

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