5 Things Every Property Owner Needs To Know
Our California Eminent Domain Lawyers & Condemnation Law
When you are facing eminent domain from the government, it is crucial that
you act quickly to protect your rights. At Allen, Semelsberger & Kaelin
LLP, we have represented countless home and property owners in these types
of cases. Our California
eminent domain lawyers are skilled negotiators and trial attorneys, equipping them to take on
even the most challenging cases. We sit down with you and explain your
rights, your legal options, and make sure you get the maximum amount for
your real estate.
Read about the top five things you should know for your eminent domain
case below!
1. The Government Must have a Public Purpose
The government cannot take your property unless it is for a proper public
purpose. Even still, strict procedures must be followed. Government agencies
must follow the law to take your property. There are several statutes
which outline what the government is required to do before it takes property
from you. The lawyers at ASK can tell you if the government has acted
properly under the law in their attempts to take your property.
2. You Must be Paid the Highest Market Price
The government is required to pay you the highest market price for the
property it takes from you. The price paid for your property must be based
on the highest and best use of your property. This is often not done by
the government when they take your property. They go off whatever an initial
appraiser gives, which often doesn’t include the full picture. That
is why our lawyers work to ensure all aspects of your property’s
value are taken into consideration to demonstrate the highest value of
your real estate. We do this by working with appraisers, engineers, and
other property experts.
3. Compensation Legal Fees & Other Incurred Costs
The government may be responsible for paying for legal fees and costs you
incur due to having your property taken away. If a court determines the
government has been unreasonable, you can have your legal fees and costs
paid by the government. Our team can help you review the government’s
actions and determine if you have the right to be compensated for legal
fees and court costs.
4. You Are Owed for Any Related Damages
The government has to pay you for other kinds of damages and expenses related
to the taking of your property. When a portion of the property is taken,
damage to the remaining property, or “severance” damage, is
likely to occur. Under the law, the government must pay for severance
damages as well as for fixtures and equipment, business loss, relocation
expenses, and other items. These damages are often not fully paid without
a lawyer working for you. Our attorneys can fight to ensure you are given
fair payments for business losses and other damages.
5. You Can Afford to Hire the Best
Despite what you may think, you can afford to hire the best lawyers to
protect your rights against the government. In fact, it is more dangerous
to hire a more “affordable” lawyer who you think is giving
you a bargain. Their inexperience or lack of qualifications may lead to
you missing out on a serious amount of compensation for your property.
That is a risk you cannot afford to take. The good news is that ASK Law
Group often works on a contingency fee basis, which means you only pay
us a percentage of the value we add to your case. In other words, we only
charge you legal fees when we win additional compensation from the government.
That means there is virtually no risk involved for you.
Have questions about your eminent domain case?
Don't wait to get legal counsel!
Reach out to our firm
at (888) 998-2031 today.