Eminent Domain

Ownership of personal property is something that people in the United States often think of as a fundamental right. This is one of the differences of American culture, as compared to the cultures that it came out of. The state is not supposed to own everything, but...

Generally, there is a clear legal boundary between where your property begins and that of another party ends. For example, you may own your house and the land around it, including the driveway. However, in some cases, private land may border that which is in public...

Eminent domain is the process by which the government can take land from private landowners. This is a controversial process because many people believe that this is essentially an infringement on their rights. They do not want the government to be able to just take...

The multi-billion-dollar Ford Motor Co. plant that’s being built just outside Memphis, which the vehicle manufacturer has named BlueOval City, will be a central site for making the company’s electric vehicles (EVs). Ford has called the planned 4,100 acre facility its...

The United States Constitution gives the Government the right to take privately owned property through the power of eminent domain. This doesn’t mean that it has the right to come along and take any property it likes, it must be for “public use” and the owner must be...

If the government or any other condemning authority wants to acquire your land, they should follow the correct procedures and pay you just compensation. Unfortunately, eminent domain has been associated with unfair practices. Thus, you should be careful when your land...

People often associate the use of eminent domain with the federal government's need for it or possibly with a state, regional or local project. For example, this month the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) announced plans for a gas facility at its power plant in...

For many people, their biggest goal is owning a home and having the freedom to do whatever they want with it. However, this dream could quickly shatter if the government decides to step in to claim it for itself. While this may seem unlikely, this is the reality for...

Under the doctrine of eminent domain, there are circumstances where the government can take your property without your consent. Thankfully, it’s not as easy as simply turning up and taking it. There is a legal process that needs to be followed and it needs to prove...

The government sometimes needs to take over private property for public use. Fortunately, they can’t just claim a person’s land and take it. Instead, they must go through a process that includes proving that the land needs to be used by the public. They must also pay...