Disputes with neighbors can be sensitive matters. Though you want to take action to protect your property rights, you also will still have to face your neighbor on a regular basis and likely do not want that relationship to completely sour. Therefore, it is important to protect your best interests while attempting to resolve neighbor disputes in the most amicable way possible.

At the Dickson Frohlich Phillips Burgess, our experienced real estate attorneys understand the delicate nature of many neighbor disputes and have many tools for resolving these issues in an efficient manner.

Common sources of neighbor disputes

Property disputes with a neighbor may arise for a wide variety of reasons, including the following:

• Fence, property line, or other encroachment disputes
• Tree disputes
• Easement¹ rights
• Quiet title and partition of interests
• Landslide disputes
• Neighbor harassment
• Noise, nuisance² or quiet enjoyment of property issues
• Water and light access disputes

Many of these issues involve questions of state and local property laws³, so you always want to consult with an attorney who can advise you of your property rights.

Methods for resolving disputes with your neighbors

Many neighbor disputes can be resolved relatively easily with the help of an attorney. A simple letter from a lawyer or a quick phone discussion can sometimes be enough for a neighbor to cooperate because many neighbors wish to avoid costly legal action. On other occasions, however, these disputes require dispute resolution techniques such as mediation, arbitration, or even litigation.

Contact an experienced real estate attorney for assistance as soon as possible

The longer you let a dispute with a neighbor carry on, often the more contentious the situation will become. For this reason, you should not delay in contacting an experienced neighbor dispute lawyer at the Dickson Frohlich Phillips Burgess to regarding your issues.

We have offices conveniently located in both Tacoma and Seattle and offer phone consultations to discuss a possible case.

¹http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easement

²http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/nuisance

²https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?Cite=64