It is a scary thing to know that Texas residents can purchase property for themselves, only to have the city, state or federal government take it if they feel it is needed for public purposes. Eminent domain gives the government the right to do this. The process of actually seizing the property is called condemnation.
To be clear, the government cannot just seize property without notice. Once a person receives notice that his or her property is needed for public use, if there is a desire to fight it, one must act quickly. It may be possible to fight the seizure if it is possible to prove the land is being taken for reasons other than the public interest. It may also be possible to enter into an agreement for a partial seizure, which would allow the owner to maintain at least a portion of the property.
The government is also prevented from seizing property without offering fair compensation for it. The keyword here is fair. Property owners are often left feeling they are not getting what they should for their land. In such cases, they can take the issue to court in order to seek just compensation.
Fighting condemnation is not an easy task. Government entities have teams of people working to pursue their agendas. That can be intimidating for the average person to stand up to. Thankfully, Texas residents can turn to legal counsel for assistance as they either fight to keep their property or work to achieve a fair price for it. With the right help in one’s corner, it is possible to walk away from the situation satisfied with the end result.
