Thornton Boundary Dispute Lawyers and Thornton Title Attorneys

Find the right Title & Boundary Dispute attorney in Thornton, CO

Title & Boundary Dispute Law in Colorado

Finding out that property lines are improperly drawn and learning that you have been partially occupying your neighbor's land, or vice versa, can create some fairly serious legal issues.

Sometimes, neighbors will decide amongst themselves that the issue isn't worth fighting over, and will go on as they did before. This is particularly likely if the neighbors are on good terms, and the difference between their use of the land, and the actual property lines, is small (say, a few feet or less). This is an ideal situation, at least in the short term. It can, however, cause problems in the future - preventing a neighbor from enforcing the actual property lines, if they suddenly have a reason to do so.

It's more frequently the case that one neighbor wants to maintain the current use of the land, property lines notwithstanding, while the other neighbor wants to enforce the property lines that are on record. This is because moving a property line necessarily expands the land of one neighbor, while shrinking the land of another. Obviously, the neighbor whose land would be shrunk will probably oppose any attempt to enforce the property lines.

People in Thornton, Colorado should also be aware of the possibility of title (ownership) disputes. Unlike the boundary disputes discussed above, the outcome of a title dispute can determine who owns an entire parcel of real property. Confusion over who actually owns a piece of property is more common that some people might imagine. Many local property records are still kept on paper, are not very well-organized, and sometimes date back a hundred years or more. A lost or misfiled deed is the most common way for a title dispute to arise. However, sometimes fraud on the part of a seller can lead to title disputes. Unscrupulous individuals will sometimes try to sell the same piece of land to more than one person. And some people even try to sell property they don't own, occasionally succeeding (and this isn't just limited to bridges in London). Typically, once the buyers discover they've been duped, the "seller" is nowhere to be found, leaving them to figure out who owns the land they all thought they had purchased.

Possible Outcomes of Boundary and Title Disputes in Thornton, Colorado

One customary resolution for boundary disputes is a court re-drawing the boundaries to fit with what the assumptions that the neighbors were operating under before the error was discovered. This typically happens when both parties were, for many years, aware of the actual property boundaries, and did nothing about it. Moreover, if the neighbor who has been encroaching onto the other neighbor's land has made costly improvements thereto, this weighs in favor of that neighbor, since changing the property lines would impose significant hardship on that neighbor.

A court might do the opposite, and decide to enforce the property lines as they're drawn. This will always benefit one neighbor and hurt the other. A court will probably do this if one neighbor knew that his land was encroaching onto another person's property, and actively tried to hide that fact from his neighbor. Obviously, such bad behavior shouldn't be rewarded. Conversely, if the neighbor whose land was being encroached upon knew about the discrepancy, and did nothing about it, the court will probably change the property lines to reflect this prior use, to prevent that neighbor from being rewarded for "sitting on his rights."

With title disputes, a court has to decide who owns a particular piece of land. There are many factors that a court will consider, and this decision is governed by some fairly intricate laws in Thornton, Colorado.

In general, the person who first recorded the deed at the appropriate government office will be the one who the court deems to own the land, if they didn't have any reason to know about the existence of the other deed, or other sale, or whatever else gave rise to the title conflict.

What Can A Thornton, Colorado Attorney Do?

The legal issues surrounding title and boundary disputes can get pretty intricate, and there are typically very high stakes involved (most people think their land is pretty important). For that reason, a good Thornton, Colorado real estate attorney will prove invaluable if such a dispute arises.

Talk to a Real Estate Law Attorney now!

Life in Thornton

The city of Thornton, Colorado has a population of about 118,000 and is located in Weld and Adams counties. Thornton's location near the city of Denver and near the Rocky Mountains allows for ample opportunities for business, residence, and recreational activities. Thornton's community is marked by a high degree of volunteerism and participation in local events.

Thornton, Colorado is an unique city in that it actively pursues development of recreation programs and facilities. Overall, Thornton boasts over 80 city parks and more than 1,000 acres of land designated for public parks. The city also maintains numerous athletic fields, swimming pools, tennis courts, and gymnasiums. Indoor and outdoor facilities provide Thornton residents with ample opportunities for leisure activities year-round.

There are many opportunities for business and retail shopping in Thornton, Colorado. Popular places for residents and tourists to visit include Larkridge Mall, Thorncreek Crossing Shopping Center, and Thornton Town Center. These locations offer many choices for restaurants and national retail stores. Thornton is also surrounded by nine major colleges and universities within a 45-mile radius. These include Regis University and University of Denver. Many Thornton residents work at these institutions, and events and festivals are often held on the campuses.

Lawyers in Thornton, Colorado offer legal services in a broad range of fields. Many Thornton lawyers are members of multiple state and county bar associations. The Thornton Municipal Court is where many lawyers process legal claims.

Clients Rate LegalMatch Attorneys
(click to read reviews)

Nicholas M.
Nicholas M.

Real Estate, Housing & Property Law

Golden, CO

Carl M.
Carl M.

Real Estate, Housing & Property Law

Seattle, WA

David A.
David A.

Real Estate, Housing & Property Law

Walnut Creek, CA