When the government exercises its right of eminent domain and takes private land for public use, the impact is often significant for residential landowners. You aren’t given the opportunity to decline the taking of your property, but that doesn’t mean you don’t have certain legal rights.

Having your property taken under the threat of eminent domain and the condemnation process can be very stressful for residential landowners. Residential landowners often believe that they can handle the situation on their own without the need for a lawyer, which is understandable. However, the government or taking agency’s attorneys are hired to pay you as little as possible as just compensation and they will do anything possible to reduce your recovery.

Even if the government or taking agency agrees to pay you compensation in addition to its initial offer, you should be skeptical. Often times you could be leaving significantly more money on the table.