Legal descriptions and records0 answersAI answer
Clients often ask if a neighbor has "taken" land by using it. What is our role?
Asked October 25, 2026
AI answer · not yet verified by a surveyor
Your role is to show the facts, not to decide title [1].
- Locate the record line and the lines of occupation (fences, buildings, driveways, gardens).
- Show both clearly on the plat, with dimensions and notes.
- Note the evidence of use where it's visible, such as an old fence line.
- Avoid legal conclusions: say what you found, not who owns the strip.
- Refer the legal question to a real-estate attorney, because the elements and periods vary by state.
Practical tips:
- Explain the difference between the record line and the line of occupation to clients in plain language.
- Be careful with wording on the plat and in emails.
- If the client asks you to "move the line to the fence", explain that only an agreement, a conveyance or a court decision can change title [2].
General information only. Answers here are not a survey or legal advice, and no one here can tell you where your boundary is. For your property, hire a licensed land surveyor in your state; for legal questions, a real-estate attorney.