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Adverse Possession and Eminent Domain – What’s the difference?

Posted by Inez de Ondarza Simmons | Jun 27, 2018 | 0 Comments

Recently, Google has referred several people to our website who have entered the following search phrase,

“What is the difference between adverse possession and eminent domain?”

de Ondarza Simmons, PLLC helps clients with both. So, we wrote this brief post to help explain the differences. As outlined below, adverse possession and eminent domain are completely separate areas of real estate litigation, with separate rules for each area governing substance, procedure, and admissible evidence.  But both can lead to dispossessing an owner of his or her (or its) real property.  Both can apply to residential, agricultural, or commercial property.  Principally, however, the main difference between adverse possession and eminent domain lies in

  • who is acquiring the property, and
  • whether the original owner is entitled to any compensation.

Adverse Possession – One Private Property Owner Acquires the Property of Another Private Property Owner

Adverse possession means possessing another's property under certain conditions for a certain period of time. As a result, two things happen. The title of the original owner of record is extinguished, and a new title is created by law in the adverse possessor.  When that happens, the original owner is not entitled to any compensation for the land.

In adverse possession, the adverse possessor is a private party (an individual human or humans; or a non-governmental entity, like a business or a non-profit).  On the other side, the original owner of record can be either a private party or, under certain circumstances, a unit of government (like the State, a county, or a municipality).

To review the basics, including the elements of adverse possession in North Carolina, you should click here.

Eminent Domain – Government, Utility or other Condemnor Acquires Private Property for Public Purpose

Eminent domain is the ancient and inherent power of the sovereign, or the State, to take property from private property owners. This power pre-dates the United States Constitution and has always belonged the sovereign.  As the saying goes, “All title [in property] descends from the King.”  In America, of course, we no longer have a king, but we do have a sovereign, namely us, “We the People”, and that sovereign is embodied in the United States of America and the individual States of the Union.  So, in America, the Federal Government and the several States have the power to take or condemn private property.

Nevertheless, in America, there do exist important limits on this power. The Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution, for example states,

“nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.”

The United States Supreme Court has held that the the Fifth Amendment's protections apply to the States as well.

The North Carolina Constitution does not contain a similar condemnation clause.  But Article I, section 19 of the North Carolina Constitution does contain the so-called “Law of the Land Clause“, which reads:

“No person shall be taken, imprisoned, or disseized of his freehold, liberties, or privileges, or outlawed, or exiled, or in any manner deprived of his life, liberty, or property, but by the law of the land.”

The North Carolina Supreme Court has consistently held that the Law of the Land Clause incorporates the condemnation clause contained in the Fifth Amendment.

Eminent domain is a legislative power, and the North Carolina legislature, the General Assembly, has granted or delegated the power of eminent domain to State agencies like the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT), municipalities, and even power companies and transit authorities.  But the Federal and North Carolina Constitutions limit these condemnors' power by requiring that private property may only be taken

  1. for a “public use” and
  2. the condemnor must pay “just compensation”.

Over the last 60 years, decisions by the United States and the North Carolina Supreme Courts have broadened the scope of “public use”.  In addition, what constitutes “just compensation” depends on how damages resulting from the taking are measured.  In North Carolina, there are two separate measures of damages.  Which one applies depends on which condemnation statute is used by the condemnor.

For more information on eminent domain in North Carolina, including specific tactics we use to defend property rights of our clients in condemnation cases, you should click here.

Contact Us for an Initial Consultation

You may have an adverse possession or eminent domain case.  Occasionally, adverse possession issues can even arise within an eminent domain case, affecting your damages and just compensation. Whether you have an adverse possession case or an eminent domain case, if you would like to set up an initial consultation with us, you should click here.

Aggressive Attorney Representing North Carolina Business's and Individuals in Adverse Possession Eminent Domain Real Estate Litigation

About the Author

Inez de Ondarza Simmons

Exceptional Legal Services since 2005 Inez de Ondarza Simmons founded de Ondarza Simmons, PLLC, which handles civil litigation cases in Raleigh and throughout North Carolina in State and Federal courts, including Business and Real Estate Litigation Estate Planning Eminent Domain and Loca...

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