Hire a Texas Eminent Domain Lawyer to Maximize Your Property Settlement
Most of Texas land is still privately owned.
That puts the government in a tough spot. They need more land to keep building new infrastructure to support a booming population.
So they often use eminent domain laws to seize property for public use.
However, public use is no excuse for abuse of property owners’ rights.
Unfortunately, that’s exactly what happens with a lot of property owners. They are intimidated, manipulated, and poorly compensated to give up their lands.
Our passionate team of Eminent Domain Lawyers have helped defend the rights of Texas land owners and get them the high compensation they deserve. We have experience defending retail, commercial, industrial, and special-use properties.
Are You a Victim of Eminent Domain?
Get the Compensation You Deserve! Call Us For a FREE Case Review to Know What Your Case Is Worth.
Understanding Condemnation Cases
Eminent domain is the legal right of the government to acquire private property for public use. The legal process through which this land is acquired is known as condemnation.
They have to prove the land is only being used for projects that add real public value, such as:
- Highways
- Public buildings like courts, government offices, and fire stations
- Schools
- Airports, bus and railway transport network
- Water, drainage, or gas pipelines
- Military installations
- Dams
- Power stations
Just because the process is called condemnation, it doesn’t mean your case is condemned. This power of eminent domain is not absolute.
So, if you’ve received a condemnation notice from the government. It’s NOT an eviction notice.
There are clear Texas state laws, federal laws, and the Fifth Amendment to defend your property rights.
5 Key Private Property Owners’ Rights that You’re Entitled to:
- Public purpose– The Fifth Amendment only allows the condemnation of private properties for public use.
- Due process – The Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments mandate governments and citizens to go through a due process of law for settling the case. Landowners must provide proper legal documentation on time giving property owners a chance to respond properly.
- Just compensation – According to the Fifth Amendment, the condemning party must also provide just compensation to the property owner. Owners are entitled to be compensated for their whole property value and any damages they face because of this process.
- Reimbursing expenses – Texas state laws allow property owners to recover numerous costs they’re forced to bear during the condemnation process, such as
- Lawyer fees
- Relocation expenses
- Appraisal or survey fees
- Dispute – You have the right to legally contest the condemnation process. Your eminent domain lawyer will be able to figure out if your property rights are being violated. They’ll navigate all the complex legal processes and deadlines to negotiate the best possible settlement for you.
Types of Properties and Compensation Challenges
Here are the 3 types of properties that the government can acquire under eminent domain laws:
Commercial Properties – A hot location has a lot to do with the success of a business. You have to account for the impact of relocation on your business. You have to measure more than the property land value. Will relocation negatively impact your brand exposure and customer footfall? If yes, then you need to be compensated for it too.
- Industrial Properties – You have to consider various logistical, access, and locational needs while evaluating an industrial property. Will you be relocated to a property with access to the same resources locally available where you are right now? How long will it take for you to clear the necessary permissions to set up your factory in a new location? You have to slow down and measure the impact on property function and market value.
- Special-Use Properties – There are unique compensation challenges for acquiring churches, schools, and institutions. Their layout may limit their functionality and compromise the property value. It can also be a more complex matter to contest as both the plaintiff and defendant can argue that their property offers public value. You have to factor in the interests of your community along with the property value.
Maximizing Compensation: The Firm’s Process
We’re not here to play your real estate broker. We care about you getting the best value for your property AND experiencing the smoothest transition once you shift.
There are a ton of factors to evaluate to ensure you walk away with a compensation that you’re happy with years after the deal.
Here’s a brief overview of the proven process we’ve used to win the best possible settlements for our clients:
- Hiring experienced forensic appraisers to strengthen your property valuation claim
- Consulting you throughout the evaluation process to account for all personal and professional benefits of using the property
- Checking your lease to identify any violations and negotiate amendments to strengthen your claim
- Proactively communicating with your lenders to clarify the compensation process
- Proactively working with government employees to get you the best possible property to relocate to
- Recommending relevant maintenance work to maximize recovery
- Identifying and clearing any environmental hazards that could risk your claim
- Connecting you to tax advisors to take advantage of special tax rules associated with eminent domain
- Presenting any shortcomings in the property alternatives identified for relocation to maximize damages
Experienced Attorneys and Board Certification
Ranked among the top 100 Houston Super Lawyers, our experienced attorneys here at Wyly & Cook have a track record of winning eminent domain cases across Texas.
We have a Board-Certified lawyers exclusively focusing on condemnation cases with the experience defending property rights that you need.
Only 4% of attorneys attain board certification.
Now you know you’re being represented by lawyers trusted by the community and respected by their peers.
We’re always willing to go the extra mile to get you the best possible settlement for your land.
Are You a Victim of Eminent Domain?
Get the Compensation You Deserve! Call Us For a FREE Case Review to Know What Your Case Is Worth.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a condemnation case?
Condemnation is the legal process through which a government can acquire a private property for public use.
What rights do property owners have in government takings?
Here are 5 essential rights property owners are entitled to in condemnation cases:
- Guarantee that land is solely being acquired for public purpose
- Due process for settling the case
- Just compensation
- Reimbursing expenses
- Legally contesting the condemnation process
How can property owners contest offers and seek full compensation?
Government agencies will often try to rush you into signing a lowball offer. They are known to get property appraisals that reflect a decreased market value. By hiring an experienced eminent domain lawyer, you can get your own professional appraisal to counter their offer.
Your lawyer will also help modify your property to gain maximum value before the condemnation process begins. They will present all your immediate and long-term needs to ensure you’re fully compensated.
What types of properties are susceptible to takings?
There are 3 types of properties susceptible to takings under eminent domain laws:
- Commercial properties
- Industrial properties
- Special-use properties
What challenges do special-use properties face in condemnation cases?
Special-use properties like churches, schools, and institutions are limited in their functionality. Their layout and design fulfil a unique purpose. These limitations may lead to a diminished property value.
Recognizing the function of special-use properties is important to properly compensate and relocate owners.
How does the firm's process maximize compensation for property owners?
Here’s how we help you win the best possible settlements for your property:
- Getting an appraisal from an experienced forensic appraiser
- Regularly consulting you to weigh all pros and cons of your current property and the alternatives you’re evaluating for relocation
- Reviewing your lease to make any necessary amendments
- Communicating with your lenders
- Negotiating with government employees
- Recommending any property maintenance work to improve value
- Eliminating any environmental hazards that can compromise your property value
- Helping you to reach out to tax advisers to capitalize on special tax rules associated with eminent domain
- Evaluating and presenting any damages incurred due to the relocation process
What is the significance of board certification?
Did you know only four percent of attorneys are board-certified? If your eminent domain lawyer is board-certified, it means their skills, integrity, and record has been carefully approved by a national board of experts.
How does the firm guarantee results?
At Wyly & Cook, we care more about the results we produce than the number of cases we take up. We treat every case like it’s going to trial so that you get the fastest high-value property settlement. We’re willing to put our money where our mouth is when it comes to the results we produce.
Firstly, you don’t have to pay us a dime until we win your case. You only have to pay us a fixed percentage once your case is settled. Secondly, we guarantee to get you a much higher offer than the initial offer presented to you by government agents.
What is the reputation of the firm in the field?
Our experienced team of eminent domain lawyers are ranked among the top 100 Houston Super Lawyers.
We have a long track record of getting several commercial, industrial, and special-use property owners compensated across Texas.
What do clients say about their experience with the firm?
A huge part of our clients come to us through referrals. We’ve built a chain of trust that keeps growing by helping our community members get fairly compensated.
We do the talking in court, but we believe in letting our clients talk about the results we deliver.
Check out our client testimonials on our website to see how we’ve successfully settled several cases like yours.