"Hi, I'm (Name) and I just bought a house near you ... "

[Fuddy1952]

According to what I looked up fencing laws can be complicated. I bought additional property which had cows and people on it!
When I checked with my insurance agent she said all that would have to go or they'd drop me (been with them almost 50 years).
So I wrote her name and number down and asked that neighbor to call which he did.
He got cows, ATVs, etc. off...now he gives me the stink eye, hopefully he will sort it out in time.
On the other side I fenced, typical Virginia cattle fence post every 50ft, with four 7ft T posts between. Those neighbor's wanted to put up this expensive white painted oak board fence on rest with me paying half.
I explained growing up that's what we had...beautiful but super high maintenance. My suggestion was continue with my fence which they did. Since I never asked them to pay me half, they never asked us to pay half.
Virginia fence law goes back to 1600s, basically "fence in or fence out".
I believe in court it boils down to a knowledgeable understanding judge trying to do the right thing to the satisfaction of all parties concerned.
I try to be a good neighbor and thankfully most people around here do also.

 

[Industrial Toys]

My Scheister neighbor Died so he won't be hitting anyone up again. Like I said, the first thing he did was hit people up for fence money. The second thing he did was Harvest any suitable timber on the fence line. He was s cheap, SOB, poor quality farmer. I told him that we would call a fence contractor and have the job done right and on survey, which I knew he would never go for. Then I gave him a basket with a few hundred cedar rails as my part of the fence and that was the end of that.

 

[wagne223]

It's the law. Read some Indiana fence law, for example here. Quite informative if you've never heard of such a thing.

It's about 5 pages of interesting reading, well worth it for the eye opening.
https://www.extension.purdue.edu/extmedia/EC/EC-657.pdf

For example, you stand in your field and face your adjacent property owner. Half of the property line to your right is your fence and responsibility. So if you're facing north, the east half is yours and the west half is your neighbors.

There's all kinds of township specific options for fencing out and fencing in options, crop protection, animal issues, etc... it's not all cut and dried, there are legal ways to get in and out of fence agreements. Everything has to be written and agreed to by both parties to override the standing state/township laws.

Very enlightening read, thank you.

The law only applies to ag land. So not everyone in suburbia or just because you have acreage.
Also answered my financial question. If you dont pay, the municipality does your portion then applies it to your property taxes.
Legal loophole. They make it a "tax"

 

[jaxs]

In all seriousness, how does that work?

If you are on a fixed retirement income, your neighbor decides to put up a fence, how do they force you to pay?

Sue you?
Will the court place a lien on your property?

Seems unfair and unconstitutional to me.

Agree, doesnt sound fair in all cases. Several yrs ago a neighbor ended up dead because of it. It was discussed here on TBN.

Dead? :shocked: By hanging or lethal injection? Them's some serious fence laws. :laughing:

 

[turnkey4099]

Know the laws. That's a fact.

And in several states, if you want to keep the neighbors cattle or other live stock off your property, it is up to you to fence them out. Now that I can see, but I wouldn't like having to share half the cost if your neighbor wants to put up a fence line. Could turn out quite costly depending upon the length of the fence and the material used.

And in "open range" law lands, as I understand it, hit an animal on the road and you bought it plus damages are on you.

 

[jaxs]

Old man I. Herd took over this conversation,we can expect Tha Sayd to chime in any moment. Before hanging your hat on what you believe local law is,see how much local parasites (aka lawyers) charge to prove who's within the law and who isn't.

 

[ustmd]

I've had several of those recorded messages in voice mail recently. It's a scam, but what's the hook?

I am betting a house flipper....one of the new tactics is to make an offer at full or near full market price, but they have a clause that allows them to rescind or change the offer at any point. Then 1-3 days before closing they drop their offer by 20-30% to see if you will still go through. If you refuse, they walk away.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Dead? :shocked: By hanging or lethal injection? Them's some serious fence laws. :laughing:

Wealthy lawyer neighbor put up a new expensive fence, billed the old poor neighbor for half. Things escalated, one day the poor guy went over to confront the neighbor, and was shot dead. Neighbor said he feared for his life. Happened in NC i think. Ill try to find news article.

 

[/pine]

I am betting a house flipper....one of the new tactics is to make an offer at full or near full market price, but they have a clause that allows them to rescind or change the offer at any point. Then 1-3 days before closing they drop their offer by 20-30% to see if you will still go through. If you refuse, they walk away.

most real estate contracts require the buyer to put up an escrow sum...if the original buyer backs out of the deal on their own accord they lose the escrow...

 

[newbury]

I've had several of those recorded messages in voice mail recently. It's a scam, but what's the hook?

Let's think this through -
Since you don't give out your address how would they know you are near them?