Trespasser.....what would you do?

[Richard]

I wish that people would read a thread before making comments. Try doing that sometime. I've addressed the unlikelihood of that many times in this and other threads.

This cuts both ways.

I clearly stated that "I" have never set foot on this land.... (though I have now, I had not for the 30 years I've been with my wife as it's a piece of woodland)

Note that nowhere did I state that NOBODY (in the family) hadn't been there.....I know some have....just not which nor when they might have been there. That isn't relevant anyway. That said, my wife and 4 siblings grew up playing on this land (flying kites and riding their horses kind of thing)

I was speaking very exact to say that "I" had not set foot on that land. Yet me being clear that "I" had not set foot on that land, has morphed into the land being abandoned for 30 years.

 

[dodge man]

There is a lenders title insurance policy and a owners title policy. There are usually exclusions, such as unrecorded easements and things a current boundary survey would disclose. For example your neighbors garage is over the line when you buy but you don’t get it surveyed, title insurance won’t cover that.

 

[MossRoad]

What's kinda sad is that when we were kids on the early 60's and 70's, we were told if you find a gate open, leave it open, if you find a gate closed, open it, go through it, and close it behind you. It was completely acceptable to roam through farmland without asking permission. It was also a known thing that if you wanted to hunt or fish on the property, you had to ask permission. But just walking through, you just walked through.

 

[ponytug]

What's kinda sad is that when we were kids on the early 60's and 70's, we were told if you find a gate open, leave it open, if you find a gate closed, open it, go through it, and close it behind you. It was completely acceptable to roam through farmland without asking permission. It was also a known thing that if you wanted to hunt or fish on the property, you had to ask permission. But just walking through, you just walked through.

Yes, I agree. A few bad apples do spoil the whole bunch.

 

[Jstpssng]

This cuts both ways.

I clearly stated that "I" have never set foot on this land.... (though I have now, I had not for the 30 years I've been with my wife as it's a piece of woodland)

Note that nowhere did I state that NOBODY (in the family) hadn't been there.....I know some have....just not which nor when they might have been there. That isn't relevant anyway. That said, my wife and 4 siblings grew up playing on this land (flying kites and riding their horses kind of thing)

I was speaking very exact to say that "I" had not set foot on that land. Yet me being clear that "I" had not set foot on that land, has morphed into the land being abandoned for 30 years.

I did read your post, and you clearly stated that you've known since the land was cut that people have been using it. 10 years ago you were told you had a problem... and just now decided to do something about it. It doesn't seem like it's been a big priority... so I ask yet again what harm was caused.

 

[K5lwq]

What am I missing? If a person owns some property and does not want someone on to hunt, walk or do anything else on it, that is their right.

If someone wants to use land that does not belong to them, go to the courthouse and find out who owns it and get permission or stay off of it.

I guess in some peoples mind anyone could just come borrow my tractor as long as I am not using it. Makes about as much sense.

Causing harm is not the point. Even if the trespasser was making vast improvements to the property, it is not theirs and they should stay off.

I also venture to say if these type of people owned land and found someone hunting it without permission they would call the authorities immediately.

 

[Torvy]

Another point @K5lwq reminded me about. If you actively ignore some people trespassing, you could get into legal trouble for addressing others.

You don't know who has 'harm' on their mind until it is too late.

Public land makes up nearly 40% of the US. If people want to walk around in nature, they should either buy and maintain their own land or visit some of the public land.

 

[Joe Batt]

And... what harm am I doing?

If you haven't asked the owner, then you don't know.

 

[Larry Caldwell]

If someone wants to use land that does not belong to them, go to the courthouse and find out who owns it and get permission or stay off of it.

Your county surveyor may have the whole county on their GIS system, showing approximate property lines. Log on to your county surveyor's web site and see what they have available. You may be able to get owner info with a mouse click.

 

[Larry Caldwell]

Not sure about Oregon, but my experience in other states is that it is the lender who requires title insurance, not a real estate broker.

My current property would not pass a lender inspection, so the previous owner offered a trust deed and note. No banks at all, but I still had to buy title insurance. I don't know about people saying it is expensive. It was a few hundred bucks, which I considered trivial at the time.