what is a land lawyer

by Prof. Finn Jerde 9 min read

Land law, as the name suggests, is the set of rules that govern the land and anything attached to it, such as trees or buildings, or anything in it, e.g. treasure or oil. People who work in this area of law have the task of fighting or defending disputes over land matters, such as rights of way and boundary issues.

Full Answer

How do you become a real estate lawyer?

You've come to the right place. Whether you are a business, homeowner, or property developer, a land use and zoning lawyer can help challenge a municipality's zoning regulation and land use …

What is it like to be a real estate lawyer?

Land law, as the name suggests, is the set of rules that govern the land and anything attached to it, such as trees or buildings, or anything in it, e.g. treasure or oil. People who work in this area …

How do you find a real estate attorney?

n. 1) all land, structures, firmly attached and integrated equipment (such as light fixtures or a well pump), anything growing on the land, and all "interests" in the property which may be the right …

How to find a real estate lawyer?

Attorneys who practice land use and zoning law help their clients create and challenge land use restrictions. Creating a land-use restriction means ensuring that a homeowners association …

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How does lack of land rights affect women?

Several scholars argue that women's lack of sufficient land rights negatively affects their immediate families and the larger community, as well. With land ownership, women can develop an income and allocate this income more fairly within the household. Tim Hanstad claims that providing sufficient land rights for women is beneficial because, once women can exercise those rights the following will be promoted: 1 Women will be less likely to contract and spread HIV/AIDS as they do not have to resort to prostitution 2 Women will be less likely to be victims of Domestic violence 3 Their children will be more likely to get an education and stay in school longer 4 Women will be better positioned to get access to Microcredit

What is land law?

Land law is the form of law that deals with the rights to use, alienate, or exclude others from land. In many jurisdictions, these kinds of property are referred to as real estate or real property, as distinct from personal property. Land use agreements, including renting, are an important intersection of property and contract law.

What is land use agreement?

Land use agreements, including renting, are an important intersection of property and contract law. Encumbrance on the land rights of one, such as an easement, may constitute the land rights of another. Mineral rights and water rights are closely linked, and often interrelated concepts.

What is the difference between customary land and land reform?

Land reform refers to government policies that take and/or redistribute land, such as a land grant . Land rights refer to the inalienable ability ...

What is customary land?

In customary law jurisdictions, customary land is the predominant form of land ownership. Land reform refers to government policies that take and/or redistribute land, such as a land grant . Land rights refer to the inalienable ability of individuals to freely obtain, use, and possess land at their discretion, as long as their activities on ...

What is land reform?

Land reform refers to government policies that take and/or redistribute land, such as a land grant . Land rights refer to the inalienable ability of individuals to freely obtain, use, and possess land at their discretion, as long as their activities on the land do not impede on other individuals’ rights.

What happens when a person only has access to land?

When a person only has access to land, they are in constant threat of expulsion depending on the choices of the land owner, which limits financial stability. Land rights are an integral part of Land Laws, as they socially enforce groups of individuals’ rights to own land in concurrence with the land laws of a nation.

What is land law?

Land law, as the name suggests, is the set of rules that govern the land and anything attached to it, such as trees or buildings, or anything in it , e.g. treasure or oil.

Is land law lucrative?

Land law has evolved significantly over hundreds of years. Working in this area of law can be particularly interesting and stimulating. Although the remuneration is not as high as you might expect in corporate or commercial law, it can still be lucrative; especially when you consider the high value people place on land.

Is land law a core area of law?

Land Law. Land law is one of the big areas of law to be aware of—not only is it a core area of law, meaning it appears as a core module on LLB courses, it's also something that everyone will encounter at some point in their lives. Yes, even you. Now is as good a time as any to see if you want to specialise in land law!

What is real property?

1) all land, structures, firmly attached and integrated equipment (such as light fixtures or a well pump), anything growing on the land, and all "interests" in the property which may be the right to future ownership (remainder), right to occupy for a period of time (tenancy or life estate) the right to drill for oil, ...

What is the difference between personal property and real property?

The principal distinctions between real and personal property, are the following: 1. Real property is of a permanent and immovable nature, and the owner has an estate therein at least for life. 2.

Why do attorneys rely on the plain language of the zoning law?

Because the laws are local, there often isn’t a great deal of case law interpreting any given ordinance. Attorneys must rely on the plain language of the zoning law or published interpretations of other similar ordinances in order to form arguments for their clients.

Where do land use restrictions and zoning laws come from?

Most land use and zoning laws occur at the local level. The authority to create land use restrictions and zoning law comes from the police powers that are left to each state. The U.S. Constitution gives only limited powers to the federal government. Powers not given to the federal government are left to the states.

What is land use and zoning?

Land use and zoning law is the law that determines how a landowner can use their land. Land use and zoning law involves the creation, application and challenges of land use laws. Government bodies create laws that restrict what landowners can do with their real property. The laws may control how landowners can develop property, ...

What is the purpose of zoning laws?

Land use and zoning law is the restriction of a private property owner’s land use presumably for the public good.

What is zoning law?

Zoning laws divide property use into residential, commercial and industrial uses. Zoning laws and land use restrictions tell landowners what they may do with their property. Typically, they divide the land into residential, commercial and industrial uses. There are often several subdivisions or mixed categories within the three main categories.

Who has the power to enforce laws?

Each state has the power to pass laws and enforce them as they see fit. Most states, in turn, delegate zoning and land use authorities to local governments. They believe that local governments are in the best position to manage their own affairs. For that reason, most land use and zoning laws occur at a municipal level.

What is land law?

Land Law focuses upon the uses and supply of land. It looks to facilitate how an owner of land may use it or moderate how others do so; this relationship can develop into ‘interests’ in the land.

Can you own land outright?

Land law is unusual in that you can own it outright but still be limited in how you can use it. There are many reasons for this such as agreements reached by a previous owner or because you failed to notice how the land was used when you purchased it.

What is zoning law?

Thus, zoning laws are intended to maintain a level of order and efficiency within a municipality, while keeping each zone optimized for its intended purpose. For example, zoning laws reassure home owners that a factory or department store will not open across the street.

What is land use and zoning?

Land use and zoning law is the regulation of the use and development of public and private real estate. Zoning is the most common form of land-use regulation, used by municipalities to control local property development. Other legal issues pertaining to land use include easements, trespassing, and eminent domain.

What are the legal issues pertaining to land use?

Other legal issues pertaining to land use include easements, trespassing, and eminent domain . Zoning regulations typically divide a municipality (such as a city) into residential, commercial, and industrial zones.

What is an easement in zoning?

An easement is a limited, non-ownership interest in another party's property.

What is implied easement?

Implied Easement: An easement that is created by operation of law when an owner severs property into two parcels in such a way that an already existing, obvious, and continuous use of one parcel (as for access) is necessary for the reasonable enjoyment of the other parcel.

Who to work with when challenging eminent domain?

Depending on the land use issue, you may want to work with an attorney who practices real estate or municipal law. If you are challenging an eminent domain claim by the city, your attorney may take a close look at the municipality's "public use" claim to make sure it's valid.

What is a leasehold?

n. real property, real estate (and all that grows thereon), and the right to minerals underneath and the airspace over it. It may include improvements like buildings, but not necessarily. The owner of the land may give a long-term (like 99 years) lease to another with the right to build on it. The improvement is a "leasehold" for ownership ...

What is the definition of leasehold?

n. real property, real estate (and all that grows thereon), and the right to minerals underneath and the airspace over it . It may include improvements like buildings, but not necessarily. The owner of the land may give a long-term (like 99 years) lease to another with the right to build on it. The improvement is a "leasehold" for ownership of the right to use--without ownership of--the underlying land. The right to use the air above a parcel of land is subject to height limitations by local ordinance, state or federal law.

Is an improvement a leasehold?

The owner of the land may give a long-term (like 99 years) lease to another with the right to build on it. The improvement is a "leasehold" for ownership of the right to use--without ownership of--the underlying land. The right to use the air above a parcel ...

What is improvement in real estate?

The improvement is a "leasehold" for ownership of the right to use--without ownership of--the underlying land. The right to use the air above a parcel of land is subject to height limitations by local ordinance, state or federal law. (See: real property, real estate)

What is land covered by?

land. not only the physical surface of land but everything growing on or underneath that surface, anything permanently affixed to the surface (such as a building) and the airspace above that surface. It includes not only the soil or earth but always any water, a pond, for example, being regarded as land covered by water.

What is considered land covered by water?

It includes not only the soil or earth but always any water, a pond, for example, being regarded as land covered by water.

What is a land patent?

A land patent, also called a letters patent, is a legal document issued by the federal government that grants an individual the title to land that is held by the government. When a patent is obtained, it can be treated as any deed is treated. 2. What is the history of land patents?

What was the purpose of the General Land Office?

Throughout the 1800s, the United States government created the General Land Office, which sought to move people off the east coast and into the woods out west through a series of land grants. The Land Office sold public lands to those willing to venture out west not by deed, but by patents.

Where is the land patent search located?

The Land Patent Search is an index of federal patents from 1788 to the 1960s. It is located at the National Archives. The Bureau of Land Management, General Land Office (BLM-GLO) Land Patent Search is primarily for government-to-individual land conveyances in federal land states west and south of the original thirteen colonies.

Can you use a land patent to avoid paying property taxes?

Yes, there’s a common misconception that you can use a land patent to renounce all federal benefits in order to avoid paying property taxes. Unfortunately, this is not how it works. A patent is merely useful in defining real property ownership.

Do you have to have a land patent to be exempt from zoning?

Yes, as noted above, having a land patent does not make you exempt from zoning or planning regulation. Although individuals do try to claim or argue that they do not need permits for certain actions because of a patent, this is untrue. 8.

Can a patented land claim be claimed by the state?

For example, in a Michigan Supreme Court Case ( Klais vs. Danowski ), the court ruled that land submerged under a public lake could not be claimed by the state.

Can you dodge taxes with a land patent?

While a land patent isn’t going to help you dodge taxes , it is a pretty cool concept. If you currently hold one or you’re potentially interested in filing one, make sure to do your research. There’s a lot of misinformation about what they are and how they affect land rights.

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Overview

Land law is the form of law that deals with the rights to use, alienate, or exclude others from land. In many jurisdictions, these kinds of property are referred to as real estate or real property, as distinct from personal property. Land use agreements, including renting, are an important intersection of property and contract law. Encumbrance on the land rights of one, such as an easement, may constitute the land rights of another. Mineral rights and water rightsare closely linked, and often i…

National sovereignty

Sovereignty, in common law jurisdictions, is often referred to as absolute title, radical title, or allodial title. Nearly all of these jurisdictions have a system of land registration, to record fee simple interests, and a land claim process to resolve disputes.

Land rights

Indigenous land rights are recognized by international law, as well as the national legal systems of common law and civil law countries. In common law jurisdictions, the land rights of indigenous peoples are referred to as aboriginal title. In customary law jurisdictions, customary land is the predominant form of land ownership.
Land reform refers to government policies that take and/or redistribute land, such as a land grant.

Land rights and women

Several scholars argue that women's lack of sufficient land rights negatively affects their immediate families and the larger community, as well. With land ownership, women can develop an income and allocate this income more fairly within the household. Tim Hanstad claims that providing sufficient land rights for women is beneficial because, once women can exercise those rights the following will be promoted:

See also

• English land law
• Split estate
• The Land is Ours
• International Land Coalition
• Struggle for the Land