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At Jones and Westrom, we arrange flexible fee agreements and do not charge a retainer fee.  This fee structure ensures that you do not have to pay attorneys’ fees unless we recover more money than the eminent domain condemning authority offered you originally. … [Read more...] about What if I cannot afford an attorney?

You are entitled to fair market value for the property being acquired, and the damages or diminution in value to your remaining property, if any.  Fair market value is defined, in part, as what a willing seller, not obligated to sell, would accept for the property and what a willing buyer, not obligated to buy, would pay for the property. … [Read more...] about How do you determine just compensation for the taking of my property?

The taking must be for a public use and must be necessary.  The U.S. Constitution and Texas Constitution require that the government or entity exercising the power of eminent domain to offer the property owner just compensation for the taking.  Just compensation is determine by the fair market value of the property being acquired and the damages, if any, to the remainder property.  … [Read more...] about What are our my rights and defenses to the taking of my property?

Condemnation is the legal process through which a government takes or acquires private property under its power of eminent domain.  If negotiations with the property owner are unsuccessful, the government or entity exercising the power of eminent domain will file a civil lawsuit to acquire the property through a condemnation proceeding and trial, if necessary. … [Read more...] about What is condemnation?

Eminent domain is the right of the government to take or acquire private property for a public use.  The state legislature has vested the power of eminent domain in non-governmental or quasi-governmental entities that provide public services, such as electricity, natural gas and water. … [Read more...] about What is eminent domain?