I have a dispute with my neighbor. No matter how many times I have explained to him about the boundary line, he still comes to my yard and mows the grass.

Earlier I ignored because he was 1 or 2 feet inside, but lately I saw him getting into 5 to 8 feet inside my lawn. When I objected, he claimed that it is his land.

I went to county and got the papers but they are not good enough to pinpoint boundary line. One can still misinterpret that chart 4 to 5 feet either way.

The situation became ugly and I had to call Police every time he entered the property. This has happened at least 5 times and he showed little improvements. Now he is not 8 feet inside but around 2 feet on my property.

I was told that there could be iron pin somewhere buried that shows the boundary but I may have to buy or rent a metal detector.

Another suggestion that was done by Police is to get property survey done. However, it is expensive. Police have told the neighbor the same thing but he is not willing to do that either.

Once I am sure about the boundary line, I will put some demarcation.

Does anyone have any suggestion?

Hmmmm... are you worried he's trying to take over your property by adverse possession?

How large are these lots? Are the lawns maintained to different standard?

I can't figure out the motivation for the problem.

At any rate, it's a shame to not have an amiable relationship with a neighbor.

If you truly need to determine where the legal boundary is, you must get a survey. That's simple.

I get this problem occasionally.

These people are either stupid, entitled or jut bullies.

Here's what I do--I get some of those cheap green steel posts (about $5 each and some 3 foot wire fencing, used if possible. Then I drive the posts in about 2 feet on their side of where I think the line is and put the wire on it. Of course, this gets a response. Then if they dispute where the line is, I tell them to get a survey and prove it (at theirr own expense) If they bother to do that , then they know where the line is and they show me. Then I will pull up the stakes and wire and put them on the line. And leave them there for a while. If they complain,so what. Tell them to build themselves a fence (at their own expense). If they pull the stakes out, drive them back in. They will call the cops and then you tell the cops that they have a survey and know where the line is and you want a no trespass order on them.

Yes Richard. You got that right; that is the problem.

If I do not exercise my rights then it is construed that I am giving up those.

Can the two of you agree to disagree and agree to split the $1,000 to $1,500 survey cost? Without the completed survey, the two of you will just continue to get upset with one another.

If this isn't that big of an issue, then it is only a matter of them mowing your lawn. If your neighbor wants to mow my lawn, I am alright with it - then again it is just under 3 acres of grass.

You try to speak with your neighbor and come to terms. If you can't, they offer to split a survey. They never will spend a dime on a survey. So then you spend the money, around $1,000 and have a licensed survey company set down markets (that can't be removed under the law). They you send a letter to the neighbor they keep on trespassing on your property and damage your lawn. They need to stop and pay for half of the survey.

I'd set up cameras. Then file for a restraining order. Then I'd sue them in small claims court for your costs. If that doesn't stop them, nothing will.

You try to speak with your neighbor and come to terms. If you can't, they offer to split a survey. They never will spend a dime on a survey. So then you spend the money, around $1,000 and have a licensed survey company set down markets (that can't be removed under the law). They you send a letter to the neighbor they keep on trespassing on your property and damage your lawn. They need to stop and pay for half of the survey.

I'd set up cameras. Then file for a restraining order. Then I'd sue them in small claims court for your costs. If that doesn't stop them, nothing will.

I like what Robert said. If you have a known good pin, not an old hunk of rebar someone pounded in 30 yrs ago, you can run a tape and figure out your property line. Better if you have pins on both sides.

If you can talk to the neighbor see if he's willing to work with you on it together. One hold the tape, one roll it out. And hopefully abide by the result. Otherwise follow Robert's advice.

Or offer him ten bucks to mow the rest of your lawn too. ;)

Thanks everyone.

Mowing the lawn is not a big deal but having that grass and weed seeds to come to my area is also the problem. So I cannot allow him to come to my lawn and have those seeds spread and germinate again. I do weed control and have gotten most of the weeds under control.

Again, the bigger problem is, he thinks that it HIS land.

When I moved in 25 years ago, there were wooden sticks with pink ribbon on it. In a year or two, they were gone. I am going by that line but unfortunately did not take pictures or now have any proof.

Can I go by rebar that is buried in the ground? Will that be considered as demarcation line? I need to buy or rent a Metal Detector. Has anyone been successful? If we cannot go by that rebar, why do we have them? That is what the surveyor will do too. Else, I have the maps from county and that do not tell fine delineation.

My neighbor does not want to spend a dime on survey. Currently, I let the problem sit and wait for him to come to mow the lawn. At that time, I go out and take pictures at the same time call Police to intervene as he gets aggressive.

Have someone with metal detector experience

take a crack at it.

The odds are,

Uhm, this is kind of a novel idea, but after much reflection ;) it just came to me this evening.

"The problem is, he thinks that it is still his property."

The problem with MY neighbor is that she thinks that taxing productive members of society and giving it to unproductive ones will solve all the world's problems.

I was of same opinion as most of you have stated. He has been neighbor for 18 years and we never had an issue because occasionally, he would mow the grass only a feet over to my area. I let him cut that and never bothered.

Now he started getting 8 feet inside. I tried to explain him many times about weeds and my boundary line but the problem started when he told me that it is HIS property.

I am worried about his aggressiveness and attitude than willingness to understand my side of story. I would not be surprised if I see a fence over there.

My questions now are more technical. Why do we have those rebars buried 6 inches below ground if that cannot be used as boundary line? Good Metal Detectors do not cost more than $200 and it takes seconds to locate them.

Alex -- Have you actually read your state’s adverse possession (AP) laws. Sounds like you have not read them.

Missouri has 5 criteria that someone must pass in order to claim AP. Actual possession, Hostile (careful with this one), Open and notorious, Exclusive, Continuous

When I get where I think someone is going to try AP I just do something to stop a couple of the requirements.

One being exclusive use of the property. So I write a letter to someone and give them permission to use the land. Keep a record when your ringer uses the land then your neighbor would have to start all over.

Missouri AP used to be 20 years but the extremely intelligent lawmakers (grin) in the state have lowered it to 10 years.

Go forth and learn your rules.

Go buy a detector and find your steel markers. Then clean up the detector and return it to store. No loss for you and you gained your lawn back. Treasure net.com

This is a good site for watching people find all kinds of stuff.

Alex, you said when you moved in 25 years ago that there were wooden stakes with flags on the property. That means you have a survey already. You would have a copy of it in your closing package from the time you purchased the property. If you can't find it, then contact the title co that closed your purchase and they would, most likely, have a copy. I am assuming you haven't changed anything with the boundary's in the last 25 years.

"Go buy a detector and find your steel markers. Then clean up the detector and return it to store. "

Amy are you kidding? How dishonest do you want to be?! OMG, they are cheap enough to rent without being a thief.Yes I say a thief. I won't even try to explain it to you why.

And weeds? You say you treat them? So how much do you pay for that in a year?

I had probably the best lawn for over 20 years in my small city. I did it all,.. weed killer, watering, had a service that does fertilizer and mowed and raked on a regular basis, and replanted if necessary, people used to,, how perfect my lawn was. Yeah I took a lot of pride in that. Then one day it occurred to me how stupid this was. I stopped putting the poisons on my lawn and it is no longer the most beautiful lawn in my area.

I don't care if kids cross over my lawn or even upset if an occasional dog uses it,.I'm very happy with this choice. I have a lot of pride with many other things that are much more important than a lawn. I've saved the money and added it to gift it to certain charities.

As far as that amount of area,..what can he really do with it? Unless he tries to put up a building, on the property line (couldn't be done here anyway,.or a fence,.I wouldn't worry about it. Adverse possession on this particular situation would be very hard for him to ever prove,..how could he prove how much he (or you ) mowed how much of the lawn.

Thanks everyone.

Thank you Amy, I will rent the Metal Detector.

Thanks everyone.

Thank you Amy, I will rent the Metal Detector.

Thanks everyone.

Thank you Amy, I will rent the Metal Detector.

Thanks everyone.

Thank you Amy, I will rent the Metal Detector.

How much does a survey cost for quarter acre lot (dispute is only on one boundary line with adjacent neighbor)?

Pmh, TX

My father was a professional land surveyor. The wooden stakes that were in the ground when you bought the property may mean NOTHING. Realtors will often put those wooden stakes in the ground where they "think" the corners are at. If you are lucky, it can give you a good starting point to start looking.

If you locate the pins- no need for a survey. Used to be that rebar, or galvanized pipe was used for pins....now they require a cap with notice of who placed it.

I had my property surveyed after I bought it. those wooden stakes were off by over 10 feet on one corner.