Law Office of Matt Hurt, PLLC Legal Blog

When most people think about eminent domain, they picture the government taking land—a house, a farm, a commercial building. But property ownership is far more complex than simply owning dirt. You own a bundle of rights associated with that land, and condemning authorities can take any of those rights individually,…

One of the first questions landowners ask when they receive a condemnation notice is simple: "Can they actually do this?" The answer, unfortunately, is usually yes. Texas grants eminent domain authority to a staggering number of government entities—from the massive federal bureaucracy down to obscure local districts you may never…

Here's a truth that surprises some property owners: the government can take virtually any type of real property through eminent domain. Your family home, your commercial building, your ranch, that vacant lot you've been holding for future development—all of it is subject to condemnation if a condemning authority decides they…

When most people think about eminent domain, they picture a straightforward transaction: government wants land, landowner receives compensation. But property rights in Texas are far more complex than a single deed suggests. A single tract of land can have multiple parties with legally protected interests—mortgage holders with security interests, mineral…

Eminent domain doesn't discriminate. It affects homeowners watching highways consume their front yards, ranchers losing land their families have worked for generations, and business owners seeing their livelihoods threatened by government projects. It touches commercial landlords, tenant farmers, and people holding complex property interests most folks have never heard of.…

If there's one area of eminent domain law that should make every Texas landowner pay attention, it's delegated authority. This is where the line between public purpose and private profit gets blurry—and where abuses have historically been most egregious. Delegated authority means exactly what it sounds like: government entities delegating…

Here's something that surprises many Texas landowners: the government isn't the only entity that can condemn your property. Texas has delegated eminent domain authority to a wide range of quasi-public entities—private companies and organizations that serve public functions. That pipeline company demanding an easement across your ranch? They can condemn…

When a condemning authority comes after your property, they're not operating in a legal vacuum. Federal statutes, state laws, and local ordinances all govern how condemnation works—and more importantly, what rights you have throughout the process. The government knows these laws inside and out. Their attorneys and land acquisition agents…

When a government agency or pipeline company sends you a letter saying they want your land, it can feel like you've been blindsided. But here's what every Texas landowner should understand: the power of eminent domain isn't unlimited. The same Constitution that grants the government this power also puts strict…

Most people think eminent domain is straightforward: the government wants your land, they file paperwork, and you get a check. If only it were that simple. The reality is that "takings" come in many forms, and the type of taking you're facing dramatically affects your legal rights, the compensation you're…