What is Eminent Domain and How Does It Work?

          Eminent domain is the government’s ability to take private property and convert it to public use. Eminent domain is an inherent right that exists because it is necessary for a government to perform its duties. The government is also considered to be the sovereign over the land which it governs. In other words, the United States government is sovereign over the United States and all the land that the United States occupies. This includes the land you own and live on.

            Property rights that belong to private citizens, contrary to popular belief, are not inherent. Property rights are instead created by the government. In the United States, property rights were also created by the government. However, the ability to exercise eminent domain still rests quite comfortably with the government. In North Carolina, the government has also delegated some of its eminent domain power to certain private entities through statute.

            Since the right to exercise eminent domain is deemed inherent in both the state and federal government. They also have the right to defer that right to other entities. The North Carolina General Assembly has given the right of eminent domain to certain types of entities. Chapter 40A of the North Carolina General Statutes lists the type of entities that may exercise eminent domain. Subsequently, the process for private entities seeking eminent domain will be different from government entities.

            The process of eminent domain describes how it works. The first thing that the government will do is make an offer to the property owner to buy them outright without having to get the court system involved. If an agreement cannot be reached, then the government will file a condemnation lawsuit against the property owner to force them to transfer title to the property.

Our firm focuses on three practice areas: Disability, Personal Injury, and Eminent Domain. Every practice area has attorneys who have expertise in their respective area of practice. 

Chad Brown is a North Carolina Board Certified Social Security disability law specialist. Mr. Brown helps Social Security disability claimants at all stages of the disability process. He also works with people that have Long Term Disability denials and with people that are injured by drugs and defective medical products.

Your Questions Answered

Can Eminent Domain Be Stopped?

The question of whether the exercise of eminent domain can be stopped usually depends on one major question. The question is whether the exercise of eminent domain is for a legitimate public purpose. If the government or any other private entity tries to exercise...

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Can the Government Take My House?

People tend to place a lot of extrinsic value on the dwelling in which they live and call home. For some, the recent “van life” craze has created an entire community of individuals who call motorized vehicles home. However, most individuals still live in “normal”...

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Can Eminent Domain Be Used for Private Use?

This question is best answered by dividing the question into two parts. First, can the government take a private individual’s land and convey it to a private actor? Second, can a private entity exercise the power of eminent domain to take a private individual’s land...

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