Neighbor Relations

Probably as soon as humans shifted from nomadic to agricultural, neighbors have had disputes. Through the centuries, these conflicts have been resolved numerous ways. In early history the resolution was sometimes amicable and other times it was literally a fight to the death. Modern conflict resolution of neighbor disputes is generally not so dangerous as in ancient times. However, the concept that one’s home is one’s castle is an idea ingrained deeply enough to create strong and sometimes seemingly uncompromising positions when neighbors face off.

Legal disputes in the area of neighbor relations can be unreasonably costly as disputes are typically about rights rather than monetary damages. Attorneys fees can run higher than any potential damage award by a court, and this fact can lead to both parties coming away dissatisfied and financially and emotionally drained. Thus, mediation is often recommended as a means to resolve these types of disputes.