Imagine you walk outside onto your porch one morning and see a large, overhanging tree on your property. You think it is your neighbours’ tree, but it is so close to your property that you cannot be certain. You begin to worry about the overhanging branches and debris from the tree, imagining the damage it could potentially cause- not to mention the annoyance. No matter where the tree grows it is always best neighbourly practices to maintain it; however, this does not always happen and results in civil lawyers becoming involved in extreme cases. The headache a tree dispute with your neighbour causes can be avoided, so read on for tips on how to solve it.Analyse the Situation
The first step in any dispute with your neighbour is to calmly analyse the situation and ask yourself a series of reflective question. What are the facts here? What is the true cause of the dispute? Can this problem be solved easily? Do I have a right to be upset about a tree or is it genuinely causing a detriment to my quality of life? Once these questions have been reflected upon, try to determine where the tree belongs. Is it located on your property, your neighbour's property, or somewhere in the middle? Often if a tree lies between properties it is the duty of both neighbours to maintain it.
Talk to Your Neighbour
If the tree does, in fact, not lie on your property, try talking to your neighbour about trimming the branches to prevent unnecessary debris as well as maintaining it more diligently throughout blooming seasons. Remember that common law dictates that any branches hanging over your property can be cut down, but it is always a good idea to talk to your neighbour first. If you want to cut their tree yourself, always offer to dispose of the branches yourself as this is the polite thing to do and will minimise the chances of a tree dispute with your neighbour.
Hire a [FURL=https://www.paginmak.com.au/]Civil Lawyer[/FURL]
Civil lawyers are a great legal alternative to handling the dispute yourself if the situation is extreme or just out of your hands. A civil lawyer can assess the situation and determine the best solution for both parties involved. However, this option can be costly since no lawyer works for free. If you and your neighbour cannot talk things out and come to an agreement, then getting proper legal advice from a civil lawyer is the way to go to just to ensure all the facts and circumstances surrounding the tree are handled properly.
Get Comfortable
Unfortunately, sometimes the best course of action is to take no action. Some issues are not worth the fight if it takes too much energy to solve. Consider getting comfortable with the tree existing however it happens to naturally exist and try not to worry about it if the situation does not impact your quality of life or hinder your daily activities. Perhaps you will get lucky and the situation will resolve itself in the near future.