Can a land surveyor resolve a boundary dispute for me?

Licensed land surveyors will help with several of the processes required to reach a resolution but they do not have the power to settle a dispute (leave this to lawyers).

However, before a settlement is reached, land surveyors will be able to assist at different stages of the conflict by carrying out a few different tasks:

Document consultations: A surveyor will review and interpret existing legal documents such as deeds and previous surveys to provide some clarity of the existing title and boundaries. Sometimes a dispute can be resolved at this stage once both parties have a better understanding of the title and existing documents on file.

Provide Accurate Measurements: A surveyor will prepare a boundary survey of your property based on legal descriptions, historical records, and the evidence found onsite (like physical markers). This document will be used as evidence through the remainder of the process.

Expert Testimony: If the dispute escalates to a legal proceeding, a surveyor can provide expert testimony, offering a professional opinion of the boundary to support your case.

Set Permanent Markers: After resolving the dispute, the surveyor will set permanent boundary monuments to prevent future conflicts and a new survey will be prepared to document the evidence.

Land surveyors have a duty to act in the interest of the public so should always take an unbiased position when defining a boundary. Our job is to document, prepare, and present the evidence not takes sides during a dispute.