When a city or municipality assesses an unfairly high tax on your property, you may be unsure what to do next. Instead of ignoring the problem, it is important to act as soon as possible. In Rhode Island, a plaintiff must challenge tax assessment claims within the time specified under…
Adverse possession is a legal doctrine that can be used in Rhode Island to allow a trespasser or squatter to take legal title to a piece of real property after openly possessing and using the land for a certain period of time. Claims of adverse possession are often used to…
The unique and evolving needs of a robust industrial economy may lead to disputes over land use between neighboring property owners. Rhode Island zoning laws, and their application by state administrative and judicial bodies, are designed to fairly and effectively balance these competing interests to support local economies while preserving…
If a Rhode Island property owner fails to pay their bills (mortgage, tax, utility, etc.), they may be subject to the foreclosure of the property, and they may lose title and ownership permanently. In the event of a foreclosure, the original owner does have a right to redeem their nonpayment…
Bilodeau Capalbo was engaged to handle an appeal of the decision from a RI Superior Court Adverse Possession trial. Bilodeau Capalbo was not trial counsel in this matter and were engaged to handle the appeal only. Bilodeau Capalbo partner Ryanna Capalbo successfully argued the RI Supreme Court appeal on behalf…
Most buyers of real estate in Rhode Island are well aware of the risks involved in purchasing property in the state. The seller of property does have obligations to notify a buyer of known defects, as well as to not defraud a buyer by knowingly misrepresenting the characteristics or conditions…
Perhaps you have heard the story of a person moving into an abandoned property and living there for a certain time, and being able to take legal ownership of the property from the previous owner. This may sound like either a fantasy or a nightmare, depending on whose perspective we…
All residential, commercial, and industrial properties in the state of Rhode Island are subject to zoning and permit requirements. From homeowners seeking to renovate their homes to large industrial developers planning a project worth tens of millions of dollars, anybody seeking to break ground on a construction project may be…
The real estate market in Rhode Island can be volatile. Changes in supply or demand, investors’ speculation, and broader economic factors can result in sudden changes in the market. Because the real estate market is always in flux, real estate agents often have the incentive to publish the most desirable…
Generally speaking, the addition or construction of improvements on real property will change the value of the property and the resulting property tax burden to the owner of said property. State lawmakers and regulators have sometimes modified this general rule to encourage specific types of development by offering tax discounts…