Form microcopy:

“Tell us briefly what you received and where your home islocated in Osceola County. An eminent domain team member will review yournotice and contact you to explain your options — at no cost to you.”

Your Eminent Domain Rights Under Florida Law

Your Eminent Domain Rights – Explained for Busy OsceolaCounty Families

Eminent domain is the power of the government — and someagencies — to take private property for a public purpose, such as widening amajor road, improving an intersection, adding turn lanes, or installingutilities.

In Florida, that power is limited by strong protections forproperty owners. Your property cannot be taken unless:

• There is a validpublic purpose, and
• You are paid fullcompensation for what is taken and certain legally recognized damages.

These rules apply statewide — including right here inOsceola County.

Basic stages of a typical Florida eminent domain case:

1. Project planning – The agency plans the project andidentifies properties that may be affected.
2. Offer and appraisal –You may receive an initial offer and an appraisal based on the agency’s view ofyour property’s value.
3. Negotiations – There may be back‑and‑forth discussions aboutprice and terms.
4. Lawsuit and possiblequick-take – If no agreement is reached, the agency can file an eminent domainlawsuit and, in some cases, seek early possession (quick-take).
5. Evidence andvaluation – Both sides gather appraisals and evidence about your property’svalue and any damages to what remains.
6. Settlement or trial – Your case may settle or go to trial,where a jury can decide the amount of compensation.

Our job is to help you through each stage, make sure youknow what’s happening, and fight for the full compensation the law allows.

Partial Takings and Neighborhood Impact

When a Project Affects Your Neighborhood – Not Just a Map

In Osceola County, many projects affect busy residentialcorridors and tourism‑adjacent areas. The government may not be taking yourentire home — only part of your yard or frontage. But that doesn’t mean theimpact is small.

Common partial‑taking situations include:

• Losing part of yourfront yard to widen a road or add a turn lane
• Adjusting yourdriveway for a new traffic pattern
• Taking a corner for aturn lane, traffic signal, or roundabout
• Adding a sidewalk, utility, or drainage easement throughpart of your property

Even if your house remains, partial takings can dramaticallyaffect daily life and home value:+

• Noise: More cars,trucks, and buses closer to your front door
• Traffic & Safety: Tougher, riskier turns onto busyroads, especially during tourist season or school hours
• Access: Changes inhow you enter and exit your neighborhood or driveway
• Privacy & Comfort: Less yard, less setback, moreheadlights and pedestrian traffic

Florida law recognizes that when only part of your propertyis taken, the rest of your property — the remainder — may be worth less. Youmay be entitled to compensation for:

• The piece of propertyor rights actually taken, and
• The reduction in value to what remains (often calledseverance damages).

We work with experienced appraisers who understand hownoise, traffic, and access changes can affect both suburban streets andtourism-adjacent neighborhoods in Osceola County.

Quick-Take: When Projects Move Quickly

Quick-Take in Osceola County: Why Your Notice Matters

Some agencies use a process often called quick-take, whichcan speed up the timeline and create stress for families. With quick-take, thegovernment can ask the court for permission to take title and possession ofyour property before the final amount of compensation is decided.

In simple terms:

1. The agency files aneminent domain lawsuit and a Declaration of Taking.
2. It deposits what itclaims is a fair estimate of your property’s value with the court.
3. A judge holds ahearing. If legal requirements are met, the court issues an Order of Taking.
4. After the order anddeposit, the agency can move forward with the project and, in some cases, startusing the property or require you to move — even while the fight over how muchyou’re owed continues.

For families juggling work, school, and busy schedules, thiscan feel like everything is happening at once.

Here’s what’s important to remember:

Quick-take can speed up the project — but it does not eraseyour right to seek more compensation.

You still have the right to:

• Challenge whether the deposit is enough
• Present your own appraisal and evidence of value and damages
• Take your case to ajury to seek additional compensation

Because quick-take can change your timeline, notices matter.As soon as you receive a letter, lawsuit, or hearing notice, it’s important totalk with an eminent domain attorney. Early help can protect your rights andgive your family time to plan.