Lawyer explains: Are verbal agreements between neighbors valid after ownership change?

Friendly verbal agreements between neighbors about property usage are commendable, but they rarely hold up when ownership changes hands. Lawyer Marika Pakėnė from the Lithuanian Young Lawyers Association (LJAA) explains the precarious legal standing of such informal arrangements.

Pakėnė notes that while these agreements foster good neighborly relations, they are almost always invalidated by a change in property ownership. The core issue is that verbal understandings do not create legally enforceable rights that automatically transfer to a new owner.

This situation can leave individuals in a difficult position, potentially losing access to areas they previously used based on a handshake deal. The article aims to clarify the legal implications and outline the steps individuals can take if a new property owner revokes access previously granted through a verbal agreement.

Readers are advised on the legal measures available when informal arrangements are no longer honored due to a change in property ownership, particularly concerning access to their own property, such as a driveway or yard.