Hansen, Howell & Wilkie, PLLC

04/17/2026

There's still time to register for the 2026 NCAJ Land Condemnation CLE!

04/07/2026

The is working with the federal government on multiple passenger rail corridors, including a Raleigh-to-Wilmington line to expedite service statewide.

North Carolina officials are working with the federal government on multiple passenger rail corridors, including a Raleigh-to-Wilmington line to expedite service statewide.

03/27/2026

Looking forward to this CLE, as we do every year!

03/19/2026

Would so many homes in Rodanthe and Buxton have collapsed if North Carolina took the same approach?

South Carolina’s beaches belong to the public, and now a court has made clear that homes that migrate into public waters can be ordered removed under state law. 🌊

The Beaufort County Court of Common Pleas granted summary judgment in favor of the Harbor Island Owners Association, ordering the removal of the final house that had migrated onto the public beach and into the waters of the State.

“It's not just a nuisance, it's a danger, because it could collapse,” said Senior Managing Attorney Ben Cunningham. “Debris have come off of the house from time to time over the years, and it gets on the beach and in the ocean. It's just not really safe for the public at all.”

🔗 Read more about this case in The Post & Courier article: https://bit.ly/40ywsOU

(Photo by Lauren Petracca for The Post and Courier)

03/03/2026

This year the NC Lawyers on Call (4ALL) will be this Friday, March 6th.

On Friday, March 6, volunteer attorneys across North Carolina will answer civil legal questions by phone during NC Lawyers on Call (4ALL).

Last year, over 7,000 calls were answered in a single day. Whether it’s housing, family law, consumer issues, or other civil matters, help is just a phone call away.

Call your local number on March 6 to speak directly with an attorney. Hosted by the North Carolina Bar Foundation and proudly supported by Legal Aid of North Carolina.

02/26/2026

Can be used to hold off development in a fast-growing county?

The family that owns a hog farm in Smithfield has opposed the project, saying it could threaten their way of life.

02/19/2026

What do you think about the proposed expansion of Amtrak routes in Western North Carolina?

02/12/2026

A touching personal look at the long-lasting impacts of on a North Carolinian:

https://vimeo.com/1161071310?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMjU2MjgxMDQwNTU4AAGnGJvfGUN-NhDkE4_PO1kYL3GMI_3qTyaP_hmelqqVJgrZmUMUysyl4J74sB4_aem_wXfLj7ugqZDk9xb3HFj6LQ

A hand-painted stop-motion elegy, Ever Behind the Sunset traces the erasure of a family home by eminent domain, accompanied by a soundscape drawn from…

02/10/2026

With the loss of 20 homes in the past two years, what can be done?

For years, the federal government helped pay to relocate vulnerable oceanfront homes, but no longer.

01/30/2026

Iowa senators advanced a bill Thursday that would require hazardous liquid pipeline operators to prove they had exhausted feasible voluntary easement opportunities before they could use . Is this something we should consider for pipelines in ?

Iowa senators advanced a bill Thursday that would require hazardous liquid pipeline operators to prove they had exhausted feasible voluntary easement opportunities before they could use eminent domain.

12/19/2025

Day 4 of the : Richard!

Richard Davis, that is (he's definitely on Santa's list).

Raleigh & Gaston Railroad was incorporated by the general assembly in 1835, and immediately ran into challenges from landowners along a proposed route. One of the folks challenging the railroad's acquisition of private lands was Richard Davis.

His 1837 case established 3 important rules for condemnation in North Carolina:

1. Property may be condemned only for a public purpose, and the Judicial Branch of the government determines whether a taking is for a public purpose.

2. Private property can be taken for public purpose without the intervention of a jury.

3. A condemnor can acquire the full fee in condemned lands (i.e., it is not limited to an easement).

Ultimately, the Court ruled in favor of the plaintiff railroad and allowed Richard's property to be condemned.