A border dispute occurs when two or more parties do not agree on the location of a border between their lands. These disputes can be peaceful, but sometimes lead to conflict and even war. Some of these disputes are resolved through the use of the International Court of Justice, but others can be settled through the negotiation or arbitration process. In some cases, these disputes are not settled through these methods and instead result in the deployment of troops to the area involved.
There are a number of factors that can contribute to the formation of a boundary dispute. These factors include, but are not limited to, geographic features, resource scarcity, political issues and climate. These factors can impact a boundary dispute in different ways, and some of these impacts may be more serious than others.
In the United States, a property owner can settle a boundary dispute by obtaining a survey from an approved party. The survey will outline where the official boundary line between properties should be. This can be helpful in preventing future legal issues, particularly if neighbors establish their borders through verbal agreements that can be misinterpreted or forgotten over time.
In some cases, the best way to settle a boundary dispute is through mediation. This process can be very expensive, but it offers a chance for both sides to present their side of the story to an arbiter who will then make a final decision on where the property line should be.
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