Where do I start a search to see who owns and is responsible

[yy4me]

for the upkeep of a stone wall between our land and a neighbor behind us?

The situation is odd, both houses are about 200 years old. Years ago, in a title search, I saw a deed to the house that measures a side yard from a well down the street to the house of neighbors long gone. Such were the methods back in about 1880. Our house is at the base of a hill and the other house is up higher behind us. There is a mid point behind us where there is an old stone wall about 6 to 8 feet tall and it serves as a retaining wall of sorts between the yards both houses (ours is lower). This morning some of the smaller stones on the end were on the ground, having fallen out of their place in the wall. Most of the stones are actually boulders.There is now a bulge in this wall and we know it will need some attention. I don't think anyone knows who the wall belongs to and I don't know where to go to get the information.

I have just lost a ton of money paying for a new roof because a neighbors tree that fell on our house, I don't want to have to pay for a neighbors stone wall if it falls. I need to find out who owns it. We are willing to share the costs of repair if it is the neighbors wall(he would not do that for us). I feel this needs to be done now.

I hesitate to get our town offices involved. Next thing you know, we'll be required to do something major with all kinds of rules and restrictions.

Any suggestions where to look?

[bluerum]

1. Get your land surveyed or look up the last survey records at the Town hall.

A surveyor should be able to this for about $200-$400 depending on property. The good thing is that they put stakes in the ground so you can see where property lines are.