What legal principle allows the government to acquire private property for public use?

The legal principle that allows the government to acquire private property for public use is known as eminent domain. This concept empowers the government to take private property, provided there is a valid public purpose — such as building roads, schools, or parks — and compensation is offered to the property owner.

Eminent domain operates under the premise that the needs of the public can supersede individual property rights when carefully justified. This process is governed by constitutional and statutory protections that require fair compensation to be paid to the property owner for the loss of their property, ensuring that the government acts in a lawful and equitable manner.

Understanding eminent domain is crucial in real estate, as it defines the limits and protections concerning property rights when public interest is involved. This distinguishes it from other concepts like escheat, which deals with property reverting to the state when a person dies without heirs, or injunctions, which are court orders to compel or restrain actions. Adverse possession, on the other hand, allows a person to claim ownership of land under certain conditions, but does not involve government acquisition for public use.