From MDOT highway condemnations and Enbridge Line 5 tunnel easements to ITC Midwest or Consumers Energy transmission ROW and renewable energy acquisitions — National ROW fights to maximize your Michigan compensation. Zero upfront cost.
Michigan eminent domain law is governed by the Uniform Condemnation Procedures Act (UCPA), MCL 213.51 et seq. Michigan requires condemning authorities to make a written offer based on an appraisal and negotiate in good faith before filing a condemnation complaint. Property owners are entitled to a jury trial on just compensation and may recover attorney fees and expert witness costs if the jury award substantially exceeds the condemning authority’s last offer.
Under Michigan’s UCPA, if a jury awards substantially more than the condemning authority’s last written offer, the property owner may recover reasonable attorney fees and expert witness costs. This provision gives Michigan landowners significant leverage to reject lowball offers and demand fair compensation.
The Michigan Department of Transportation manages right-of-way acquisitions for state highway projects, Metro Detroit interchange improvements, and rural highway upgrades throughout Michigan. Projects including I-94 corridor improvements, I-75 expansion in Metro Detroit, and US-131 improvements in Grand Rapids regularly require right-of-way from private property owners. National ROW obtains independent appraisals and negotiates directly with MDOT’s ROW staff, identifying all severance damages and remainder impacts that agency appraisers routinely miss.
Enbridge’s Line 5 pipeline, which runs through the Straits of Mackinac and across Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, has been the subject of significant legal and regulatory controversy. The proposed Line 5 tunnel replacement project will require new easements and construction activity across Michigan properties. Michigan landowners with existing Line 5 easements or those along the proposed tunnel corridor may have claim rights that have not been fully evaluated.
ITC Midwest, Consumers Energy, and DTE Energy are all actively expanding Michigan’s transmission infrastructure to integrate renewable energy and improve grid reliability. Transmission line easements are permanent encumbrances that restrict your property’s use and development potential for the life of the line. National ROW negotiates transmission easements for Michigan landowners, ensuring full compensation for the easement area, agricultural impacts, and all long-term use restrictions.
Do not accept the first offer. Michigan landowners who negotiate — especially with professional representation — consistently receive more. We review your situation at no cost and only get paid if we increase your compensation.
Get a Free Case ReviewMichigan’s Uniform Condemnation Procedures Act (UCPA), MCL 213.51 et seq., governs eminent domain proceedings. Condemning authorities must make a written offer based on an appraisal and negotiate before filing a condemnation complaint. Property owners are entitled to a jury trial on just compensation.
Yes. Under Michigan’s UCPA, if the jury award substantially exceeds the condemning authority’s last written offer, the property owner may recover reasonable attorney fees and expert witness costs.
Michigan requires payment of fair market value for property taken, plus damages to the remainder. Consequential damages from the project may also be recoverable in appropriate circumstances. Michigan uses the before-and-after method for partial takings.
Yes, pipeline companies that qualify as public utilities or common carriers under Michigan law can exercise eminent domain authority. The specific authority depends on the type of pipeline and applicable state and federal law.
"We never tell a landowner to just take what the government offers — we find out what they are actually owed."
Whether you have received an MDOT offer, a transmission company easement proposal, a pipeline offer, or a visit from a ROW agent — National ROW reviews your case for free and advises you on next steps. No upfront cost. No obligation.