David R. Fischer, Attorney, in California, Header

 

 

Mailing Address:

P.O. Box 1997
Martinez, CA 94553

Contact Us
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Telephone Numbers:

Office:
(707) 552-2234

Fax:
(925) 370-9350

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   


(Rev. 08/12/2021)

Real Estate Attorney - Petaluma, California

The Law Office of David R. Fischer is what is called a “boutique law firm” because we only take on matters that fall into a few categories within the field of real estate law.  We simply do not take every case that comes our way.  If your matter is not in the area of the law that we practice, we will ask you to find a different firm to represent you.  Our real estate law practice is limited to the following:

Descriptions of Our Practice Areas:     

Icon for Easement Attorney in Petaluma, CA

Easement Creation  Icon for Easement Lawyer in Petaluma, CA

If easement documents are not properly drafted it can lead to litigation later on.  When we create an easement, we try to anticipate issues that may arise in the future between the easement owner (called the “dominant tenement”) and the owner of the land over which the easement runs (called the “servient tenement”).  Years of experience with easement disputes has given us the knowledge of which issues are likely to lead to future disputes if not properly addressed in the original documents.    

Icon for Easement Litigation Attorney in Petaluma, CA

Easement Litigation  Icon for Easement Litigation Lawyer in Petaluma, CA

We have handled many matters over the years involving disputes between the easement owner (called the “dominant tenement”) and the owner of the land over which the easement runs (called the “servient tenement”).  Many of these matters have resulted in litigation that we have handled for our clients.  As a result of years of handling easement cases, we have developed a private index of all prominent California court opinions on easement law, which we can refer to for quick answers.    

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Deeds & Conveyances  Icon for Deed Lawyer in Petaluma, CA

Deeds and other issues involving conveyances are also handled by our office.  For example, we have represented clients in matters involving deeding property to trusts, gift deeds, the interpretation of ambiguous deeds, and preparing documents to cure errors in prior deeds.     

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Boundary Disputes  Icon for Boundary Dispute Lawyer in Petaluma, CA

Over the years we have handled many boundary dispute cases.  Despite surveying instruments becoming more precise in recent years, boundary disputes are still common.  A good number of boundary disputes are caused by different surveyors who measure the same line from different directions.  For example, in setting the east-west running line of a property, one surveyor may measure from the north, and another surveyor may measure from the south, producing a gap or overlap between the two surveys.  Ambiguous descriptions in old deeds can also cause modern-day boundary disputes.  For example, an old deed may refer to a tree, fence post or other monument that has long since been removed, causing subsequent surveys to become misaligned, which leads to a boundary dispute.    

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Clouded Titles  Icon for Clouded Title Lawyer in Petaluma, CA

The title to real property can become clouded for many reasons. A neighbor's deed that is ambiguously worded, an old mortgage that was paid off years ago but never removed from the title, or an abandoned easement that still shows on title reports are good examples of matters that can cause a title to become clouded. We have represented clients to remove various types of clouds from the title to their real property.    

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Quiet Title Lawsuits  Icon for Quiet Title Lawyer in Petaluma, CA

A quiet title lawsuit is often used to remove clouds from the title or to flush out claims on the title and remove them if justified. For example, we often file these types of lawsuits in easement disputes and where there is a clouded title.    

Icon for Subdivision and Condominium Application Attorney in Petaluma, CA

Subdivision & Condominium Applications  Icon for Subdivision and Condominium Application Lawyer in Petaluma, CA

Our law office has represented clients in front of cities, counties and other government agencies when seeking permits for major subdivisions, minor subdivisions (parcel maps) and condominium conversions.    

Icon for Zoning Application Attorney in Petaluma, CA

Zoning Applications  Icon for Zoning Application Lawyer in Petaluma, CA

Whether it be a zoning change, major use permit, or other zoning related entitlement, our firm has experience dealing with governmental entities on behalf of clients making these zoning‑related applications.    

Icon for Variance Application Attorney in Petaluma, CA

Variance Applications  Icon for Variance Application Lawyer in Petaluma, CA

A variance from a governmental regulation is most often granted when the applicant seeks to be able to enjoy the same privilege as others within the same zoning.  For example, if every other lot on a street has a 20 foot setback, but the zoning requires a 25 foot setback, a variance would likely be granted to allow a lot owner to build with a 20 foot setback.  Our firm has experience in representing clients seeking a variance from a variety of regulations.  Our representation has included applying for, and later presenting evidence to support, these variance requests.    

Icon for Road Maintenance Attorney in California

Road Maintenance Agreements & Litigation  Icon for Road Maintenance Lawyer in California 

When a road is shared by two or more property owners, a Road Maintenance Agreement is a good way to decide in advance: (1) when, and to what extent, maintenance will be performed on the road; and (2) who will pay for the maintenance and in what proportion. In order to be binding upon future owners of the parties, Road Maintenance Agreements are typically recorded with the County Recorder. There are many formulas that can be inserted into a Road Maintenance Agreement to determine how to divide-up the maintenance costs, including formulas that take into account the intensity of the uses of the parcels (commercial, residential, vacant), and the physical length of the use by a particular parcel compared with the overall length of the road. We have drafted many of these agreements over the years, and tailor them to the particular road involved.  We have also represented clients in litigation concerning Road Maintenance Agreements.    

Icon for Road Association Attorney in California

Road Associations  Icon for Road Association Lawyer in California 

Some roads are maintained by an association created for that purpose. Usually the Road Association was created by a Road Maintenance Agreement. Our firm has assisted several Road Associations in amending their agreements, levying assessments, obtaining insurance, and negotiating contracts with contractors.    

Icon for Access Rights Attorney in Petaluma, CA

Access Rights  Icon for Access Rights Lawyer in Petaluma, CA

Disputes over access rights can arise for a variety of reasons, such as if a parcel has no deeded access (so-called "land-locked property") or if a public street leading to a property is vacated by the city or county. We have worked with experts to try to find old documents, or uncover facts, that can show how land-locked parcels were accessed in the past, and use them to obtain access today.     

Icon for Littoral Rights Attorney in Petaluma, CA

Littoral Rights  Icon for Littoral Rights Lawyer in Petaluma, CA

Littoral rights involve waterways, such as the ocean, lakes, rivers, streams, sloughs and canals.  They belong to the owner of land that fronts on a waterway.  Although littoral rights involve a whole list of rights from access to fishing, the most frequent issue involves access to the water.  In 2009 our office successfully represented a client, and obtained a published opinion from the California Court of Appeal, in a littoral rights case. (See Kendall v. Walker (2009) 181 Cal.App.4th 584).    

Icon for Dock, Pier and Wharf Rights Attorney in Petaluma, CA

Dock, Pier & Wharf Rights  

The right to build a dock, pier or wharf on waterfront property is one of the recognized littoral rights that belong to that property.  The published court case that our office obtained in Kendall v. Walker (2009) 181 Cal.App.4th 584 involved, among other things, the right to build a dock where a boat was being moored.  We have also dealt with dock, pier and wharf issues involving the regulatory powers and permit process of the United States Army Corps of Engineers.    

Icon for Water Boundary Attorney in Petaluma, CA

Water Boundaries  Icon for Water Boundary Lawyer in Petaluma, CA

Water boundary issues most often involve how to project an upland property's boundary lines into an adjacent waterway, for the purpose of determining where a dock, pier or wharf can be built.  This was one of the issues in the case of Kendall v. Walker (2009) 181 Cal.App.4th 584, which our firm successfully prosecuted on behalf of a client who owned land that fronted on a waterway.    

Icon for Condemnation and Eminent Domain Attorney in Petaluma, CA

Condemnation / Eminent Domain  Icon for Condemnation and Eminent Domain Lawyer in Petaluma, CA 

Condemnation (also called "Eminent Domain") is when a government entity or public utility takes all or part of a person's land, or an interest in the land (such as an easement), for a public purpose. The law says that the property owner is entitled to compensation for the "taking," which often requires a court proceeding to determine the value because the government entity or public utility will frequently not offer the property owner the full value. We work with expert appraisers to advocate the highest reasonable value, and take these cases to trial if necessary. Many times in condemnation cases, we will agree to represent a property owner on a contingency fee basis. 

Examples of the public projects where we have represented a landowner include: Highway 4 widening, Antioch/Oakley, CA; Los Vaqueros Reservoir pipeline, Brentwood, CA; Lone Tree Way improvements, Antioch, CA; Napa River Flood Control improvements, Napa, CA; Electric transmission line installation, Pittsburg, CA; Eighth Street improvements, Pittsburg, CA; Cirby Way widening, Roseville, CA; PG&E transmission line extension, Middletown, CA; Downtown Pittsburg Redevelopment Project, Pittsburg, CA; Pacific Gas and Electric Company gas transmission pipeline, Martinez, CA; Depot Street widening, Vacaville, CA; Public park expansion, Pittsburg, CA; Big Canyon Road drainage improvements, Lower Lake, CA; Sewer main installation, Alamo, CA; BART parking expansion, Pleasant Hill, CA; Hiking Trail expansion, Pleasant Hill, CA; Hiking Trail expansion, Concord, CA; Broddus Creek bridge project, Willits, CA; Highway 20 drainage improvements, Lucerne, CA; and Highway 242 Concord Avenue exit widening, Concord, CA.    

Icon for Inverse Condemnation Attorney in Petaluma, CA

Inverse Condemnation  Icon for Inverse Condemnation Lawyer in Petaluma, CA

Inverse Condemnation most often occurs when a government entity or a public utility takes an interest in a parcel of land, or causes damage to a property, and refuses to pay for it. Examples of cases where we have brought inverse condemnation lawsuits include: Landslide caused by street construction, Orinda, CA; Vibrations from next door public project that caused a building's foundation to crack, Concord, CA; Blocking off access to a vacant lot, Clayton, CA; Changing a "through street" into a cul-de-sac, Walnut Creek, CA; and Temporary occupation of lot during adjacent freeway work, Oakland, CA.    

Icon for Preliminary Title Report Review Attorney in California

Preliminary Title Report Review  Icon for Preliminary Title Report Review Lawyer in California

When an escrow is opened the title company will issue a "Preliminary Report" (commonly referred to as a "Preliminary Title Report").  We have represented many clients in the review of these reports. .    

Icon for Title Insurance Attorney in Petaluma, CA

Title Insurance Claims  Icon for Title Insurance Lawyer in Petaluma, CA

Sometimes a title company will incorrectly search a title to a property during escrow, and issue a title insurance policy that does not properly reflect the state of the title at the County Recorder's Office. The most common occurrence is for a title company to miss a recorded easement. Examples of cases where we have brought a claim on a title policy include: Missed access easement, Lafayette, CA; Missed encroachment easement, Vallejo, CA; and Missed pipeline easement, Brentwood, CA.    

Icon for Attorney that helps obatin Title Insurance in California

Obtaining Title Insurance  Icon for Lawyer that helps obatin Title Insurance in California

We have also represented clients in negotiations with title companies concerning the form of the issuance of title insurance that will be prepared at the close of escrow.  Issues that may arise during an escrow, that involve the title insurance that will be prepared upon the closing, include: (1) Getting items on a title report either removed or changed before the escrow closes; and (2) Obtaining endorsements to the title insurance policy in order to provide greater protection for a client.     

Title Transfers  Icon for Title Transfer Lawyer in Petaluma, CA

Our firm represents clients in a wide variety of title transfers, including transfers among family members, transfers to change the manner in which title is held, transfers to a family partnership or limited liability company, and partial transfers of land between neighbors to adjust a boundary line (called a "Lot Line Adjustment").    

Icon for Encroachment Attorney in Petaluma, CA

Encroachment Litigation  Icon for Encroachment Lawyer in Petaluma, CA

Sometimes it will be discovered that the improvements on one lot will encroach over the property line onto the adjacent lot. We have had cases where we have represented the owner of the encroaching improvements, and other cases where we have represented the owner of the property that is being encroached upon.     

Icon for Encroachment Attorney in California

Encroachment Solutions  Icon for Encroachment Lawyer in California

When the improvements from one property encroach onto an adjacent property, we will often try to reolve the matter without litigation.  Encroachment cases often are resolved by creating an easement and/or performing a Lot Line Adjustment to move the boundary line so that each owners' improvements are on that owner's respective lot.    

Icon for Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions Attorney in Petaluma, CA

Covenants, Conditions & Restrictions  Icon for Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions Lawyer in Petaluma, CA

"Covenants, Conditions & Restrictions" (also called "CC&Rs") is the name of a document recorded against the title to two or more parcels of real estate. CC&Rs can deal with a variety of issues that may arise among the properties described in the document, including uses (what can, and cannot, be done of the property), joint use of certain areas (such as roads, walkways, or hallways in a building), assessments to maintain something (such as a road or the exterior of a condominium), creation of an enforcement entity (such as a Homeowners' Association), and methods to enforce non-compliance. Most often CC&Rs are created for a new project (such as a subdivision or a condominium project). However, they can also be created for a repurpose project (such as a condominium conversion) or just between existing property owners. We have experience in drafting CC&Rs in a variety of situations. We also have represented both Homeowners' Associations and property owners in disputes involving CC&Rs.    

Icon for Commercial Lease Drafting Attorney in Petaluma, CA

Commercial Lease Drafting  Icon for Commercial Lease Drafting Lawyer in Petaluma, CA

The drafting of Commercial Leases is a large part of our practice.  Not only are we familiar with the most common forms available, we also have drafted many leases "from scratch" when a standard form will not fit a particular situation.    

Icon for Purchase Agreement Attorney in Petaluma, CA

Purchase Agreements  Icon for Purchase Agreement Lawyer in Petaluma, CA

We have represented clients by either drafting a real property Purchase Agreement, or reviewing a Purchase Agreement drafted by the attorney or Broker for the other side in the transcation.    

Icon for Trespass Attorney in Petaluma, CA

Trespass Lawsuits  Icon for Trespass Lawyer in Petaluma, CA

In general terms, a trespass occurs when someone enters the land of another without the owner's permission.  The entry can be intentional, reckless or negligent.  Entry can be on, above, or below the surface of the land, and may occur indirectly, such as by causing vibrations that damage the land or structures or other improvements on the land.  Trespass issues can arise in many different situations.  For example, when the owner of an easement uses land outside the boundaries of the easement, or starts using the easement for purposes that are not allowed by the terms of the easement, a claim for trespass can arise. Another example would be when a neighbor places an object on the owner's land.  Heavy construction on adjacent property can also give rise to a trespass claim, as noted above with regard to vibrations.  We have brought trespass claims on behalf of clients, as well as defended trespass claims that have been brought against our clients.    

Law Office of David R. Fischer Locations Section

Geographical Areas in which we Practice:

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA:
Alamo   Alhambra Valley   Antioch   Bay Point   Bethel Island   Blackhawk   Brentwood   Byron   Canyon   Clyde   Clayton   Concord   Crockett   Danville   Diablo   Discovery Bay   El Cerrito   El Sobrante   Hercules   Kensington   Knightsen   Lafayette   Martinez   Moraga   Morgan Territory   Oakley   Orinda   Pacheco   Pinole   Pittsburg   Pleasant Hill   Port Costa   Rodeo   Rossmoor    San Ramon   Saranap   Tassajara   Walnut Creek

NAPA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA:
Aetna Springs   American Canyon   Angwin   Calistoga   Capell Valley   Chiles Valley   Deer Park   Lake Berryessa   Mt. Veeder   Napa   Oakville   Pope Valley   Rutherford   St. Helena   Spanish Flat   Yountville

SOLANO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA:
Benicia   Birds Landing   Collinsville   Cordelia   Dixon   Elmira   Fairfield   Green Valley   Mankas Corner   Rio Vista   Rockville   Suisun City   Vacaville   Vallejo   Wooden Valley

SONOMA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA:
Annapolis   Bodega   Bodega Bay   Boyes Hot Springs   Camp Meeker   Cazadero   Cloverdale   Cotati   Duncans Mills   El Verano   Eldridge   Forestville   Freestone   Fulton   Geyserville   Glen Ellen   Graton   Guerneville   Healdsburg   Jenner   Kenwood   Monte Rio   Occidental   Penngrove   Petaluma   Rio Nido   Rohnert Park   Santa Rosa   Sea Ranch   Sebastopol   Sonoma   Stewarts Point   Valley Ford   Villa Grande   Vineburg   Windsor

MARIN COUNTY, CALIFORNIA:
Belvedere   Bolinas   Corte Madera   Dillon Beach   Fairfax   Forest Knolls   Greenbrae   Inverness   Lagunitas   Larkspur   Marshall   Mill Valley   Nicasio   Novato   Olema   Point Reyes Station   Ross   San Anselmo   San Geronimo   San Rafael   Sausalito   Stinson Beach   Tiburon   Tomales   Woodacre

MENDOCINO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA:
Albion   Boonville   Branscomb   Calpella   Caspar   Comptche   Covelo   Dos Rios   Elk   Fort Bragg   Gualala   Hopland   Laytonville   Leggett   Little River   Manchester   Mendocino   Navarro   Philo   Piercy   Point Arena   Potter Valley   Redwood Valley   Talmage   Ukiah   Westport   Yorkville   Willits

LAKE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA:
Clearlake   Clearlake Oaks   Clearlake Park   Clearlake Riviera   Cobb   Finley   Glenhaven   Hidden Valley Lake   Kelseyville   Lake Pillsbury   Lakeport   Loch Lomond   Lower Lake   Lucerne   Middletown   Nice   Soda Bay   Upper Lake   Witter Springs

YOLO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA:
Brooks   Capay   Clarksburg   Davis   Dunnigan   Esparto   Guinda   Knights Landing   Madison   Monument Hills   Plainfield   Rumsey   West Sacramento   Winters   Woodland   Yolo   Zamora

NEVADA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA:
Alta Sierra   Boca   Cedar Ridge   Floriston   French Corral   Graniteville   Grass Valley   Kingvale   Lake of the Pines   Lake Wildwood   Nevada City   Norden   North Bloomfield   North San Juan   Penn Valley   Rough and Ready   Soda Springs   Truckee   Washington

PLACER COUNTY, CALIFORNIA:
Alta   Applegate   Auburn   Baxter   Blue Canyon   Carnelian Bay   Colfax   Dollar Point   Dutch Flat   Emigrant Gap   Foresthill   Granite Bay   Kings Beach   Kingvale   Lincoln   Loomis   Meadow Vista   Newcastle   North Auburn   Northstar   Ophir   Olympic Valley   Penryn   Rocklin   Roseville   Sheridan   Tahoe City   Tahoe Vista   Tahoma   Weimar

SACRAMENTO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA:
Antelope   Arden-Arcade   Carmichael   Citrus Heights   Clay   Courtland   Elk Grove   Elverta   Fair Oaks   Florin   Folsom   Foothill Farms   Franklin   Freeport   Fruitridge Pocket   Galt   Gold River   Herald   Hood   Isleton   La Riviera   Lemon Hill   Locke   Mather   McClellan Park   North Highlands   Orangevale   Parkway   Rancho Cordova   Rancho Murieta   Rio Linda   Rosemont   Sacramento   Vineyard   Walnut Grove   Wilton

SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY, CALIFORNIA:
Acampo   Atlanta   August   Banta   Collierville   Dogtown   Escalon   Farmington   French Camp   Garden Acres   Kennedy   Lathrop   Linden   Lockeford   Lodi   Manteca   Morada   Mountain House   Peters   Ripon   Stockton   Terminous   Thornton   Tracy   Vernalis   Victor   Waterloo   Woodbridge