Section 3: Affidavits
Anchor: #i1004478Overview
An affidavit (either form ROW-U-Affidavit (for Utility Owner), ROW-U-Affidavit (for Disinterested Party) or ROW-U-Affidavit (for Property Owner), as appropriate, with the required attachments) is required to document the property rights of the utility. Such compensable interests are necessary in determining eligibility for TxDOT cost participation under the State and LPA right of way programs.
If an affidavit (ROW-U-Affidavit (for Utility Owner), ROW-U-Affidavit (for Disinterested Party), or ROW-U-Affidavit (for Property Owner), as appropriate) is used to document the compensable interest, the utility, third party, or landowner, as appropriate, must describe the interests they claim and certify that they are presently in effect.
ROW staff attorneys may investigate the circumstances to verify that the utility has a valid property interest.
In some cases, the instruments setting forth the utility’s compensable interest cannot be correlated to the right of way map for the project. Therefore, it will be necessary to submit information (i.e., sketches) that identify and tie each instrument to the current ownership that appears on the right of way map. This information may be determined by conducting a title search of the deed records at the county clerk’s office or possibly from the title commitments issued for the new highway right of way parcels.
The utility may claim a compensable interest within the existing highway right of way by virtue of property rights that predate the existing highway right of way. Thus, in order to substantiate the utility’s claim, the utility must provide documentation of owning the prior right. The District should verify all received documents and determine whether the following exists:
- Anchor: #LDUMITEN
- Previous reimbursable adjustment with utility on past project identified with Utility ID. Anchor: #NFXPUGNE
- Utility Joint Use Agreement where property rights were retained by the utility provided that such rights were not extinguished by quitclaim or release of easement
In determining the utility’s claim of owning compensable interest to be either valid or invalid, the District must also research their files for any notice of installation forms that correlate to the adjustment site. Form 1082 Utility Installation Request will be in the District’s files if the utility constructed a facility on the existing highway right of way in the past.