Your situation
Work out which document you are holding
Several very different letters get called a notice. The difference between them is the difference between nothing to do and a deadline measured in days.
Identification
From least to most urgent
| What you have | What it means | Clock running |
|---|---|---|
| Notice of a project or a public hearing | A project is planned nearby | No |
| Notice of interest or intent to acquire | Your property has been identified | No |
| Request to inspect or appraise | Valuation is starting; you may attend | No |
| Written offer to purchase | An appraisal exists and a figure is on the table | A soft date, usually negotiable |
| Notice of intent to file | Negotiation has failed and suit is coming | The last warning before one starts |
| Petition or complaint | A lawsuit has been filed | Yes, and it is strict |
| Notice of deposit or possession | Money has been deposited and possession may follow | Yes, for any challenge |
What to do
The same four things, whatever you received
Keep everything
Start a file today, including notes of calls with dates and names.
Ask for the appraisal
In writing, if any figure has been mentioned. The complete report, not a summary.
Decide nothing on the doorstep
The first conversation is for listening, not for agreeing.
Check for a deadline
And if a court is involved, do it today rather than this week.
Questions about notices
Can I ignore it
Not safely, and the consequences differ enormously. Ignoring a notice of interest costs you nothing immediately. Ignoring a filed petition can cost you the right to contest compensation at all.
Does the notice mean the decision is final
On whether the project proceeds, usually yes by this stage. On the amount, no. Those are different questions and only the second is open.
They have not sent me anything but surveyors are on my land
Entry for survey is permitted by statute in many states with notice. Ask who they work for and start your file.
The detailed answer on notices
The owner side process, including what each document does and what to do with it, is covered on Eminent Domain Claim.
Find the site that answers your question properly
This is a starting point. The detailed answers live on the sites built for each question, and on the site for your state.