A Georgia attorney is offering practical legal and etiquette advice for homeowners dealing with trees that hang over property lines, warning that while trimming an overhanging branch is commonly allowed, doing so improperly can create costly disputes and liability.
Joe Zdrilich, lead attorney at Zdrilich Injury Law and a member of the State Bar of Georgia, told Better Homes & Gardens that homeowners in his state generally have the right to cut branches or roots that extend onto their property. “You have a right to protect and keep up your property, just as your neighbor has the right to preserve their tree,” Zdrilich said. But he emphasized that state rules vary, and homeowners should verify local law before acting.
Zdrilich set out clear limits: cut only the portion of the tree that physically overhangs the property and remove as little as possible. He cautioned strongly against cutting into the trunk, weakening the tree, or stepping onto a neighbor’s land without permission. “Cutting into the base of the trunk, weakening the tree, or stepping onto a neighbor’s land without permission can present liability,” he said, pointing to cases where aggressive pruning prompted claims that a neighbor’s shade, aesthetics or the tree’s structural integrity had been harmed.
Homeowners who trim too aggressively risk more than a strained relationship: they may face monetary liability if the tree later becomes diseased, falls, or must be removed. Zdrilich noted that courts can view trees as valuable property, and owners have successfully sought damages when pruning was deemed injurious. He advised homeowners to be conservative and to confirm the exact boundary line before making any cuts—an often overlooked source of litigation.
Practical steps to reduce conflict, Zdrilich said, include involving the neighbor and documenting the plan. He recommended inviting the tree owner to be present during trimming, taking photos of the overhang before work begins, and, when the situation warrants, formalizing consent in writing to prevent later disputes. “A brief chat and some photos of the overhang typically help avoid misunderstandings that could blow up into a claim,” he observed. “How little it takes to maintain goodwill often surprises people.”
For large trees, those near structures, or trees entangled with utility lines, Zdrilich urged hiring a professional tree service. Besides protecting property and people, professionals can advise on species-specific pruning seasons and methods that reduce the risk of disease or long-term damage. “In an environment of increasingly tense relations between neighbors, bringing in a professional can be especially useful because it helps people keep their focus on what’s safe instead of how they feel,” he said.
Property owners confronting overhanging trees should balance their legal rights with caution: confirm local statutes, verify boundaries, trim conservatively, document the process, and consult certified arborists or tree services when appropriate. Those steps can reduce the chance that a routine yard maintenance task becomes an expensive legal battle.