What are the respective verbs for when a public entity takes over or absorbs private property not as eminent domain and for when a private entity takes over or absorbs public utilities etc?

Answer 1

Your question is interesting and it would be helpful to know the perspective or source but I will try to provide some legal background on the topic under state law in the United States. The "taking over" by the state of private property is governed by law. The "taking over" by a private entity of "public utilities" is governed by law. Absorb is an inaccurate description of the process because every legal process by which this happens has a term in law.

When a person dies owning property and leaves no heirs their property "escheats" to the state. It is not the state's intention to deprive any heir of their right to the property. Therefore, if an heir comes forward after the property has escheated to the state, and can prove their relationship to the decedent, the state will transfer the property to the heir.

In another area of law, a company that provides utilities to the public such as a telephone company, may be given special powers by the state to take what they need in furthering their purpose to expand public utilities as upgrades are needed. Those companies usually try to negotiate with the property owner privately, offering monetary consideration for the rights or land it seeks to take. However, if a landowner refuses to co-operate, the utility company will be provided with the authority to take by eminent domain.

For example, a local electric utility company is upgrading its network of towers. It seeks to expand a statewide 100 foot wide easement to 150 feet in order to add another line of towers needed to meet the growing demand for electricity. It has negotiated a new easement agreement with every landowner in the neighboring town except one. He has refused to allow the expansion. The state may give the utility company the right to take the easement by eminent domain.

Another means by which a private landowner may acquire land is by abandonment by the state or federal government, or a railroad company, of land or rights they once took by eminent domain but no longer need. In that case the law provides for an abandonment of the land or rights and they revert to the prior owner or to the present abutters. For example, suppose a road is reconfigured. Any property outside of the former location is abandoned to the abutters. If a small strip in front of your home is no longer needed in the new layout, ownership of that strip will be abandoned to you and it will become part of your property.

A utility company may release by an instrument in writing to the landowner any rights or land it no longer needs or in certain cases, where the construction of the utility line never materialized. That release must be recorded in the land records to clear the land of the encumbrance.