Yup, just another easy click headline.

LAWYER UP, find one in property law, ya got no other option here and you’ll make an absolute fool out of the senator and the town sees it as yours already, has acknowledged he has never paid any taxes on that land. (Not sure if this matters)

Unfortunately for you and your family these court proceedings will probably drag on for awhile unless the senator realizes he’s in the wrong and does the right thing. Which I doubt. You went over the property lines with them and they never mentioned anything till you were right about to start the project. Morally wrong. Please do your due diligence, hire a good lawyer, I’d try getting everything you can out of this. Don’t be afraid to have a bad neighbor, he already is one and he’ll continue to be.

After consulting with your lawyer, ask about informing the local media and news. They’ll love to hear a story like this. Mention how much damage it’s done with him removing your ability to walk on your own land. If his connections are as deep as some people here say. Blow this shit up over the media.

PS - if you can prove he planted those trees there on the land he thought was his, you could probably have the judge force him to pay to remove all of those trees. This man is an RI senator who’s had many people over his house over the years and doesn’t wanna get looked at like a joke the next time he has company over and a chunk of his yard missing. He’s gonna fight you tooth and nail I think. GOOD LUCK!! And Godspeed! Yeah

And if you lose, definitely blow this up over the news!

EDIT Also keep them downvotes coming, OP deserves justice, his entire plan is now fumbled and his family lives with uncertainty & discomfort now. A Rhode Island senator is literally stealing his land and bullying him. Keep licking those boots.

EDIT 2: How could OP have avoided this? Sounds like they couldn’t have.