What does condemnation refer to in the context of property law?

Condemnation, in the context of property law, specifically refers to the process by which the government takes private property for public use, typically under the power of eminent domain. This power allows the government to acquire land for projects such as highways, schools, or other public facilities, even if the property owner does not want to sell.

During the condemnation process, the government is usually required to provide "just compensation" to the property owner, ensuring that they are fairly compensated for the value of the property taken. This concept is rooted in the Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which protects private property from being taken for public use without just compensation.

The other choices do not accurately describe condemnation. Taxation involves imposing a financial charge, transferring title refers to the legal change of ownership of property, and ownership of abandoned property pertains to the legal claims on properties that have been deserted, none of which capture the essence of government taking land for the public good as condemnation does.