What is an easement?

An easement is essentially a legal right that allows one party to use a portion of another person's land for a specific purpose, without owning it. This arrangement is generally established through a recorded document and can serve a variety of functions, such as allowing access for utilities or enabling a neighbor to cross over a property to reach a road. The easement holder does not have ownership of the land but has a right to use it in the ways specified in the easement agreement.

Understanding that easements are rights rather than ownership helps clarify the importance of land use agreements in real estate transactions and property management. It highlights how property rights can be shared or limited, reflecting the complexities of land ownership and use.