An easement is a nonpossessory, irrevocable legal interest in another party's land, usually that of a neighbor. The easement holder has only the right to a specific, limited use or enjoyment of the real estate of another and the easement may not interfere with the property owner's rights. Common easements include the rights to pass through adjoining land to access your own parcel; to run utility lines across adjoining land; or to otherwise use the land in some other way such as parking, hunting or gardening. Significantly, without an easement, such use of your neighbor's land would be considered trespass in most circumstances.
The servient estate is the land subject to or burdened by the easement and the dominant estate is the property that benefits from the easement. Often the value and use of the dominant estate depend upon the existence of the easement, such as when, for example, the only way to access your land is by using a right-of-way easement over your neighbor's property.
The duty to care for an easement belongs to the owner of the dominant estate. Thus, any costs of repair or maintenance related to the easement fall to the user of the easement, not to the owner of the servient estate. However, the parties may enter into an agreement that the servient estate owner would be liable for improvements.
Most commonly, an easement is established by an express grant, usually by specific description in a land deed. Less often, another type of legal document such as a will, mortgage or plat may include language that expressly creates an easement. Other ways to obtain easements include by implication, by adverse possession or by estoppel.
Not surprisingly, when two neighboring landowners have a legal relationship concerning an easement, it is not uncommon for legal issues to arise, including:
If you are either the easement holder who depends on the easement to enjoy or use your property, or the owner of the servient property subject to an easement, important legal questions may arise surrounding the easement. Do not hesitate to contact an experienced real estate attorney as soon as possible if an easement dispute develops. It can also be prudent to discuss the particular aspects of an easement with your lawyer before any conflict occurs in order to avoid potential problems. Additionally, real estate law varies from state to state, so you should understand the particular law of your jurisdiction as it applies to your easement issue.
To read and print out a copy of the checklist, please follow the link below.
DISCLAIMER: This site and any information contained herein are intended for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. Seek competent counsel for advice on any legal matter.
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