Word Watch · Term 07 of 30 · 0:47

Easement

ProductionIllustrated Click2CE lesson; AI-assisted production with Sarah narration

In brief

An easement is a limited right to use another person's land for a particular purpose; use does not itself transfer ownership.

Example

A rear parcel may benefit from a driveway across a front parcel while the front owner retains ownership of that land.

TranscriptRead along, or select a timestamp to jump there
  1. Two homes.
  2. One access route.
  3. The rear owner needs to reach the public
  4. street.
  5. In this example, an access easement allows that
  6. owner to travel along this driveway, across the
  7. front parcel.
  8. Follow the route from the street to the
  9. rear home.
  10. The rear parcel receives the access benefit.
  11. The front parcel carries the burden of allowing
  12. that use.
  13. But watch what does not change.
  14. The front owner still owns the land beneath
  15. the route.
  16. The easement gives a right to use it
  17. for the permitted purpose.
  18. It does not transfer ownership of the strip.
  19. Quick check:
  20. does using a neighbor's driveway mean you own
  21. it?
  22. No.
  23. Remember the distinction:
  24. a right to use, not ownership of the
  25. land.

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