Easements

An easement is a legal right to use someone else’s land for a particular purpose. Easements are sometimes in writing and referred to in property deeds or title papers prepared by a title insurance company or attorney. Easements are part and parcel of the land they affect. They don’t change when the property changes hands; subsequent owners are obliged to let whoever owns the easement use the property. This section describes the various types of easements, including utility easements (such as when a municipal water company has an easement to run water pipes under someone’s property) and easements by necessity (for example, when it’s absolutely necessary for your neighbors to cross your land in order to access their house). It also covers key elements of easement agreements, such as responsibility for payment of property taxes, and how easements are created or recognized by different states.