What is an easement?

An easement is a legal right to use someone else’s property for a particular purpose. This type of right is typically created by a deed, though implied easements can also exist. Easements are often granted when one property owner needs access to another’s land in order to maintain or use their own land. Easements can also include maintaining utilities, or a right of way that crosses both properties. In Massachusetts, easements are frequently used to provide access to bodies of water, like a lake or beach. A property owner may grant an easement to a neighboring property owner in order to provide access to the beach or lake for both properties. This type of easement is sometimes referred to as a “right of way.” Similarly, easements are often used to provide access to underground utilities, like pipes and wires. The primary purpose of easements is to ensure that landowners have the means to access necessary resources for the upkeep of their property. Easements are a common way to ensure that both parties have the rights to use property and resources that are necessary for their use. Easements are typically limited in scope and duration, in order to protect the rights of individual property owners.

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