What is the main purpose of an easement?

The main purpose of an easement is to provide limited use of someone else's property. An easement allows one party the right to use a portion of another person's land for a specific purpose, such as for access to a road, utility installation, or drainage. This legal agreement does not transfer ownership of the property but rather grants a specific use that may be necessary for a variety of reasons.

Understanding easements is crucial in property law as they establish a balance between property rights and the needs of others. For instance, a common type of easement is a right-of-way, which permits neighbors to cross another's land to access their own. This aspect of easements differentiates them from concepts like ownership transfers or securing loans with property, which serve entirely different functions in real estate law.