An easement gives someone the legal right to use a piece of land they don’t own—usually to access something important, like a driveway, path, or utility line. It doesn’t mean they can build or live there. It just means they’re allowed to use it for a specific purpose.
In our Explain It to Me Like I’m 5 series, three girls are in the backyard when they spot something magical across the lawn: an ice cream stand.
The only problem?
To get there, they’d have to cross part of the yard that isn’t theirs. There’s no fence, but ropes clearly mark the property line.
So… can they cross it?
Enter: the easement.
An easement is like permission to take a shortcut through someone else’s land, legally. It doesn’t give you ownership. It doesn’t mean you can hang out or start your own snack shack. But it does mean you’re allowed to use it for something specific. Like reaching that ice cream stand before it melts.
Easements are more common than you might think. They help resolve things like:
They’re especially important in real estate because they impact how a property can be used—and who has the right to access what.
That’s why title companies check for easements during the title search process. It’s not just paperwork. It’s making sure everyone knows what’s allowed and what’s not.
An easement is legal permission to use someone else’s land in a specific way, without owning it. It’s about access, not ownership.
Need a simple explanation for what an easement is? You’ll never see a shortcut the same way again.
Watch now!
Want a fun explanation for title insurance next?
Check out our last video!
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