What is the primary purpose of an easement?

An easement serves the primary purpose of allowing access or use of a portion of someone else's property. This legal right does not convey ownership but grants permission for specific uses, such as providing a pathway, utility access, or other functions beneficial to a specific party while maintaining the ownership rights of the property owner. Easements are important in real estate because they can facilitate the use of land and resources without transferring ownership.

For instance, utility companies often require easements to install and maintain service lines. In such scenarios, the easement permits utilities to enter the property to access equipment but does not interfere with the owner's continued use of the property outside of the agreed parameters of the easement. In contrast, options that suggest granting ownership or establishing boundaries misrepresent the nature of easements as they deal with access rights rather than ownership or the delineation of property lines.