In Maryland, an easement is a non-possessory interest in the real property of another that can arise either by express grant or implication. (Clickner v. Magothy River Ass'n). Maryland easements are a species of servitude.
An easement usually is written so that it lasts forever. This is known as a perpetual easement. Where state law allows, an easement may be written for a specified period of years; this is known as a term easement. Only gifts of perpetual easement, however, can qualify a donor for income- and estate-tax benefits.
In Mississippi real estate law, there are a number of easements granted to property owners that give them some rights to access or use another person's or entity's land. The easement usually follows the property when it is sold, but the other property owner may want to fight that being granted to the next buyer.
An easement appurtenant is when an easement runs with one parcel of land but benefits another. The parcel that benefits is called the dominant tenement, or the dominant estate, and the other parcel on which the easement exists is called the servient tenement, or sometimes the servient estate.
Under Indiana law, easements may be created by grant, prescription, or implication. An easement by grant is the most common. Such easement arises by way of a deed or contract, and the scope of easement holder's rights are controlled by the governing terms of the instrument.
Generally, the owner of any easement has a duty to maintain the easement. If the easement is owned by more than one person, or is attached parcels of land under different ownership, each owner must share in the cost of maintaining the easement pursuant to their agreement.
A private easement is an agreement between two property owners giving the owner of one property the right to use another's property for a specific purpose. For example, such an easement might be drawn up if a neighbor needs to run pipe under your property to get to their house. These may be freely granted or sold.
An express easement is created by a written agreement between landowners granting or reserving an easement. Express easements must be signed by both parties and are typically recorded with the deeds to each property.