What is an easement?

An easement is a legal right that allows a person or entity to use or access another person's property for a specific purpose. This often pertains to situations where one property owner needs to pass through another property to reach their own, such as a driveway or pathway that crosses someone else's land. The key characteristic of an easement is that it grants limited rights to use the land without giving up ownership, which distinguishes it from other types of property rights.

In contrast, the first option speaks to a right related to selling property, which is not connected to easements. The third option pertains to obligations regarding property maintenance, which does not align with the concept of an easement. The fourth option refers to a broader system of land ownership rights and does not encapsulate the specific and limited nature of what an easement represents. Thus, the correct understanding of an easement centers around the right of access onto another's property for designated purposes.