what kind of lawyer for utility easements

by Chasity Volkman 7 min read

An easement attorney should be well-schooled and experienced in the various easement laws in the State where they operate, and because these laws can be quite different from State to State and even from one county to another, hiring someone who knows the local layout, as far as easement laws, is pretty important.

An easement is dealt with by a real estate attorney as they come under real property law.

Full Answer

What type of easement is commonly used by utility companies?

The most common type of easement, a utility easement allows a utility company to run its pipes, lines, etc., under or on other people's property in order to serve its customers. As opposed to buying all the land necessary, utility companies negotiate easement agreements with landowners.

What are the three types of easements?

There are several types of easements, including:utility easements.private easements.easements by necessity, and.prescriptive easements (acquired by someone's use of property).

Which would terminate an easement?

There are eight ways to terminate an easement: abandonment, merger, end of necessity, demolition, recording act, condemnation, adverse possession, and release.

Is the property which benefits from an easement?

The property which benefits from an easement is referred to as the: dominant tenement.

What is another name for a utility easement?

PUE stands for Public Utility Easement. Like other easements, a PUE grants certain rights to the owner of the easement.

Who owns the utility pole on my property?

The power lines between the power pole and your home, are owned by you (the homeowner). This means that if there is any problem with the power line between the power pole and your property, you will be responsible for their maintenance.

Can a right of access be removed?

You will also need to demonstrate that those benefiting from the right of way has agreed that they no longer have use for the right of way and agree to release the right. This would involve entering into a Deed of Release, to formally remove the right.

What does it mean to surrender an easement?

Surrendering an easement contain the prescribed information set out in the Regulations, and. be executed by the grantor and grantee.

Which of the following would not result in the termination of an easement appurtenant?

Which of the following would not result in the termination of an easement appurtenant? Once the easement is in place, it is permanent. The death of the easement grantor will not affect it.

What is an easement land law?

A right benefiting a piece of land (known as the dominant tenement) that is enjoyed over land owned by someone else (the servient tenement). Usually, such a right allows the owner of the dominant tenement to do something on the other person's land, such as use a path, or run services over it.

Can easement be transferred?

An easement cannot be transferred. Easement is the enjoyment that the owner of the property holds with his property. Easement cannot be transferred. Once the property is transferred, easement is by default transferred too.

What is an easement in simple terms?

An easement is the grant of a nonpossessory property interest that grants the easement holder permission to use another person's land.

What Rights Does A Landowner with An Easement Have?

The owner of the land still retains the deeds and can continue to use it as long as they don't interfere with the easement. Alternatively, if you can seek relief from the court by claiming an easement has unduly burdened you and the court agrees, you can from benefit from restriction or termination of an easement. Although improper use of an easement might not qualify, a judge may award punitive damages.

What is an easement in real estate?

An easement is a piece of land where a person, other than the owner, has the right to use it for a specific reason. Since the reasons vary, there are various types of easements, and they can apply for anyone from a neighbor to a government official. An easement is dealt with by a real estate attorney as they come under real property law.

How to terminate an easement?

Yes. Regarding terminating an easement, your attorney will show one of five things. They are as follows: 1 The necessity for the easement has ceased 2 The easement beneficiary has walked away 3 Both parties mutually agree to a termination 4 The term of use has expired 5 There is sufficient interference concerning the owner's use of land

How to get an easement in Idaho?

How Do You Create an Easement? In Idaho, there are four ways to obtain an easement on another person's property. The first is the simplest - the person who needs the easement buys the land from the owner. To do this, both parties need to sign an agreement and sign it in the relevant county.

What is an easement termination?

Both parties mutually agree to a termination. The term of use has expired. There is sufficient interference concerning the owner's use of land. To create an easement, an attorney will usually draft a written version. They do this by deed, contract, or restrictive covenant.

Can an easement exist even if it hasn't been recorded?

Finally, an easement can be implied to exist even if it hasn't been recorded and prescriptive use doesn't apply.

Can you file for an easement in Idaho?

Farmers have used this method of easement before, but it's very rare. Thirdly, you can file for an easement if you have used the land without permission for many years. Finally, an easement can be implied to exist ...

Why do utilities have easements?

Utility easement laws exist to allow everyone to benefit from cheaper and more efficient access to utility . It’s much more effective for a utility company to run power lines in a straight line to power your neighbourhood or city than to deal with individual property owners or run lines around property borders.

What can you do with easements when buying a property?

If you are buying a new property, you can do a title search to determine the nature of the easements that “run with the land” or you will inherit when you buy the property. Utilities can include services like: Utility easement rights are linked directly to the land. Should a property owner sell their property, all utility easements will be ...

What are the different types of utility easements?

There are different types of utility easements: Utility easements below ground. Utility easements above ground. Private utility easement. Public utility easement. No matter the type of utility easement you are dealing with, whether it’s given to a private company or public one, below or above ground, the idea is to let a utility company use ...

What rights do utility companies have?

Utility company rights. When a utility easement is granted on a property, the landowner must respect the area or space given to the utility company and keep the easement area free and clear of any obstruction. For instance, if you gave a company the right to use a small corridor of land to run sewer lines, you cannot build or create something ...

Where is utility easement written?

Utility right of way easement, utility pole easement or any other type of utility easement is written in the property deed. To better understand what type of easement rights you have granted a utility, you should look at what’s written in your deed of property. If you are buying a new property, you can do a title search to determine the nature ...

What happens if you build something that interferes with the utility company's ability to perform its services?

If you build something that interferes with the utility company’s ability to perform its services, it will have the right to have you remove the obstruction.

Can a utility company sue you for a public easement?

However, if a utility company abuses its use and access rights, a homeowner can legally sue the utility company to ensure the abusive actions cease or get damages.

Who has the power to take ownership of private land?

The government can choose to initiate an eminent domain action for a wide variety of reasons, as long as the reason qualifies as a “public use” and the government offers fair compensation to the affected landowner.

Do utility easements require ownership?

Generally speaking, utility easements will not require that ownership of an entire property be taken. Instead, utility companies only seek to obtain an easement, which gives them permanent permission to use part of the land for their intended project. Though a utility easement seems less drastic than a taking of the full property, utility takings cause specific challenges for landowners including reducing the property value or decreasing the productivity of the land. Easements can also last forever, thereby affecting every subsequent owner of the property. For this reason, landowners should always ensure they receive adequate compensation for an easement as part of a utility taking.

How to remove an easement?

If you own a piece of property that is subject to an easement and have issues with the way that your land is being used by the easement holder, you may be able to take steps to either remove the easement or limit the way the easement holder uses your land. Some of the remedies available to people who own property that is subject to an easement include the following: 1 The issuance of a court order restricting the way that the party with easement rights uses the land. 2 Monetary damages for any losses that you experience due to the easement or the use of the land. 3 A removal of the easement in its entirety.

How Easements Arise?

In other situations, an easement can arise without your express knowledge or consent. Therefore, it is important to be vigilant when you allow others to use your property.

What is an easement by necessity?

Easements implied by necessity – An easement by necessity can arise if one property has no access to something absolutely necessary for the use and enjoyment of the property. A common example occurs when one property is landlocked by another, and the owner of the landlocked property needs to pass through part of another’s property ...

What is an appurtenant easement?

Easements appurtenant – Instead of benefiting a specific person, this kind of easement “runs with the land” and therefore benefits whoever owns a particular property. In other words, this kind of easement is inseparable from the subject property, and passes from one owner to the next as the property is transferred unless something operates ...

Why are easements important?

Because easements tend to impact the value and usefulness of your property. If your property is burdened by an easement, the easement may complicate and hinder the uses to which you can put your property. Alternatively, if you or your property is benefited by an easement, that may expand the potential uses of your property and make it more valuable.

How long can you use a prescriptive easement in Washington?

Prescriptive easements – To obtain a prescriptive easement in Washington, one property owner must openly, hostilely, and continuously use part of another’s land for 10 years without permission. The laws for establishing a prescriptive easement are almost the same as the requirements for establishing adverse possession.

What are the two types of easements in Washington?

Types of Easements. Washington law sets out two main kinds of easement: Easements in gross – These easements give benefits to specific parties, regardless of what property they own. The party that benefits from an easement in gross usually cannot transfer those rights to another party. This kind of easement is common when, for example, ...

What can an attorney do for easements?

An attorney will also be able to assist you in negotiating an easement. Finally, an attorney will be able to represent you at any court hearings, should you be sued over an easement related to your property.

Where to file an easement?

Once you have a fully executed easement, you should then file the easement in your local county’s land records office.

How Do I Know If My Property Has an Easement?

However, the best way to know whether or not your property has an easement is to contact the County land records office or County Clerk’s office.

Do I Have to Give an Easement?

As mentioned above, an easement by necessity is an easement that is created by law to allow a person to have a right of access to their property. If your land is subject to an easement by necessity you cannot interfere with your neighbor’s use of the easement to access their home. In addition, some utility companies or cities are granted easements and recorded in the plat records long before homes are built on the land.

How to Determine Amount of Compensation for Easement?

Once again, there are some easements in which you cannot seek compensation for, as they are easements that the law allows for without any compensation necessary. However, the amount of compensation for private easements are often negotiated in real estate contracts. When negotiating an easement it is important to do the following:

What is an easement by prescription?

It is an implied easement gained under adverse possession. Meaning, someone other than the property’s original owner gains use or ownership rights to that property.

What is the legal right to use another person's property?

The legal term “easement” refers to the legal right to use another person’s real property, for a specific purpose and a specific amount of time. An easement gives a person the legal right to go through another person’s land, as long as the usage is consistent with the specified easement restrictions. Although an easement grants a possessory ...

What Is A Utility Easement?

A u tility easement is a designated parcel of land that gives utility companies the right to access private property for the good of the community. For example, a utility company may have the right to trim a tree in your backyard if it’s interfering with telephone lines.

What are the restrictions on a utility easement?

But the utility easement may prevent certain upgrades, such as installing an in-ground swimming pool or erecting a fence. Vegetation restrictions: The utility company may require regular access to a particular area ...

What are the rights of a utility company?

When you have a utility easement on your property, the utility company may have a range of legal rights. A few restrictions you might face include: 1 Utility company access without your approval: You may want to know who will be working on your property and when. But the utility company may not have to provide that information. 2 Restrictions on physical alterations: You may want to make an improvement to a certain section of your property. But the utility easement may prevent certain upgrades, such as installing an in-ground swimming pool or erecting a fence. 3 Vegetation restrictions: The utility company may require regular access to a particular area and constantly tear up your garden. Additionally, many utility easements limit the planting of major trees in a specified area.

What does an easement mean on a deed?

Although an easement will not mean that the property belongs to the utility company , it can place some restrictions on how you can use the property. With any easements, consider any restrictions you may face before signing the deed. All utility easements are designed to allow the company to serve the community’s needs.

What are the different types of easements?

There are other types of easements, such as private easements, easements by necessity, and prescriptive easements. But utility easements are fairly common.

What can a legal expert do?

A legal expert can help you determine what the best course of action is for your unique situation.

Can utility companies settle outside court?

Of course, utility companies will often prefer to settle outside of court than drain their resources in a lengthy court battle. With that, you may be able to reach a settlement if you’re reasonable with your requests. A legal expert can help you determine what the best course of action is for your unique situation.

What does it mean when a utility company has an easement?

An easement gives the holder the right to use the property owned by someone else. This article outlines the rights and obligations of utility companies and homeowners with respect to easements.

How to create a utility easement?

Utility easements are usually created by conveying a deed, a contract or a will. Easements can also be created ...

What Can You Do If Someone Is Unlawfully Using Your Property?

If there is an easement on your property, then you cannot interfere with it unless the easement is terminated. For instance, if there is an electric line that runs through your property, you cannot take it down.

What is an easement on a property?

In such cases, it usually means the utility company has an easement over the property. An easement gives the holder the right to use the property owned by someone else. This article outlines the rights and obligations ...

How are easements created?

Easements can also be created through prescriptive use. Prescriptive easements are created when someone else adversely, and without the permission of the owner, uses the land for a continuous period of time. Utility easements are usually created at the time the property was designed.

When are utility easements created?

Utility easements are usually created at the time the property was designed. You should, therefore, check if there is an easement on your property before you purchase it.

Can a utility company trespass?

If the utility company does not have an easement and is trespassing, you can file a trespass suit. However, you should make sure the utility company does not have an implied easement or an easement by prescriptive use. In certain situations, you may feel like the utility company is abusing its easement rights.