Prescriptive Easement

A prescriptive easement is a legal right to use someone else's property for a specific purpose, gained by openly using that property for a certain period, usually many years. This use must be continuous, without the owner's permission, and in a way that is obvious to others. Essentially, if you consistently use a pathway, for example, on your neighbor's land for many years, you might acquire the right to continue using that path, even if your neighbor objects. It balances property rights with the realities of long-standing habits and practices.