Easements

New York City Easements and Title Search Attorneys

Hecht & Hecht, LLP, has extensive experience in assisting property owners in the New York City, New York, area protect their legal rights in negotiations and disputes regarding easements and rights-of-way . Such property rights may have been in existence for many years, and can require intensive research and legal analysis to determine the existence of easement rights and the exact nature and extent of such rights. Our easement lawyers have extensive experience in these matters and can help you create new easement rights, as well as with any questions or disputes that may arise regarding existing easements and rights-of-way. If someone is claiming the right to use your property under an easement agreement or right-of way, or if you have a right to use someone else’s property that is being blocked or impeded, our office can help.

Contact our office at 212.226.2400 to schedule your free initial consultation with an attorney.

New York Easement Litigation Attorneys

Easements and rights-of-way involve a limited right to use another person’s property for the benefit of your property. Such property rights can be established in deeds, by easement agreements, or through adverse possession (which involves the use of another’s property for a certain period of time).

Some examples of easements and rights- of way include:

• Shared driveways
• Emergency vehicle access roads
• Access needed to maintain property
• Utility company or government access
• Beach access rights in the Hamptons or other local beaches
• Lake access rights
• Boardwalk access rights
• Access to public roadways
• Access for utility and sewage lines

Disputes arise as to the following issues regarding easements and rights-of way:

• Scope of the easement
• Length and width of the area subject to the easement
• Location of the easement
• Who is entitled to use the easement

While it is beneficial to resolve such disputes in a neighborly fashion, which sometimes can be effectuated by the parties entering into a new easement agreement to control future rights, sometimes this is just not possible. It is important to realize if a dispute leads to litigation by a person who claims the right to use your property, they may file a Notice of Pendency against your property which can adversely affect your rights therein and cause problems in the event you seek to sell or finance your property while the property is encumbered.

Our attorneys can assist you in any stage of this process, by negotiating and drafting easement agreements to protecting your property rights in any litigation regarding easements or rights-of-way. We have extensive experience in reviewing property records to determine what easement rights exist, if any. Our review of such matters includes, but is not limited to, title searches and reviews of surveys, deeds, recorded agreements, filed maps and aerial photographs.

Personal Attention for All Your Legal Needs

In order to avoid the possible loss of property rights it is important to address any issues regarding easements and rights-of way quickly. Contact our office by telephone at 212.226.2400 to arrange for a free initial consultation.