Easements and rights of way0 answersAI answer
My neighbor has always driven across a corner of my property to get to their garage. Do they have a right to do that?
Asked October 25, 2026
AI answer · not yet verified by a surveyor
They might. An access right can come from several places [1]:
- A recorded easement: check your deed, the plat and your title report.
- An easement by necessity: in some states, when a parcel has no other access.
- A prescriptive easement: created by long, open, continuous use without permission, much like adverse possession but for use rather than ownership [2].
- Simple permission: a license that can usually be revoked.
What to do:
- Look at your title documents and the recorded plat for any access easement.
- Ask a surveyor to show where the driveway sits relative to your line and any easements.
- Before blocking access or asking them to stop, talk with a real-estate attorney. Rules on prescriptive and implied easements vary by state, and the consequences can be serious.
General information only. Answers here are not a survey or legal advice, and no one here can tell you where your boundary is. For your property, hire a licensed land surveyor in your state; for legal questions, a real-estate attorney.