Legal Definitions - abut

Definition: Abut means to directly border. In property law, it often refers to the rights of landowners who share a boundary.

For example, if you own a property that abuts a public road or sidewalk, you are not responsible for keeping those areas safe. However, you may have to pay higher taxes because your property is considered more valuable due to its location.

In some cases, a landowner may have an implied easement by necessity to cross another person's property. This means that even if the property owner does not want the easement to exist, they may still be required to allow the neighboring landowner to cross their land.

For instance, if your property is surrounded by other properties and the only way to access the road is by crossing your neighbor's land, they may have an implied easement by necessity to cross your property.

Overall, abut refers to the direct bordering of properties and the legal rights and responsibilities that come with it.