Legal Definitions - dominant estate

Dominant estate

Dominant estate, also known as dominant tenement, is a property that has the right to use an easement over another property. An easement is a legal right to use someone else's property for a specific purpose. For example, if a property owner has an easement over their neighbor's property to access a public road, their property is considered the dominant estate.

One example of a dominant estate is a property owner who has an easement over their neighbor's driveway to access their garage. In this case, the property owner's property is the dominant estate because it has the right to use the easement over their neighbor's property.

Another example is a property owner who has an easement over their neighbor's land to access a water source. In this case, the property owner's property is the dominant estate because it has the right to use the easement over their neighbor's property to access the water source.

The examples illustrate the definition of dominant estate by showing how a property can have the right to use an easement over another property. In both examples, the property owner's property is considered the dominant estate because it has the legal right to use the easement over their neighbor's property for a specific purpose.