Legal Definitions - incumber

Definition: To incumber (commonly spelled encumber) means to place a burden or obstacle on real property.

Example: If a person takes out a mortgage on their house, they are incumbering the property. This means that the lender has a legal claim on the property until the mortgage is paid off.

Explanation: When a property is incumbered, it means that there is something that limits the owner's ability to use or sell the property. In the example given, the mortgage incumbers the property because the lender has a legal right to the property until the mortgage is paid off. This means that the owner cannot sell the property without paying off the mortgage first.