Which term denotes a nonpossessory right to use another's land for a specific purpose?

• A. Lateral Support
• B. Easement
• C. License
• D. Profits a Prendre

Answer: (B)

An easement is a nonpossessory interest that allows someone to use another person’s land for a specific purpose without owning it. This fits the description because the holder gains a defined use of the land—such as a right-of-way, a utility conduit, or a similar arrangement—while the underlying ownership remains with the grantor. An easement can be attached to the land and typically runs with the property, binding future owners.

Lateral support refers to the right to have neighboring land undergird and support one’s own land, which is about physical support rather than a use of the land for a specific purpose. A license is only permission to use land and can be revoked; it does not create a lasting property interest. Profits a prendre is the right to take natural resources from another’s land (like timber or minerals), which is a use-in-tact that involves removal of resources, not just using the land for a designated purpose.