Property that is burdened by an easement, meaning the owner must allow someone else to use part of their land for a specific purpose. The servient estate serves the needs of the dominant estate, which holds the easement rights.
From Latin 'serviens' meaning 'serving,' from 'servire' (to serve). This Roman law concept distinguished between land that serves (servient) and land that benefits (dominant) in easement relationships.
The name says it all: the servient estate literally 'serves' another property! But here's the kicker—being servient doesn't mean being worthless. Beachfront property with public access easements can still be incredibly valuable, and smart owners sometimes profit by granting additional easements for utilities or access roads.
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