Party wall easement describes what?

• A. An exterior wall on the boundary line between two lots where each owner owns half and has an appurtenant easement in the other half
• B. An easement by necessity
• C. A license to cross neighbor's land
• D. An easement that exists only for one year

Answer: (A)

A party wall easement is a shared boundary arrangement where a wall sits on the line between two parcels, and each owner has an ownership interest in half of that wall while also granting an appurtenant right in the other half. This means the wall is a joint feature that serves both properties, and the rights and obligations tied to the wall run with the land, not just for a single owner or a limited time. The description fits because it captures the idea of a boundary wall owned in halves with reciprocal, nonrevocable access for each side.

The other options don’t fit because a party wall isn’t merely a license to cross someone’s land (licensing is revocable and personal), it isn’t an easement by necessity (that arises from a need for access when there’s no other way), and it isn’t a temporary right that ends after a year.