Easements are considered to be:

Easements are classified as encumbrances because they grant a right to use a portion of another person's property for a specific purpose without possessing ownership of that property. This means that while the property owner still retains title to their land, the easement creates a limitation on their rights regarding how they can use that property. In legal terms, encumbrances can affect the marketability of a property, indicating that someone else has a legal right to use it for a designated purpose, such as access or utilities.

Ownership rights refer to the legal rights associated with owning property, which easements do not confer, as they do not provide ownership but rather a right of use. Property improvements typically involve physical enhancements made to a property, which is unrelated to the concept of easements. Legal documents are materials that outline terms and agreements, and while easements may be documented legally, the core characteristic pertains to the encumbrance on property rights rather than being classified solely as a legal document.