What must occur for an easement to be terminated by unity of ownership?

For an easement to be terminated by unity of ownership, both the dominant and servient estates must be owned by the same individual or entity. This legal principle is based on the idea that an easement exists to benefit a particular parcel of land (the dominant estate) over another parcel (the servient estate). When the same owner acquires both estates, the rationale for the easement ceases to exist, as there is no longer a need for a right of use over another property.

As a result, the easement is effectively terminated because it lacks the essential characteristics of being a right enjoyed by one property owner over another. Ownership consolidation eliminates the separation of interests that the easement was designed to uphold. Other alternatives concerning cessation of the dominant estate or revocations do not inherently lead to the termination of an easement by unity of ownership in the same manner.