What type of easement benefits a specific person rather than land?

An easement in gross is a type of easement that benefits a specific individual or entity rather than a parcel of land. This means that the rights associated with the easement are not tied to ownership of any particular property but rather belong to the individual who holds the easement. For instance, if a utility company holds an easement in gross, it can maintain utility lines over a property regardless of any changes in ownership of that property.

In contrast, an appurtenant easement is tied to a specific piece of land and benefits that landowner, enhancing the value of the property served by the easement. A right of way is generally a type of easement that allows for passage over someone else's property but can be classified under both appurtenant and in gross easements depending on the circumstances. A prescriptive easement is established through continuous and open use of a property over time without the permission of the owner, ultimately granting rights to use the land but is still linked to the land itself.

Thus, the distinctive feature of an easement in gross lies in its personal nature, differentiating it from easements that are inherently tied to a specific piece of property.