Legal Definitions - use

In a legal context, use refers to the right to enjoy the advantages or benefits of a property, whether it's real estate (like land or a building) or personal property (like equipment or a vehicle). This right to benefit from the property exists even if the person or entity exercising the right does not actually own the property itself. Essentially, "use" in this sense means having the entitlement to derive value or enjoyment from something without necessarily holding its title.

Examples:

• Imagine a situation where a homeowner grants a local water utility company an easement across a corner of their backyard. This easement allows the utility company to install and maintain underground water pipes. The utility company does not own that portion of the homeowner's backyard, but they have a legal right to use it for the specific purpose of providing water services to the community. This illustrates their right to benefit from the land without owning it.

• Consider a will that establishes a "life estate" for a surviving spouse. The will might state that the spouse has the right to live in and enjoy the family home for the remainder of their life, even though the legal ownership (the "remainder interest") of the house passes to their children immediately upon the original owner's death. Here, the spouse has the full right to use and benefit from the property – living there, maintaining it, and enjoying its amenities – without being the ultimate legal owner of the property's title.

• Think about a business that leases a fleet of delivery trucks from a commercial vehicle rental company. The business does not own these trucks; the rental company retains ownership. However, under the lease agreement, the business has the exclusive right to use these trucks for its operations, benefiting from their transportation capabilities for a specified period in exchange for regular payments. This demonstrates the right to use and benefit from personal property without holding its title.