What happens to real property when a tree is cut down from it?

When a tree is cut down from real property, it becomes personal property. This is based on the principle of severance, which occurs when something that is part of the land, such as a growing tree, is removed. Once the tree is cut down and separated from the soil, it is no longer considered a part of the real estate but rather is classified as personal property until it is disposed of or moved off the property.

In the context of real estate, real property includes land and everything permanently attached to it, such as buildings and trees that are growing on it. However, once a tree is cut, its status changes to personal property because it can be owned and transferred separately from the land itself. The other options do not adequately describe the legal transformation of the tree’s status after it is severed from the land. An easement is a right to use another's land for a specific purpose and does not apply in this situation, while the concept of transferring ownership to a neighbor is not automatically relevant unless there is a specific agreement in place. Therefore, recognizing that the cut tree is personal property captures the correct legal standing of items removed from real property.