Which type of easement exists without a dominant estate, only a servient estate?

The type of easement that exists without a dominant estate, only a servient estate, is an easement in gross. This type of easement is a right to use someone else's land for a specific purpose, such as fishing rights, utility access, or right-of-way, and it benefits an individual or entity rather than another piece of land.

Unlike easements appurtenant, which involve two properties (a dominant estate benefiting from the easement and a servient estate that bears the burden), an easement in gross does not have this dual property relationship. The absence of a dominant estate means that the easement is attached to a person or organization, allowing them the right to use the servient estate without needing to involve another property.

Other choices offer different legal concepts or rights in real estate, such as licenses, which are temporary and can be revoked, and encroachments, which refer to unauthorized use of land that crosses property lines. However, neither licenses nor encroachments constitute easements, making easement in gross the clear correct answer in this context.