severance legal definition

noun

1. A severing or cutting off; in criminal law the process of bringing a particular charge out of many so that only one issue, or a few closely related ones, is before the jury at a time, while reserving the right to bring other charges later; the separating of the claims of two or more parties for any of a number of reasons; the ending of a joint tenancy.
2. The removal of something attached to real property, such as crops or minerals, so that it becomes personal property instead of a part of the land.