Chattel - Definition - Law Dictionary Home Dictionary Definition chattel

chattel

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[Old French chatel goods, property, from Medieval Latin capitale, from neuter of capitalis chief, principal see capital ]
: an item of tangible or intangible personal property
;esp
: chattel personal in this entry NOTE: In some jurisdictions the term chattel is restricted to items of tangible and movable personal property. Other jurisdictions also classify intangible assets and property items as chattels.

chattel personal
pl: chattels personal
: an item of tangible movable personal property (as livestock or an automobile) that is not permanently connected with real estate

chattel real
pl: chattels real
: an interest (as a leasehold or profit a prendre) in an item of immovable property (as land or a building) that is less than a freehold estate compare fixture NOTE: Interests that are considered chattels real have been treated by the common law as personal property despite being interests in real property.