formschattel

Formschattel is a German-language term that appears in legal texts to denote movable property (Fahrnis) as distinct from real property (Grundstück). The term fuses Form (form) with Schattel, a historical or regional term for movable property, and is sometimes used to highlight that the asset is embodied in a tangible form and subject to transfer by delivery or possession. In civil-law discourse, formschattel has been employed in discussions of property rights, transfer of ownership, and security interests concerning movable assets, such as pledges (Pfandrecht) on chattels.

In practice, the concept is largely historical or theoretical. Modern German law commonly uses Fahrnis, bewegliche Sachen, or Sachenrecht, and governs transfer of movable property through possession, delivery, and registration where applicable. Contemporary scholarship may reference formschattel when analyzing old statutes, comparative law, or the underlying formation of property concepts, rather than as a standing legal category.

Related terms include Fahrnis, Grundbesitz, Grundschuld, Pfandrecht, Eigentumserwerb, and Sachenrecht (law of property). The term is not widely used in current legislation, and its definitions can vary among authors.