movables

Movables, also called movable property or chattels, are property that can be moved from one location to another without changing its fundamental nature. They stand in contrast to immovables, or real property, such as land and buildings, and to fixtures that become part of real estate through attachment.

Movables include tangible objects like furniture, vehicles, clothing, machinery, inventory, and livestock, as well as certain intangible rights that can be transferred without moving physical possession in many legal systems, such as shares or patents. The boundary between movable and immovable can vary by jurisdiction; items permanently attached to land may be treated as immovable in some contexts.

Transfer of movables is typically accomplished by delivery of possession and by contract to pass title. Delivery can be actual or constructive (such as delivering a document of title for shares). Different regimes govern different forms of transfer—for example, sale of goods statutes cover the contract for movables, while gifts and bailments follow separate rules.

Security interests in movables are common. Pledges or liens provide creditors rights over the asset, and some systems recognize hypothecs or charges against movables without possession. Certain movables also require registration or title documents for transfer or security, such as motor vehicles, ships, and aircraft.

In many jurisdictions, movables are taxed and regulated differently from immovables and play a central role in inheritance, estate planning, and commercial transactions. The exact definitions and implications of movables versus immovables vary by legal system, reflecting different historical and practical approaches to property.