propertylaw

Property law is the area of law that governs the rights and obligations related to possessions and interests in resources. It covers how property is acquired, used, transferred, and extinguished, and it distinguishes between different categories such as real property (land and interests in land), personal property (movable items), and certain intangible rights often treated as property, including intellectual property and contractual rights.

Central concepts include ownership and possession, the "bundle of rights" framework (use, exclude, transfer, and derive income), and estates in land (freehold, leasehold). Property law regulates transactions (sale, gift, inheritance), encumbrances (mortgages, liens), and nonpossessory rights (easements, covenants). Doctrines such as adverse possession, landlord-tenant law, and rules on fixtures shape how disputes are resolved. States exercise regulatory powers via zoning, planning, and eminent domain (compulsory purchase), balancing private interests with public needs.

Sources of property law combine statutes, judicial decisions, and administrative regimes; systems vary internationally and between civil and common law jurisdictions. Modern developments include land and title registration systems, consumer protection in housing, and tensions between traditional property concepts and communal or indigenous land rights. Disputes are typically resolved through negotiation, administrative processes, and courts, with remedies including damages, injunctions, and declaratory relief. Property law plays a central role in economic organization, personal security, and social policy.