Simple English definitions for legal terms
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A chattel is something that can be moved or transferred, like a physical object that can be carried or delivered. There are two types of chattel: personal and real. Personal chattel belongs to a person, like a horse or a bow, while chattel real is something that depends on something else, like a box with land charters or a lease for a term of years. Chattel vegetable is a movable object made of plants, like timber or fruit. Local chattel is personal property that is attached to land, like a fixture. Unique chattel is something that is one-of-a-kind and cannot be replaced.
Chattel Real is a legal term that refers to a type of property that is movable or transferable, but is not considered real property. Real property refers to land and anything permanently attached to it, like buildings or trees. Chattel Real, on the other hand, includes things like leases or rents for a specific period of time, or a box containing deeds to land.
For example, if someone leases a piece of land for 10 years, that lease is considered a Chattel Real because it is a transferable property interest that is less than a freehold or fee. Another example of Chattel Real is a fruit tree growing on a piece of land, which is considered a Chattel Real because it is not permanently attached to the land.
Chattel Real is different from Chattel Personal, which refers to tangible goods or intangible rights that are not considered real property. An example of Chattel Personal is a car or a patent.
Overall, Chattel Real is a legal term that helps distinguish between different types of property and their legal status.