Legal Definitions - corporeal ownership

Corporeal ownership refers to the legal right to possess and control physical objects that have a tangible presence. It is the ownership of things that can be seen, touched, and occupy physical space, encompassing both real estate and movable personal property.

Here are some examples illustrating corporeal ownership:

• Imagine someone who purchases a vintage motorcycle. They hold corporeal ownership of that motorcycle. They can physically ride it, store it in their garage, or sell it, because the motorcycle is a tangible item that they legally possess and control.

• A small business owner buys a commercial building to house their operations. This constitutes corporeal ownership of the building. They have the right to occupy the physical structure, make alterations to its interior, or prevent unauthorized individuals from entering, as the building itself is a material asset under their legal control.

• Consider a person who collects rare first-edition books. When they acquire a specific volume, they gain corporeal ownership of that physical book. They can hold it, display it on a shelf, or lend it to a friend, because the book is a tangible object that they legally own.