Legal Definitions - corporeal thing

A corporeal thing refers to a physical object that can be perceived by the senses – something that can be touched, seen, and felt. In legal terms, it represents tangible property, meaning it has a material existence and occupies physical space, and can be owned or possessed. This distinguishes it from "incorporeal things," which are rights or intangible assets that do not have a physical form, such as copyrights or a right-of-way.

Here are some examples to illustrate the concept:

• A residential house and the land it sits on:

  A house is a solid structure with walls, a roof, and foundations. It occupies physical space, can be seen and touched, and is clearly a tangible asset that can be bought, sold, or inherited. Similarly, the land itself is a physical part of the earth.

• A fleet of delivery trucks owned by a company:

  Each truck in the fleet is a distinct physical vehicle made of metal, rubber, and other materials. It has weight, shape, and can be driven and maintained. As such, the trucks are corporeal things that the company owns and uses for its business operations.

• A valuable painting displayed in an art gallery:

  The painting consists of a canvas, paint, and a frame, all of which are physical materials. It has a specific size, weight, and can be physically moved, stored, or damaged. This makes the artwork a corporeal thing, despite its artistic and monetary value also having intangible aspects.