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PGeneralUpdated 2 Nov 2026

Personal property

Movable assets owned by an individual, such as vehicles, furniture, or equipment.

Definition

Personal property is often not real property such as furniture, jewelry and automobiles. It's more like intangible properties such as a contract, an idea for a product or an intangible asset.

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How the word shows up in a real conversation.

Personal Property refers to items that are non-physical in nature. This includes intangible items such as a contract, an idea for a product or an intangible asset. Personal property is not real property such as furniture, jewelry and automobiles.

In order to understand what personal property is, it is important to understand the difference between real property and personal property. Real property is tangible land; this includes buildings, land, and structures. Personal property, however, does not include land or buildings but rather intangible items such as contracts and products.

Common mistake

Using Personal property as a label instead of a fact. If you cannot point to the evidence — a number, a customer, or a written assumption — you are using the word as jargon.

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