In general, the distinction rests on ordinary conceptions of physical mobility: immovables would be such things as land or buildings, which are thought to be ...MovableandimmovableSectionsArticleIntroduction&QuickFactsAdditionalInfoMoreArticlesOnThisTopicContributorsArticleHistoryHomePolitics,Law&GovernmentLaw,Crime&PunishmentMovableandimmovablelegalconceptPrintCiteverifiedCiteWhileeveryefforthasbeenmadetofollowcitationstylerules,theremaybesomediscrepancies.Pleaserefertotheappropriatestylemanualorothersourcesifyouhaveanyquestions.SelectCitationStyleMLAAPAChicagoManualofStyleCopyCitationShareShareSharetosocialmediaFacebookTwitterURLhttps://www.britannica.com/topic/movable-and-immovableMoreGiveFeedbackFeedbackCorrections?Updates?Omissions?Letusknowifyouhavesuggestionstoimprovethisarticle(requireslogin).FeedbackTypeSelectatype(Required)FactualCorrectionSpelling/GrammarCorrectionLinkCorrectionAdditionalInformationOtherYourFeedbackSubmitFeedbackThankyouforyourfeedbackOureditorswillreviewwhatyou’vesubmittedanddeterminewhethertorevisethearticle.JoinBritannica'sPublishingPartnerProgramandourcommunityofexpertstogainaglobalaudienceforyourwork!ExternalWebsitesByTheEditorsofEncyclopaediaBritannicaViewEditHistoryRelatedTopics:RealandpersonalpropertyPersonalpropertyTangibleproperty...(Showmore)FullArticleMovableandimmovable,inlaterRomanandmoderncivil-lawsystems,thebasicdivisionofthingssubjecttoownership.Ingeneral,thedistinctionrestsonordinaryconceptionsofphysicalmobility:immovableswouldbesuchthingsaslandorbuildings,whicharethoughttobestationaryinspace;movableswouldbesuchthingsascattleorpersonalbelongings,whichcaneithermovethemselvesorbemovedinspace.Thedefinitionisbynomeansrigid,however;thelawmaybesowrittenastoplaceaspecifiedthinginonecategoryortheotherforthesakeoflegalconvenienceorutility,eventhoughthethingmayseemillogicallycategorizedinthelayman’smind.Thus,inFrenchlaw,standingcropsaremovables;farmimplementsandanimalsareimmovables(largelybecausetheyarethoughttoservethelandandbeco