Legal Classification of Goods and Property

Posted on Jan 19, 2025 in Law & Jurisprudence

Legal Classification of Goods

Things: Tangible objects which can be valued.

Goods: Objects which can be measured in terms of money.

The Civil Code classifies goods following a double criteria:

  • In Isolation or in Themselves:

    • Real Property (Immovable Objects):

      • Real estates due to their inherent nature.
      • Real estates due to their physical accession.
      • Accessories integral to real estates, not physically attached.
      • Documents or instruments pertaining to real estates.

    • Chattels or Movables (Movable Objects):

      • Livestock or animals that move by themselves.
      • Things that move with external force, like vehicles and vessels.
      • Solid and fluid objects separated from the soil, provisional constructions, and building supplies not yet added to any construction.
      • Public or private instruments recording personal rights, such as checks or I.O.U.s.

    • Things Which Can Be Object of Legal Transactions:

      All objects not deemed inalienable.

    • Things Which Cannot Be Object of Legal Transactions:

      Determined by law or encumbered by inheritance or wills.

    • Principal Things:

      Objects that can exist by themselves.

    • Accessories:

      Things united to or dependent upon a principal thing.

    • Divisible Goods:

      Goods not harmed by division into parts.

    • Indivisible Goods:

      Things destroyed or losing value if separated.

    • Consumable Goods:

      Items destroyed upon use.

    • Non-Consumable Goods:

      Goods whose existence does not end with first use, though they may deteriorate.

    • Fungible Goods:

      Items replaceable by others of the same type and quality.

    • Non-Fungible Goods:

      Items with unique characteristics, like sentimental value, that cannot be replaced.

  • Things in Connection with Their Owner:

    • Governmental Property:

      Owned by provinces, the nation, or a municipality, either privately or publicly.

    • Public Property Owned by the Nation:

      Goods belonging to the community, usable by all members according to local rules.

    • Private Property Owned by the Nation:

      Generally ruled by the same dispositions as goods possessed by individuals.

    • Goods Belonging to a Municipality:

      Goods acquired by each municipality, assigned by national or provincial government.

    • Goods Belonging to the Church:

      Ruled by Canon Law. Other religions follow ordinary laws.

    • Private Goods (Belonging to Individuals):

      Goods not fitting other categories, owned by natural or legal persons.

    • Waif Goods (Appropriable or Mostrencos):

      Goods with no apparent owner, appropriable according to legal restrictions.