Ownership needs rules. Property law is the body of doctrines governing how people acquire, use, transfer, and exclude others from land and goods.

It covers estates in land, concurrent ownership, landlord-tenant relations, easements, covenants, mortgages, and personal-property transfers. Recording systems protect good-faith purchasers. Constitutional takings rules limit uncompensated government appropriation of private property.

Property law balances owners’ rights with neighbors’ interests and public regulation such as zoning. Disputes over boundaries, title, and use fill court dockets. Clear title and well-drafted conveyances reduce conflict when assets change hands.

• Law of ownership and use of land and goods
• Includes transfer, financing, and shared interests
• Interacts with land-use regulation
• Supports markets through predictable title rules