Legal Definitions - civil possession

Definition: Civil possession refers to the fact of having or holding property in one's power and exercising dominion over it. It is the right to control something exclusively and the continuing exercise of a claim to the exclusive use of a material object. It can also refer to the detention or use of a physical thing with the intent to hold it as one's own.

Examples: A person who pays taxes on a property and grants rights of interest in it can be said to have civil possession of it. Another example is when a person intends to own a property even though they no longer occupy or have physical control of it. This intent to own the property is what gives them civil possession of it.

Explanation: Civil possession is a legal concept that refers to the right to control and use property exclusively. It can be evidenced by paying taxes on the property, granting rights of interest in it, or having the intent to own the property. The examples illustrate how a person can have civil possession of a property even if they do not physically occupy or control it.