Legal Definitions - possessor

Definition: A possessor is someone who has possession of real or personal property. This means they are in control of it and have the right to use it. It can also refer to someone who used to be in possession of something but no longer is, and no one else has gained occupancy or has a right to gain it.

Examples:

• Legal Possessor: This is someone who has the legal right to possess property, such as a buyer under a conditional sales contract. They may not be the legal owner, but they have the right to use and control the property.
• Possessor Bona Fide: This is a possessor who believes that no one else has a better right to the possession. For example, if someone finds a lost wallet on the street and takes it home, they are a possessor bona fide because they believe they have the right to possess the wallet.
• Possessor Mala Fide: This is a possessor who knows that someone else has a better right to the possession. For example, if someone steals a bike and then tries to sell it, they are a possessor mala fide because they know they don't have the right to possess the bike.

These examples illustrate the different types of possessors and their rights to possess property. A legal possessor has the right to use and control the property, even if they are not the legal owner. A possessor bona fide believes they have the right to possess something, while a possessor mala fide knows they don't have the right to possess something but does so anyway.