Legal Definitions - tracing

Definition: Tracing is the process of tracking the ownership or characteristics of something from its origin to the present.

For example, if you want to buy a used car, you might want to trace its history to make sure it hasn't been in any accidents or had any major repairs. This means you would try to find out who owned the car before, where it was driven, and if it was well-maintained.

In legal terms, tracing can also refer to the process of figuring out if a piece of property is separate or marital property in a divorce. This means you would try to trace the origins of the property to see if it was acquired before or during the marriage.

Tracing can also refer to the act of following a person's actions or movements. For example, if a robber steals something, the police might try to trace the robber's steps to figure out where they went and catch them.