what is a chattel

Chattel is a term used to describe movable personal property, which can be tangible or intangible, except for real estate and things connected with real property. Examples of chattel include furniture, animals, money, and mobile homes. In the past, chattel was used to describe slaves and cattle. Chattel can be used as collateral for a loan, and a chattel mortgage is a type of loan that is secured by movable property. In property law, separate bodies of law have been developed to handle chattel property and real property.