What is the process by which real property can be converted into personal property?

The process by which real property can be converted into personal property is known as severance. Severance occurs when a significant item, which is considered real property due to its attachment to the land or a building, is removed from that property and is now regarded as personal property.

For example, when a tree is cut down and removed from the land, it transforms from real estate (a permanent structure) into personal property (a movable item) because it is no longer attached to the land. This concept is crucial for understanding property rights and ownership changes, as it outlines the distinction between personal and real property based on their attachments and statuses.

Other concepts like attachment refer to the process of affixing personal property to real property, converting it to real estate temporarily, whereas conversion typically relates to changing the nature of property rights or the classification of property without necessarily involving physical removal. Accretion, on the other hand, is a process involving changes to real property related to natural forces, such as the increase of land due to sediment deposits, rather than a distinction between property types.