Conversion

What is conversion in law and why should you care? If someone has ever taken your property, refused to return it, or acted like they owned something that was really yours, you already have a sense of the term. In this guide, we’ll explain the conversion legal definition, why it matters, and how it applies in real-world situations.

con·ver·sion

Noun

A conversion legal term that refers to a civil wrong where someone takes, uses, or controls another person’s property without permission. This wrongful act interferes with the rightful owner’s ability to use or enjoy their property.

The Basics of Conversion

Conversion in law is a civil tort — meaning it’s a legal wrong handled in civil court, not criminal court. It happens when one person “converts” another person’s property for their own use. In simple terms, it’s when someone treats your property as if it belongs to them.

While people often think of conversion as stealing, it is broader than that. Conversion can include:

• Taking property and refusing to return it.
• Using or altering property in a way that changes its value without the owner’s permission.
• Wrongfully claiming ownership of property that belongs to someone else.

WHO cares about conversion?

• You may not think about conversion until it happens to you. But if someone takes your belongings, refuses to give them back, or damages them while claiming ownership, the conversion legal term becomes very important. It provides you with legal grounds to seek compensation for your loss.

WHAT is conversion?

• What is conversion in law? It is the wrongful exercise of control over someone else’s property. Unlike theft, which is a criminal act, conversion is a civil wrong. That means you can bring a lawsuit for damages even if no crime has been charged.

In short:

• • Theft = criminal law.
  • Conversion = civil law.

WHEN does conversion apply?

Here are some examples that illustrate conversion in everyday life:

• Cutting down a tree: You have a large tree in your yard. Your neighbor dislikes it and hires someone to cut it down without your permission, then turns the wood into lumber or firewood.
• Taking furniture: Two roommates live together. Roommate A buys a chair. Roommate B takes the chair to their office, uses it, and pretends it’s theirs.
• Business property: A delivery company mistakenly sells your shipment to another buyer instead of delivering it to you. Even if they didn’t “steal” it, they interfered with your ownership rights.

WHY does conversion happen?

• Conversion often occurs when someone shows little regard for another person’s property rights. For example, if someone takes your cell phone and sells it online, that’s conversion.

But conversion isn’t always intentional. Sometimes it happens by mistake or through a genuine misunderstanding of who owns the property. Because of this, conversion in law is often considered a gray area that depends on the facts of each case.