An inheritance is either corporeal or incorporeal. Corporeal is that which can be touched and seen; incorporeal, that which can neither be touched nor seen.

Explanation

(English-origin maxim.) Inheritance extends to both tangible and intangible property — land and goods are corporeal, while rights, titles, and easements are incorporeal.

Where this applies

• An estate includes both land you can walk on and intangible rights like easements, and both must be distributed.
• A dispute arises over whether an intangible right, such as a right of way, passes to the heir.