Legal title

Legal title denotes the juridical basis for acquiring, holding or transferring a right. In Swiss private law, a title may be a sales contract, donation, inheritance, judgment, administrative act or statutory rule. For property transfers, title alone is often insufficient: it must be combined with the required act of disposition, such as delivery of possession or land-register entry. The distinction between obligation and disposition is especially important in civil-law systems. If the title is invalid, consequences may include restitution, unjust enrichment claims or failure of the intended transfer, depending on the context.