What defines a seizure of property in legal terms?

In legal terms, a seizure of property is defined by the concept of meaningful interference with an individual's possessory interest by the government. This means that when the government takes action affecting a person's ability to possess, control, or use their property, it constitutes a seizure. The key element here is the level of interference; it must be substantial enough to impact the individual's use or control over the property, reflecting the legal principles aimed at protecting private property rights.

The government must typically have a legitimate reason or justification to interfere, which can be related to law enforcement or regulatory actions. Thus, the definition underlines the importance of government actions in the context of property rights, ensuring that individuals have a clear understanding of what constitutes a violation of their possessory interests.

In contrast, requests for property documentation or mere interference without substantiality do not meet the threshold required to define a seizure. Additionally, a property owner selling their property involves a voluntary transaction by the owner, which does not relate to government action or interference in the same manner as a seizure.