{"id":353435,"date":"2017-05-16T17:09:48","date_gmt":"2017-05-16T22:09:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/injury\/torts-and-personal-injuries\/conversion.html"},"modified":"2025-09-08T15:41:24","modified_gmt":"2025-09-08T20:41:24","slug":"conversion","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/injury\/torts-and-personal-injuries\/conversion.html","title":{"rendered":"Conversion Torts and Personal Property Damage"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Conversion Torts and Personal Property Damage<\/h1>\n\n
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\n By Robert Rafii, Esq.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by FindLaw Staff<\/a>\n | Last reviewed\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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Conversion torts are similar to theft and property damage. These civil cases arise when someone deprives another person of their rights of ownership to personal property.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n

Your neighbor took your bike without asking and now the frame is bent. You can’t ride the bike in this condition, but the neighbor refuses to replace it. You could file a criminal complaint with the police, but that won’t get your bike fixed, nor is there any guarantee that the cops will actually do their job.<\/p>\n

You’ll likely want to reclaim the value of your personal property that was damaged or altered by someone else’s unauthorized use. If so, you can file a tort law claim for conversion.<\/p>\n

This article discusses which type of property can be converted, proving conversion, and property damages available to those affected by conversion. Get more direct help by calling a local personal injury lawyer<\/a> about your potential tort.\u00a0<\/p>\n

What Is Conversion of Property in Tort Law?<\/h2>\n

In personal injury law, this\u00a0intentional tort<\/a> is the civil law equivalent of a criminal theft charge. The legal definition of conversion generally includes actions that ruin or change how you can own and enjoy your personal property. If someone converts your property, you can no longer use it in the same way as before their interference.<\/p>\n

Conversion can occur when someone, acting without your consent<\/a>, does any of the following with your property:<\/p>\n