What refers to documents that are evidence of ownership of personal property, such as stocks or copyrights?

The term describing documents that serve as evidence of ownership of personal property, such as stocks or copyrights, is "intangible personal property." This category includes assets that do not have a physical presence yet hold value, differentiating them from tangible assets, which are concrete and can be touched or physically possessed.

Intangible personal property covers various forms, including intellectual property (like copyrights), financial instruments (such as stocks and bonds), and other rights that do not have a physical embodiment but can still be owned and traded. Stocks, for instance, represent ownership in a corporation and are documented via certificates or records, while copyrights provide legal rights to creators over their original works.

Real property, in contrast, pertains to land and anything permanently attached to it, like buildings. Tangible personal property includes physical items that can be touched, such as furniture or vehicles. The concept of owned property is too broad and does not specifically address the characteristics of ownership documented for intangible assets. Thus, "intangible personal property" accurately captures the essence of ownership through documentation for items like stocks and copyrights.