What term describes the authority to control the disposition of goods, even if another party has physical possession?

The term that describes the authority to control the disposition of goods, even if another party has physical possession, is constructive custody. This concept refers to a situation where an individual holds the legal right to control and manage goods or property, despite not having physical possession of it.

In practical terms, constructive custody allows the owner to dictate how the goods are handled, transferred, or disposed of, based on legal rights rather than physical control. This can occur in various scenarios, such as when goods are held by a third party, but the original owner retains legal rights over those goods.

On the other hand, actual custody refers to the physical possession of goods, while legal custody is often used in the context of personal rights (such as in child custody cases) and is not typically applied to goods or property. Physical custody simply means having the goods in one’s physical possession without necessarily having the authority to decide their fate. Thus, constructive custody is the most appropriate term that covers the authority aspect regardless of physical possession.