Accessio cedit principali is a Latin legal term that translates to "accession follows the principal." It is a fundamental principle in property law and refers to the concept that any additions or improvements made to a property become part of the underlying property and are owned by the same owner as the primary asset.
Under the principle of accessio cedit principali, the owner of a property automatically acquires ownership over any improvements, attachments, or additions made to the property, regardless of whether they were intentionally created or not. This principle applies to both movable and immovable property.
For example, if an individual owns a piece of land and decides to build a house on it, the house becomes part of the land and is owned by the same person who owned the land. Similarly, if someone installs a swimming pool or plants trees on a property, those additions become part of the property and are owned by the property owner.
Accessio cedit principali is based on the idea that the owner of the principal asset should also benefit from any enhancements or accretions made to it. This principle ensures a unified and comprehensive ownership of property, preventing disputes or confusion regarding ownership rights over improvements or attachments.
Overall, accessio cedit principali is a legal maxim that establishes the rule that any additions to a property naturally belong to the owner of the property, promoting clarity, efficiency, and stability in property ownership and transfers.
