A person who holds or possesses property, whether lawful or not, is considered what?

The designation of a person who holds or possesses property, irrespective of the legality of that possession, aligns with the definition of an owner. Ownership encapsulates the concept of possessing property, giving a person rights over that property. This can include both lawful owners who possess their property legally and those who may possess property unlawfully, as ownership does not presuppose lawful acquisition.

In contrast, other terms like tenant, guardian, and custodian refer to specific roles with different legal implications. A tenant typically has a lease agreement granting them rights to use a property, but they do not own it. A guardian is responsible for overseeing someone else’s affairs or property, usually in the context of minors or individuals unable to manage their own affairs, which does not inherently involve ownership. A custodian may hold property for another party, often in a care-taking capacity, but does not have ownership rights over that property either. Thus, the broad and inclusive definition of ownership is what makes it the correct choice in this context.