How would you categorize bailments?

Bailments can be categorized as temporary because they involve the transfer of possession of personal property from one party (the bailor) to another (the bailee) for a specific purpose and for a limited duration. During this period, the bailee is responsible for the care of the property but does not hold title to it.

A typical example of a bailment is when someone leaves their car with a valet service; the valet has temporary possession of the car so that they can park it. Once the purpose of the bailment is fulfilled—such as the car being returned to the owner—possession reverts back to the bailor. This temporary nature differentiates bailments from other legal concepts that might involve longer-term arrangements or ownership transfers.

Conditions such as the purpose of the bailment or the responsibilities of the parties can vary, but the essence of bailment centers around this temporary transfer of possession.