Which party in a bailment agreement typically does not have ownership of the object?

In a bailment agreement, the bailee is the party that receives the item for a specific purpose, such as storage, maintenance, or use, but does not own it. The essential characteristic of bailment is that the ownership of the property remains with the bailor, who is the owner of the item being bailed. The bailee has temporary possession and is responsible for the property while it is in their care, but this does not equate to ownership.

Ownership refers to the legal rights associated with the property, and since the bailee does not have these rights—but rather a limited responsibility and authority over the use of the property—they are not considered the owner in the context of the agreement. The bailor retains ownership throughout the bailment period, allowing for the distinction between possessing the object and owning it.