Contrectatio Law and Legal Definition
Contrectatio means the act of laying hands on another person’s property with the motive of taking, misappropriating, or using the other person’s property. This term is derived from the Latin term ‘contrectare,’ meaning to touch or handle. Contrectatio implies a greater degree of culpability than just taking away another’s property without his/her consent. Under Roman law, contrectatio could rise to the level of theft.
