In the context of estates of deceased persons who have died intestate on or after 1 October 2014, personal chattels is defined as tangible movable property but not:

(Section 3, Inheritance and Trustees Powers Act 2014.)

For intestate deaths before 1 October 2014, personal chattels is defined as carriages, horses, stable furniture and effects, motor cars and accessories, garden effects, domestic animals, plate, plated articles, linen, china, glass, books, pictures, prints, furniture, jewellery, articles of house or personal use or ornament, musical or scientific instruments and apparatus, wines, liquors and consumable stores, but do not include any chattels used at the death of the intestate person for business purposes, nor money or securities for money (section 55(1)(x), Administration of Estates Act 1925).

The statutory definition is commonly incorporated into wills by express or implied reference.

In the context of bills of sale (as a means of transferring or securing personal property), personal chattels include:

(Sections 4 and 5, Bills of Sale Act 1878.)