In rem is Latin for "in a thing". In a lawsuit, an action in rem is irected towards some specific piece of property, rather than being a claim for, say, monetary compensation against a person (which is an in personam or personal action). It focuses on proprietary title to property. Land is an example of a case where, when the title (e.g. who owns a house) is in dispute, an in rem action is used to deliver the land itself back to the rightful owner.