diff --git a/src/Microsoft.AspNetCore.JsonPatch/Adapters/ObjectAdapter.cs b/src/Microsoft.AspNetCore.JsonPatch/Adapters/ObjectAdapter.cs
index 0ac2ebbe56..b1a487f088 100644
--- a/src/Microsoft.AspNetCore.JsonPatch/Adapters/ObjectAdapter.cs
+++ b/src/Microsoft.AspNetCore.JsonPatch/Adapters/ObjectAdapter.cs
@@ -362,10 +362,21 @@ namespace Microsoft.AspNetCore.JsonPatch.Adapters
             // Get value at 'from' location and add that value to the 'path' location
             if (TryGetValue(operation.from, objectToApplyTo, operation, out propertyValue))
             {
-                Add(operation.path,
-                    propertyValue,
-                    objectToApplyTo,
-                    operation);
+                // Create deep copy
+                var copyResult = ConversionResultProvider.CopyTo(propertyValue, propertyValue.GetType());
+                if (copyResult.CanBeConverted)
+                {
+                    Add(operation.path,
+                        copyResult.ConvertedInstance,
+                        objectToApplyTo,
+                        operation);
+                }
+                else
+                {
+                    var error = CreateOperationFailedError(objectToApplyTo, operation.path, operation, Resources.FormatCannotCopyProperty(operation.from));
+                    ErrorReporter(error);
+                    return;
+                }
             }
         }
 
diff --git a/src/Microsoft.AspNetCore.JsonPatch/Internal/ConversionResultProvider.cs b/src/Microsoft.AspNetCore.JsonPatch/Internal/ConversionResultProvider.cs
index bdf4122394..71af0d27fc 100644
--- a/src/Microsoft.AspNetCore.JsonPatch/Internal/ConversionResultProvider.cs
+++ b/src/Microsoft.AspNetCore.JsonPatch/Internal/ConversionResultProvider.cs
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 // Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0. See License.txt in the project root for license information.
 
 using System;
+using System.Reflection;
 using Newtonsoft.Json;
 
 namespace Microsoft.AspNetCore.JsonPatch.Internal
@@ -10,9 +11,44 @@ namespace Microsoft.AspNetCore.JsonPatch.Internal
     {
         public static ConversionResult ConvertTo(object value, Type typeToConvertTo)
         {
+            if (value == null)
+            {
+                return new ConversionResult(IsNullableType(typeToConvertTo), null);
+            }
+            else if (typeToConvertTo.IsAssignableFrom(value.GetType()))
+            {
+                // No need to convert
+                return new ConversionResult(true, value);
+            }
+            else
+            {
+                try
+                {
+                    var deserialized = JsonConvert.DeserializeObject(JsonConvert.SerializeObject(value), typeToConvertTo);
+                    return new ConversionResult(true, deserialized);
+                }
+                catch
+                {
+                    return new ConversionResult(canBeConverted: false, convertedInstance: null);
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+        public static ConversionResult CopyTo(object value, Type typeToConvertTo)
+        {
+            var targetType = typeToConvertTo;
+            if (value == null)
+            {
+                return new ConversionResult(IsNullableType(typeToConvertTo), null);
+            }
+            else if (typeToConvertTo.IsAssignableFrom(value.GetType()))
+            {
+                // Keep original type
+                targetType = value.GetType();
+            }
             try
             {
-                var deserialized = JsonConvert.DeserializeObject(JsonConvert.SerializeObject(value), typeToConvertTo);
+                var deserialized = JsonConvert.DeserializeObject(JsonConvert.SerializeObject(value), targetType);
                 return new ConversionResult(true, deserialized);
             }
             catch
@@ -20,5 +56,20 @@ namespace Microsoft.AspNetCore.JsonPatch.Internal
                 return new ConversionResult(canBeConverted: false, convertedInstance: null);
             }
         }
+
+        private static bool IsNullableType(Type type)
+        {
+            var typeInfo = type.GetTypeInfo();
+            if (typeInfo.IsValueType)
+            {
+                // value types are only nullable if they are Nullable<T>
+                return typeInfo.IsGenericType && type.GetGenericTypeDefinition() == typeof(Nullable<>);
+            }
+            else
+            {
+                // reference types are always nullable
+                return true;
+            }
+        }
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/Microsoft.AspNetCore.JsonPatch/Properties/Resources.Designer.cs b/src/Microsoft.AspNetCore.JsonPatch/Properties/Resources.Designer.cs
index ed567cf003..97c98c2b05 100644
--- a/src/Microsoft.AspNetCore.JsonPatch/Properties/Resources.Designer.cs
+++ b/src/Microsoft.AspNetCore.JsonPatch/Properties/Resources.Designer.cs
@@ -26,6 +26,22 @@ namespace Microsoft.AspNetCore.JsonPatch
             return string.Format(CultureInfo.CurrentCulture, GetString("CannotDeterminePropertyType"), p0);
         }
 
+        /// <summary>
+        /// The property at '{0}' could not be copied.
+        /// </summary>
+        internal static string CannotCannotCopyProperty
+        {
+            get { return GetString("CannotCannotCopyProperty"); }
+        }
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// The property at '{0}' could not be copied.
+        /// </summary>
+        internal static string FormatCannotCopyProperty(object p0)
+        {
+            return string.Format(CultureInfo.CurrentCulture, GetString("CannotCannotCopyProperty"), p0);
+        }
+
         /// <summary>
         /// The '{0}' operation at path '{1}' could not be performed.
         /// </summary>
diff --git a/src/Microsoft.AspNetCore.JsonPatch/Resources.resx b/src/Microsoft.AspNetCore.JsonPatch/Resources.resx
index 7381ad02fc..87ed5c0a17 100644
--- a/src/Microsoft.AspNetCore.JsonPatch/Resources.resx
+++ b/src/Microsoft.AspNetCore.JsonPatch/Resources.resx
@@ -117,6 +117,9 @@
   <resheader name="writer">
     <value>System.Resources.ResXResourceWriter, System.Windows.Forms, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089</value>
   </resheader>
+  <data name="CannotCopyProperty" xml:space="preserve">
+    <value>The property at '{0}' could not be copied.</value>
+  </data>
   <data name="CannotDeterminePropertyType" xml:space="preserve">
     <value>The type of the property at path '{0}' could not be determined.</value>
   </data>
diff --git a/test/Microsoft.AspNetCore.JsonPatch.Test/InheritedDTO.cs b/test/Microsoft.AspNetCore.JsonPatch.Test/InheritedDTO.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..a784a6304b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/Microsoft.AspNetCore.JsonPatch.Test/InheritedDTO.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+// Copyright (c) .NET Foundation. All rights reserved.
+// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0. See License.txt in the project root for license information.
+
+namespace Microsoft.AspNetCore.JsonPatch
+{
+    public class InheritedDTO : SimpleDTO
+    {
+        public string AdditionalStringProperty { get; set; }
+    }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/test/Microsoft.AspNetCore.JsonPatch.Test/ListAdapterTest.cs b/test/Microsoft.AspNetCore.JsonPatch.Test/ListAdapterTest.cs
index 799f6e9e89..077a179a40 100644
--- a/test/Microsoft.AspNetCore.JsonPatch.Test/ListAdapterTest.cs
+++ b/test/Microsoft.AspNetCore.JsonPatch.Test/ListAdapterTest.cs
@@ -174,6 +174,27 @@ namespace Microsoft.AspNetCore.JsonPatch.Internal
             Assert.Equal(new List<string>() { "James", "Mike", null }, targetObject);
         }
 
+        [Fact]
+        public void Add_CompatibleTypeWorks()
+        {
+            // Arrange
+            var sDto = new SimpleDTO();
+            var iDto = new InheritedDTO();
+            var resolver = new Mock<IContractResolver>(MockBehavior.Strict);
+            var targetObject = (new List<SimpleDTO>() { sDto });
+            var listAdapter = new ListAdapter();
+            string message = null;
+
+            // Act
+            var addStatus = listAdapter.TryAdd(targetObject, "-", resolver.Object, iDto, out message);
+
+            // Assert
+            Assert.True(addStatus);
+            Assert.True(string.IsNullOrEmpty(message), "Expected no error message");
+            Assert.Equal(2, targetObject.Count);
+            Assert.Equal(new List<SimpleDTO>() { sDto, iDto }, targetObject);
+        }
+
         [Fact]
         public void Add_NonCompatibleType_Fails()
         {
@@ -244,6 +265,60 @@ namespace Microsoft.AspNetCore.JsonPatch.Internal
             Assert.Equal(expected, targetObject);
         }
 
+        public static TheoryData<IList, object, string, IList> AddingKeepsObjectReferenceData {
+            get {
+                var sDto1 = new SimpleDTO();
+                var sDto2 = new SimpleDTO();
+                var sDto3 = new SimpleDTO();
+                return new TheoryData<IList, object, string, IList>()
+                {
+                    {
+                        new List<SimpleDTO>() { },
+                        sDto1,
+                        "-",
+                        new List<SimpleDTO>() { sDto1 }
+                    },
+                    {
+                        new List<SimpleDTO>() { sDto1, sDto2 },
+                        sDto3,
+                        "-",
+                        new List<SimpleDTO>() { sDto1, sDto2, sDto3 }
+                    },
+                    {
+                        new List<SimpleDTO>() { sDto1, sDto2 },
+                        sDto3,
+                        "0",
+                        new List<SimpleDTO>() { sDto3, sDto1, sDto2 }
+                    },
+                    {
+                        new List<SimpleDTO>() {  sDto1, sDto2 },
+                        sDto3,
+                        "1",
+                        new List<SimpleDTO>() { sDto1, sDto3, sDto2 }
+                    }
+                };
+            }
+        }
+
+        [Theory]
+        [MemberData(nameof(AddingKeepsObjectReferenceData))]
+        public void Add_KeepsObjectReference(IList targetObject, object value, string position, IList expected)
+        {
+            // Arrange
+            var resolver = new Mock<IContractResolver>(MockBehavior.Strict);
+            var listAdapter = new ListAdapter();
+            string message = null;
+
+            // Act
+            var addStatus = listAdapter.TryAdd(targetObject, position, resolver.Object, value, out message);
+
+            // Assert
+            Assert.True(addStatus);
+            Assert.True(string.IsNullOrEmpty(message), "Expected no error message");
+            Assert.Equal(expected.Count, targetObject.Count);
+            Assert.Equal(expected, targetObject);
+        }
+
         [Theory]
         [InlineData(new int[] { }, "0")]
         [InlineData(new[] { 10, 20 }, "-1")]
diff --git a/test/Microsoft.AspNetCore.JsonPatch.Test/NestedObjectTests.cs b/test/Microsoft.AspNetCore.JsonPatch.Test/NestedObjectTests.cs
index cc2e990997..ece1a6e3d6 100644
--- a/test/Microsoft.AspNetCore.JsonPatch.Test/NestedObjectTests.cs
+++ b/test/Microsoft.AspNetCore.JsonPatch.Test/NestedObjectTests.cs
@@ -1699,6 +1699,81 @@ namespace Microsoft.AspNetCore.JsonPatch
             Assert.Equal(new List<int>() { 1, 2, 3, 5 }, doc.SimpleDTO.IntegerList);
         }
 
+        [Fact]
+        public void Copy_DeepClonesObject()
+        {
+            // Arrange
+            var doc = new SimpleDTOWithNestedDTO()
+            {
+                SimpleDTO = new SimpleDTO()
+                {
+                    StringProperty = "A",
+                    AnotherStringProperty = "B"
+                },
+                InheritedDTO = new InheritedDTO()
+                {
+                    StringProperty = "C",
+                    AnotherStringProperty = "D"
+                }
+            };
+
+            // create patch
+            var patchDoc = new JsonPatchDocument<SimpleDTOWithNestedDTO>();
+            patchDoc.Copy<SimpleDTO>(o => o.InheritedDTO, o => o.SimpleDTO);
+
+            // Act
+            patchDoc.ApplyTo(doc);
+
+            // Assert
+            Assert.Equal("C", doc.SimpleDTO.StringProperty);
+            Assert.Equal("D", doc.SimpleDTO.AnotherStringProperty);
+            Assert.Equal("C", doc.InheritedDTO.StringProperty);
+            Assert.Equal("D", doc.InheritedDTO.AnotherStringProperty);
+            Assert.NotSame(doc.SimpleDTO.StringProperty, doc.InheritedDTO.StringProperty);
+        }
+
+        [Fact]
+        public void Copy_KeepsObjectType()
+        {
+            // Arrange
+            var doc = new SimpleDTOWithNestedDTO()
+            {
+                SimpleDTO = new SimpleDTO(),
+                InheritedDTO = new InheritedDTO()
+            };
+
+            // create patch
+            var patchDoc = new JsonPatchDocument<SimpleDTOWithNestedDTO>();
+            patchDoc.Copy<SimpleDTO>(o => o.InheritedDTO, o => o.SimpleDTO);
+
+            // Act
+            patchDoc.ApplyTo(doc);
+
+            // Assert
+            Assert.Equal(typeof(InheritedDTO), doc.SimpleDTO.GetType());
+        }
+
+        [Fact]
+        public void Copy_BreaksObjectReference()
+        {
+            // Arrange
+            var doc = new SimpleDTOWithNestedDTO()
+            {
+                SimpleDTO = new SimpleDTO(),
+                InheritedDTO = new InheritedDTO()
+            };
+
+            // create patch
+            var patchDoc = new JsonPatchDocument<SimpleDTOWithNestedDTO>();
+            patchDoc.Copy<SimpleDTO>(o => o.InheritedDTO, o => o.SimpleDTO);
+
+            // Act
+            patchDoc.ApplyTo(doc);
+
+            // Assert
+            Assert.NotSame(doc.SimpleDTO, doc.InheritedDTO);
+        }
+
         [Fact]
         public void Move()
         {
@@ -1752,6 +1827,77 @@ namespace Microsoft.AspNetCore.JsonPatch
             Assert.Equal(null, doc.SimpleDTO.StringProperty);
         }
 
+        [Fact]
+        public void Move_KeepsObjectReference()
+        {
+            // Arrange
+            var sDto = new SimpleDTO()
+            {
+                StringProperty = "A",
+                AnotherStringProperty = "B"
+            };
+            var iDto = new InheritedDTO()
+            {
+                StringProperty = "C",
+                AnotherStringProperty = "D"
+            };
+            var doc = new SimpleDTOWithNestedDTO()
+            {
+                SimpleDTO = sDto,
+                InheritedDTO = iDto
+            };
+
+            // create patch
+            var patchDoc = new JsonPatchDocument<SimpleDTOWithNestedDTO>();
+            patchDoc.Move<SimpleDTO>(o => o.InheritedDTO, o => o.SimpleDTO);
+
+            // Act
+            patchDoc.ApplyTo(doc);
+
+            // Assert
+            Assert.Equal("C", doc.SimpleDTO.StringProperty);
+            Assert.Equal("D", doc.SimpleDTO.AnotherStringProperty);
+            Assert.Same(iDto, doc.SimpleDTO);
+            Assert.Equal(null, doc.InheritedDTO);
+        }
+
+        [Fact]
+        public void Move_KeepsObjectReferenceWithSerialization()
+        {
+            // Arrange
+            var sDto = new SimpleDTO()
+            {
+                StringProperty = "A",
+                AnotherStringProperty = "B"
+            };
+            var iDto = new InheritedDTO()
+            {
+                StringProperty = "C",
+                AnotherStringProperty = "D"
+            };
+            var doc = new SimpleDTOWithNestedDTO()
+            {
+                SimpleDTO = sDto,
+                InheritedDTO = iDto
+            };
+
+            // create patch
+            var patchDoc = new JsonPatchDocument<SimpleDTOWithNestedDTO>();
+            patchDoc.Move<SimpleDTO>(o => o.InheritedDTO, o => o.SimpleDTO);
+
+            var serialized = JsonConvert.SerializeObject(patchDoc);
+            var deserialized = JsonConvert.DeserializeObject<JsonPatchDocument<SimpleDTOWithNestedDTO>>(serialized);
+
+            // Act
+            deserialized.ApplyTo(doc);
+
+            // Assert
+            Assert.Equal("C", doc.SimpleDTO.StringProperty);
+            Assert.Equal("D", doc.SimpleDTO.AnotherStringProperty);
+            Assert.Same(iDto, doc.SimpleDTO);
+            Assert.Equal(null, doc.InheritedDTO);
+        }
+
         [Fact]
         public void MoveInList()
         {
@@ -1801,6 +1947,71 @@ namespace Microsoft.AspNetCore.JsonPatch
             Assert.Equal(new List<int>() { 2, 1, 3 }, doc.SimpleDTO.IntegerList);
         }
 
+        [Fact]
+        public void Move_KeepsObjectReferenceInList()
+        {
+            // Arrange
+            var sDto1 = new SimpleDTO() { IntegerValue = 1 };
+            var sDto2 = new SimpleDTO() { IntegerValue = 2 };
+            var sDto3 = new SimpleDTO() { IntegerValue = 3 };
+            var doc = new SimpleDTOWithNestedDTO()
+            {
+                SimpleDTOList = new List<SimpleDTO>() {
+                    sDto1,
+                    sDto2,
+                    sDto3
+                }
+            };
+
+            // create patch
+            var patchDoc = new JsonPatchDocument<SimpleDTOWithNestedDTO>();
+            patchDoc.Move<SimpleDTO>(o => o.SimpleDTOList, 0, o => o.SimpleDTOList, 1);
+
+            // Act
+            patchDoc.ApplyTo(doc);
+
+            // Assert
+            Assert.Equal(new List<SimpleDTO>() { sDto2, sDto1, sDto3 }, doc.SimpleDTOList);
+            Assert.Equal(2, doc.SimpleDTOList[0].IntegerValue);
+            Assert.Equal(1, doc.SimpleDTOList[1].IntegerValue);
+            Assert.Same(sDto2, doc.SimpleDTOList[0]);
+            Assert.Same(sDto1, doc.SimpleDTOList[1]);
+        }
+
+        [Fact]
+        public void Move_KeepsObjectReferenceInListWithSerialization()
+        {
+            // Arrange
+            var sDto1 = new SimpleDTO() { IntegerValue = 1 };
+            var sDto2 = new SimpleDTO() { IntegerValue = 2 };
+            var sDto3 = new SimpleDTO() { IntegerValue = 3 };
+            var doc = new SimpleDTOWithNestedDTO()
+            {
+                SimpleDTOList = new List<SimpleDTO>() {
+                    sDto1,
+                    sDto2,
+                    sDto3
+                }
+            };
+
+            // create patch
+            var patchDoc = new JsonPatchDocument<SimpleDTOWithNestedDTO>();
+            patchDoc.Move<SimpleDTO>(o => o.SimpleDTOList, 0, o => o.SimpleDTOList, 1);
+
+            var serialized = JsonConvert.SerializeObject(patchDoc);
+            var deserialized = JsonConvert.DeserializeObject<JsonPatchDocument<SimpleDTOWithNestedDTO>>(serialized);
+
+            // Act
+            patchDoc.ApplyTo(doc);
+
+            // Assert
+            Assert.Equal(new List<SimpleDTO>() { sDto2, sDto1, sDto3 }, doc.SimpleDTOList);
+            Assert.Equal(2, doc.SimpleDTOList[0].IntegerValue);
+            Assert.Equal(1, doc.SimpleDTOList[1].IntegerValue);
+            Assert.Same(sDto2, doc.SimpleDTOList[0]);
+            Assert.Same(sDto1, doc.SimpleDTOList[1]);
+        }
+
         [Fact]
         public void MoveFromListToEndOfList()
         {
diff --git a/test/Microsoft.AspNetCore.JsonPatch.Test/SimpleDTOWithNestedDTO.cs b/test/Microsoft.AspNetCore.JsonPatch.Test/SimpleDTOWithNestedDTO.cs
index 879d820277..de089eb25f 100644
--- a/test/Microsoft.AspNetCore.JsonPatch.Test/SimpleDTOWithNestedDTO.cs
+++ b/test/Microsoft.AspNetCore.JsonPatch.Test/SimpleDTOWithNestedDTO.cs
@@ -13,6 +13,8 @@ namespace Microsoft.AspNetCore.JsonPatch
 
         public SimpleDTO SimpleDTO { get; set; }
 
+        public InheritedDTO InheritedDTO { get; set; }
+
         public List<SimpleDTO> SimpleDTOList { get; set; }
 
         public IList<SimpleDTO> SimpleDTOIList { get; set; }
@@ -21,6 +23,7 @@ namespace Microsoft.AspNetCore.JsonPatch
         {
             this.NestedDTO = new NestedDTO();
             this.SimpleDTO = new SimpleDTO();
+            this.InheritedDTO = new InheritedDTO();
             this.SimpleDTOList = new List<SimpleDTO>();
         }
     }