How long do I have to wait before getting rid of an exes belongings
Get Legal Help Today
Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
How long do I have to wait before getting rid of an exes belongings
Has been out of the house for 7 months,
and off of the lease for 5 months. What
can I legally do about her belongings?
Asked on July 18, 2018 under Real Estate Law, Pennsylvania
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 5 years ago | Contributor
If you and she were actually married, you cannot discard her belongings until after you divorce: the divorce will, among other things, specify what happens to these items. a
If you and she were not married, there is no hard-and-fast time limit. The best thing to do is to send her letter, sent some way or ways that you can prove delivery (e.g. certified mail; fax so you get confirmation of receipt; etc.), which details how long she has been gone, that she has left items there since then; what the items are; and gives her thirty (30) days at least to come and get them; and also states that if she does not retrieve her items, you will consider them abandoned or discarded and dispose of them. Then send her another such letter after fifeteen (15) days, reiterating the above, stating you she has not responded to your first letter, and stating that she now has 15 days left. If after all that she does not retrieve her items, dispose of them.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.