How long until something left on your property legally becomes yours?

Get Legal Help Today

Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save

secured lock Secured with SHA-256 Encryption

How long until something left on your property legally becomes yours?

If someone leaves an item abandoned on your property, a certain amount of time must pass until it legally becomes yours. How long is that time?

Asked on July 20, 2010 under Bankruptcy Law, Florida

Answers:

M.T.G., Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney

Answered 13 years ago | Contributor

It never really "legally" becomes yours unless a Judge awards it to you in some sort of proceeding or you go through the necessary steps to locate and return the item to the rightful owner.  What is the underlying situation here:  Landlord Tenant?  Did you allow someone to store the items on your property (that is a bailment)?  If you do something with the items as against the ownership interest of the person to whom it belongs then it is considered "conversion" of the property and you could get in to a heap of trouble.  Abandoned property has to be labeled as such by a court. Seek help with all of this.  Self help will only result is your being sued when the rightful owner returns for the property.  Good luck.


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.

Get Legal Help Today

Find the right lawyer for your legal issue.

secured lock Secured with SHA-256 Encryption