Do you know of this law

Question

i heard once that there was a law saying that if you leave something at someones house for an extended period of time it becomes theirs. someone that i know went through a breakup and he left some things at her house. she told him he needed to come pick it up but he never showed so she drove to his town and tried to drop it off to him but he wasnt home. since then she has waited months and months and he hasnt even tried to get his things so she gave most of it away and sold some of it. now today he tells her he wants it back. help! what are her options and hav you ever heard of the law that im thinking of?

Answer 1

Posession is 9.10's of the law.. if he didn't come and pick em up and she was kind enuff to bring them to him and he wasn't home, then sorry its his loss.. she could do what she wants with the stuff, its legally not his anymore. if he had rented a storage shed and didn't pay the rent for six months they'd locked the door on it and sold it as they wanted to.. wouldn't of been much he could of done.. I'd say he snoozed he lost..

Answer 2

Yeah, she was an "involuntary bailee".  If she can prove she gave him notice and a reasonable time to collect his stuff, she should be okay.

Answer 3

This is referred to as abandonment.  I do not know when it becomes effective but as an example, if you leave your dry cleaning at the cleaners for a period of time, normally 90 days, the cleaners can claim that you abandoned the items and they will dispose of them.  It all depends on how long she had the items and whether she tried to get him to pick them up.  He might try and sue.  A lawyer would be able to tell your friend if she long enough before getting rid of the stuff.  In my opinion, not as a lawyer but as a reasonable person, I don't think she has anything to worry about.  But how will he take it? That could be the more important issue - will he try to take some of her stuff as compensation?  See a lawyer.

Answer 4

I think she is correct and blameless.

I know there is a law that if a vehicle is abandoned on your property for over 6 months, you can apply for an 'abandoned title' to the vehicle.

Why should it be any different for 'odds & ends'?

Have her get witnesses that will testify that she contacted him and tried to deliver his stuff.

She cannot be held indefinitely responsible for the junk some loser leaves at her house.

Answer 5

Well, I don't believe there is anything you CAN do. But if the man tries to sue her for anything, you can always state that she tried the return the items multiple times.