If a relative leaves belongings at your house after living there, what claims do you have to the items if they didn’t remove them after 3 years?
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If a relative leaves belongings at your house after living there, what claims do you have to the items if they didn’t remove them after 3 years?
My sister lived at my house for 1 year. She left some belongings stored in my basement. Its now over 3 years she gone, and I’ve told her many times to remove her things and she still hasn’t. Does she have any claim to her belongings she left or do I have claim to the belongings now?
Asked on April 12, 2012 under Real Estate Law, Pennsylvania
Answers:
FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
From what you have written, it seems that after a period of three years that your sister has abandoned the items stored in your basement. Under the laws of all states in this country, the long time period and her lack of interest in retrieving them suggests that she has no intent to get them. I suggest that you write her one more letter stating that if she refuses to retrieve them in 30 days, you consider the items abandoned and you will do what you want with them.
Keep a copy of the letter for future use and need.
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