Finders of Personal Property

This lesson covers the law governing the rights of finders of personal property which is generally covered near the beginning of a Property course in law school. It addresses the possibility that the personal property might be lost, mislaid or abandoned because the true owner is unknown.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of the lesson, the student will be able to:

1. Restate the elements necessary for one to become a finder of personal property.
2. State the elements of abandoned property.
3. Relate the elements of lost property.
4. Evaluate the potential application of statutory changes to the common law regarding finders.
5. Explain treasure trove and its application in the United States.
6. Assess the relative rights of finders, owners and other competing parties.