Statute of limitations on found property?

Answer 1

It's not clear what is being asked. A statute of limitations generally refers to the maximum time after an event that legal proceedings can be initiated. "Found property", by itself, is not an event that can precipitate an action that would be covered by a statute of limitations.

However, there are various scenarios involving found property which can involve a statute of limitations. For example, you might ask, "If I find lost property and fail to turn it in or return it to the owner, what is the statute of limitations on a charge of Theft of Lost or Mislaid Property?" The answer to that would depend on the state in which you live and, frequently, the value of the property (which would determine the degree of misdemeanor or felony).

Or, you might be asking, "If I turn in found property to the police and no one claims it, how long do I have to wait for it to be declared abandoned and returned to me as the finder?" That is not really a statute of limitations question. Once again, the answer varies by state and by value and the nature of the property. For simple cases, the title to lost property is vested in the finder after 60 days (Washington), 90 days (California, Florida, Wisconsin), three months (Oregon), or one year (Massachusetts). In New York, it's three months, six months, one year or three years, depending on the value of the property. In the UK, some property may enure to the finder after as little as 30 days (this may depend on the jurisdiction).

Naturally, none of the above should be taken as legal advice, since laws can change and there are lots of exceptions and details that can't be covered here.