Finder of abandoned property: When the owner has clearly abandoned property with intent to relinquish it, who obtains title?

• A. The owner retains title
• B. The finder gets title
• C. Police hold title
• D. The court awards title

Answer: (B)

Abandonment means the owner has clearly and intentionally relinquished ownership. When that happens, the property is effectively up for grabs by the person who takes possession with the intent to claim it as their own. In this situation, the finder acquires title to the property against everyone, including the former owner, because the owner has relinquished all rights.

This differs from lost property, where the finder has title against all but the true owner, and mislaid property, where the property is left somewhere and the owner of that place has some control. With abandonment, there is no living owner left to reclaim the rights—the finder’s possession with the intent to own is treated as ownership.