Am I liable for my ex-girl friends items left on my property?Hi. I own a condo in Pasadena, California. My ex-girl friend was living with me for the last three months at my residence. We broke off recently and she left my property but she did not take her furniture, electronics, a pet cat, clothes and kitchen utensils with her. Can I held be liable if she comes back after a week and lies that her stuff is missing or was damaged? All I want is for her to take whatever belongs to her. How can I legally make her take her stuff back and not be liable for damages or loss of her items?
Optional Information: Country relating to Question: United States State (if USA): California Already Tried: I have emailed and texted my ex girl friend, requesting her to take her cat and belongings.
Thank you for your question. Be sure to go ahead and bookmark www.nateanswers.com for future questions.You need to provide her with a mailed or personally delivered notice as described herehttp://law.onecle.com/california/civil/1984.htmlIf you mail it, the notice shall give her 18 days from the time mailed to retrieve her belongings. If she does not come get them, you can drop them off at the local police or sheriff's department for public sale. If they refuse to accept the property, then you can conduct your own public sale pursuant to California law.The entire process of disposing of abandoned property in this sort of situation is found in California Civil Code Section 1980 through 1991. If you follow the link I provided above you will see those code sections at the bottom of the page.
Experience: Over 8 years of legal practice.
Hi, I have a few more questions for you. Is it ok for me to stay there with her property? Can she come back and lie that her property was damaged or missing. How can I prevent from that happening?
Yes, it is okay for you to keep there. There is no obligation to move it elsewhere.Anyone can always say anything, so I would suggest you get some witnesses who can vouch that the property was not damaged. Also, if she comes to get it, take a video and pictures of it so that she cannot come back later and allege damages against you.
Sounds good. Also, I dont have her current address. I emailed her and texted her, but she wont give me her current mailing address. Can I send her a notice via email? Also, the electricity and internet at the Condo was under her name. Can I just call the power department and ask them to transfer it under me? Can I disconnect the internet and phone which is under her name?
As to the utilities, you can certainly transfer them to your name.As far as the notice requirement goes, if you don't have a good address, there is a provision in the laws I cited previously that allow you to provide notice through publication, i.e. running an ad in the newspaper.