Full question:
I have recently separated from a 13 year relationship. We were not legally married. We owned a house together, and I bought out his half and am now the sole owner of the home. There are still a few of my ex's things here at the house. I have asked him repeatedly for months to come get these things. I have even offered to transport the things for him, but he always has some excuse as to why he can't collect his property. What can I do legally to dispose of this property? It is in the way and becoming a nuisance.
- Category: Landlord Tenant
- Subcategory: Return Personal Property
- Date:
- State: Texas
Answer:
In Texas, if you have property belonging to someone else that they have not collected after a reasonable time, you may have options to dispose of it. According to Texas law, personal property is presumed abandoned if the owner has not asserted a claim or exercised ownership for three years (Tex. Prop. Code § 72.101). However, since your situation involves an ex-partner and not a tenant, the rules may differ slightly.
You have already made efforts to contact your ex and offered to help retrieve their belongings. If they continue to ignore your requests, you might consider the following steps:
- Document all your attempts to contact your ex and request the return of their items.
- Consider sending a formal written notice stating that you will dispose of the items if they are not collected within a specific timeframe.
- If you ultimately decide to dispose of the property, ensure you do so in a manner that does not violate any laws or cause harm.
For further guidance, you may want to consult with a legal professional to understand your specific rights and obligations in this situation.
This content is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Legal statutes mentioned reflect the law at the time the content was written and may no longer be current. Always verify the latest version of the law before relying on it.