Legal Question in Civil Litigation in New Jersey

Except for certain types of property such as cars and boats where the procedures for abandoned property is fixed by law, there is no particular time limit. The common law rule is that the finder of lost property has title to it that is good against everyone in the world except the lawful owner. Such a finder can transfer good title to another person who takes without actual knowledge of the rights of the one who lost the property. As a practical matter, the true owner of lost property is limited by statute as to how long they have to sue for its return after the cause of action accrues. Courts differ on whether this is when the owner learns of the loss or when they learn of who found it. /p/ See also: http://info.corbettlaw.net/lawguru.htm