Legal Question in Real Estate Law in California

Re: When is Property Considered Abandoned

The technically correct answer depends upon whether the departed person was a tenant, guest, family member or bore some other relation to you. Assuming it was a tenant (or someone who would be treated like a tenant such as a roommate) the procedure your must follow is spelled out in some detail in the Civil Code.

Civil Code sections 1980-1991 cover the most likely situation. Note that section 1988(a) provides a simpler procedure for disposing of the property if it is worth less than $300 in total.

You can read the Civil Code at a county law library......there is one in every California county; also most general public libraries have the codes in their reference department.

Once you have reviewed the legalese in the Code and have a feel for it, maybe you can get some additional practical tips from one of the self-help law books on how to be a landlord or tenant's rights. These are also available at the library (usually) or a well-stocked bookstore.