Legal Definitions - res derelicta

Res derelicta refers to property that an owner has intentionally abandoned. This means the owner has voluntarily given up all rights, title, and interest in the property, with no intention of reclaiming it.

Here are some examples to illustrate this concept:

• Example 1: Discarded Furniture
  A person moving out of their home places an old, broken armchair on the sidewalk with a "Free" sign, intending for it to be taken by anyone or picked up by waste management. They have no desire to keep it or retrieve it.

  How it illustrates the term: By placing the armchair on the sidewalk for disposal or giveaway, the owner has clearly demonstrated an intent to relinquish all ownership rights, making the armchair res derelicta.

• Example 2: Left-Behind Items After a Move
  After a business closes its office and moves to a new location, the former tenant leaves behind several outdated computers and filing cabinets, informing the landlord that they no longer want these items and will not be returning for them.

  How it illustrates the term: The business's explicit statement to the landlord and their act of leaving the items behind, with no intention of retrieval, signifies an intentional abandonment of the property, thus classifying the computers and cabinets as res derelicta.

• Example 3: Intentional Disposal of Valuables
  A person, after a significant life event, deliberately throws a box containing old jewelry and personal mementos into a public waste bin, having decided they no longer wish to possess these items and want them permanently disposed of.

  How it illustrates the term: Despite the potential monetary or sentimental value, the owner's deliberate act of discarding the items in a manner that indicates no desire for their return demonstrates the clear intent to abandon, rendering them res derelicta.