Opinion ID: 1598986
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Heading: Ownership of Lost or Mislaid Property.

Text: The rights of finders of property vary according to the characterization of the property found. In Goddard v. Winchell, 86 Iowa 71, 85-86, 52 N.W. 1124, 1125 (1892), this court set out some of the legal principles which apply. The general rule is that the finder of lost property becomes the owner thereof against the whole world other than the true owner. Id. at 85, 52 N.W. at 1125. Property is lost when the owner unintentionally and involuntarily parts with its possession and does not know where it is. Eldridge v. Herman, 291 N.W.2d 319, 323 (Iowa 1980). Mislaid property is that which the owner has voluntarily placed somewhere and then forgets that it is there. 1 Am. Jur.2d Abandoned, Lost, and Unclaimed Property § 2, at 4 (1962) [hereinafter 1 Am.Jur.2d]. The right of possession of mislaid property is in the owner of the premises upon which it is found, as against all persons other than the true owner. Id.; State ex rel. Scott v. Buzard, 235 Mo.App. 636, 642, 144 S.W.2d 847, 849 (1940). Property which has become a part of the natural earth is not subject to the general rule of lost or mislaid property. Goddard, 86 Iowa at 85, 52 N.W. at 1125. Such property belongs to the owner of the real estate upon which it was found. Id. Examples of this type of property are a meteorite, a prehistoric boat, valuable earthenware and gold-bearing quartz. 1 Am.Jur.2d § 4, at 6; Allred v. Biegel, 240 Mo.App. 818, 820, 219 S.W.2d 665, 666 (1949); Burdick v. Chesebrough, 94 A.D. 532, 537, 88 N.Y.S. 13, 15 (1904). Treasure trove is treated as lost and belongs to the finder as against all except the true owner. Zornes v. Bowen, 223 Iowa 1141, 1145, 274 N.W. 877, 879 (1937). Treasure trove consists of coins or paper money which is concealed by the owner; it carries with it the thought of antiquity such that it has been hidden so long that the true owner is not discoverable. Hill v. Schrunk, 207 Or. 71, 74, 292 P.2d 141, 143 (1956); 1 Am.Jur.2d § 4, at 6. Abandoned property is that to which the owner has voluntarily relinquished all right, title, and interest with the intention of terminating his ownership. Id. § 1, at 3. The finder who reduces abandoned property to possession acquires absolute title as against the former owner. Id. § 18, at 18. Although the real estate was abandoned by Opal's estate, we believe that it would be a completely unwarranted inference to conclude that the money found by the Church had been abandoned by its owner. The fact that it was buried in jars and tin cans indicates that the owner was attempting to preserve it. Likewise, the money did not bear the characteristics of property embedded in the soil. It is fairly to be classified as the type of property to which the true owner retains ownership as against the finder or the owner of the property where it is found. In applying the rules of ownership relating to lost or mislaid property, courts are in general agreement that if the original owner is deceased that person's heirs or legatees are entitled to lay claim to the property. United States v. Peter, 178 F.Supp. 854, 856 (E.D.La.1959), aff'd, 283 F.2d 696 (5th Cir.1960); Davison v. Strickland, 145 Ga.App. 420, 423, 243 S.E.2d 705, 709 (1978); Baugh v. Williams' Adm'r, 264 Ky. 167, 171, 94 S.W.2d 330, 332 (1936); In re Wright's Estate, 15 Misc.2d 225, 230, 177 N.Y.S.2d 410, 418 (1958); see also 1 Am.Jur.2d § 25, at 22.