Rights/Duties of Finders and Owners

RIGHTS and DUTIES of FINDERS and OWNERS OREGON REVISED STATUTES ORS.98.005 Rights and Duties of Finder of Money or Goods: (1) If any person finds money or goods valued at $100 or more, and if the owner of the money or goods is unknown, such person within 10 days after the date of the finding, shall give notice of the finding in writing* to the county clerk of the county in which the money or goods was found. Within 20 days after the date of the finding, the finder of the money or goods shall cause to be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the county a notice of the finding once each week for two consecutive weeks. Each such notice shall state the general description of the money or goods found, the name and address of the finder and final date before which such goods may be claimed. (2) If no person appears and establishes his ownership of the money or goods prior to the expiration of the three months from the date of the notice of the county recorder under subsection 1 above, the finder shall be the owner of the money or goods. ORS 98.015 Liability of Noncomplying Finder; Forfeiture to County of Unreclaimed Money or Goods: If any person who finds money or goods valued at $100 or more fails to comply with ORS 98.005, the person shall be liable, upon conviction or violation of ORS 164.065, to the county for the money or goods or the full value of the money or goods. The county treasurer shall hold the money or goods or their value for owner thereof and shall publish notice of the finding of the money or goods in the manner provided in ORS 98.005. If the owner has not reclaimed such money or goods within three months after the date of the first publication of notice by the county treasurer, the owner shall forfeit the rights of the owner to the value of such money or goods and the value of such money or goods shall be placed in the general fund of the county to be used for the payment of the general operating expenses of the county. ORS 98.025 Rights of the owner: If an owner of money or goods found by another person appears and establishes his claim to such money or goods within the time described by ORS 98.005 or 98.015, whichever applies, he shall have restitution of such money or goods or their value upon payment of all costs and charges incurred in the finding, giving of notice, care and custody of such money or goods. For additional information or to make an appointment for the release of property, please call (503) 655-6214, Monday through Friday from 7:00 am to 3:00 pm, except holidays. The West Linn Police Department is located at 22825 Willamette Falls Drive, West Linn, Oregon 97068. *Mail a notice of finding to the Office of County Clerk, Second Floor, 2051 Kaen Road, Oregon City, OR 97045.