Personal property · California
the short answer
Someone who takes your property, or who will not give it back after you ask, has to pay you what it was worth. You have three years from the day it was taken to file. If the thing was stolen and somebody received it or held on to it knowing that, California lets you ask for three times your damages and your attorney's fees on top.
source ↗Not yet checked against the statute.
governing statute
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penalty
Three times your actual damages, plus costs of suit and reasonable attorney's fees, where the property was stolen and someone received, concealed or withheld it knowing that. No criminal charge or conviction is needed to bring it. (Cal. Penal Code § 496(c))
source ↗Not yet checked against the statute.
limit
3 years
source ↗Not yet checked against the statute.
Across the country. 6 of the 10 states written up answer this the same way as California. The shortest is 2 years, as in Arizona; the longest is 4 years, as in Florida. Compare every state →
small claims limit
$12,500
source ↗Not yet checked against the statute.
exceptions: $6,250 if you are suing as a business rather than as a person.
source ↗Not yet checked against the statute.
your situation
Everything above is the law as it reaches everyone in California. What it means for you turns on facts only you have. Tell us what happened and we'll ask the same questions a lawyer would — about 90 seconds, free, and anonymous.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Written by an AI model, which can be wrong. Not a lawyer, and not a prediction about your case. Terms · Privacy
someone taking my property — state by state →other claims in this state →
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