Ownerless Property

in civil law, property that has no owner because of the voluntary refusal of the property by the owner or property whose owner is unknown. Ownerless property also includes unclaimed freight, mail (after the expiration of a special holding period), and unclaimed found objects. Under Soviet law, such property is transferred to state ownership (Civil Code of the RSFSR, art. 143). Ownerless property in a kolkhoz is transferred to the ownership of the kolkhoz according to the procedure established by law. Ownerless property must be distinguished from escheated property, which arises when a deceased person has no heirs.