💰 Can I keep money or an item I find in the street?

With conditions

Quick answer

It depends — "finders keepers" does not apply in Lithuania: a found item or money must first be returned to the owner, and if the owner is unknown, reported to the police. Under Article 4.62 of the Civil Code, a finder who cannot identify the owner must notify the police within a week and hand over the item, or keep it themselves. The find is kept for 6 months; during that time an owner who appears gets the item back after covering the storage costs. The key point people miss: if no owner appears within 6 months, the finder acquires ownership of the find, and if they decline it, the item passes to the municipality. For returning the item the finder is entitled to a reward — 5% of its value (Art. 4.64) plus storage costs, but not the whole find. And quietly keeping a find without trying to return it can be treated as misappropriation of property.

📋 The rules

A found item must first be returned to the owner, if the owner is known
If the owner is unknown — report to police within a week and hand over or keep the item (Art. 4.62)
The find is kept for 6 months; during that time the owner can reclaim it
If no owner appears within 6 months, the finder acquires ownership (Art. 4.63)
The finder is entitled to a 5% reward plus storage costs (Art. 4.64)

🔓 Exceptions

If the finder declines the find, it passes to the municipality
Treasure (hidden valuables) is governed by a separate rule (Art. 4.65)
An item found on public transport or in an institution is handed to its administration

⚠️ Penalties & fines

The biggest mistake is quietly keeping found money as if it automatically became yours. Taking no steps to return an item — especially when you clearly know the owner or could easily identify them — can be treated as misappropriation of another's property; depending on the value and circumstances, that is administrative or criminal liability. What people miss: the right to the 5% reward and storage costs arises only if you act honestly — report to the police or return it to the owner; a finder who misappropriates the find loses this right. If you find a bank card or documents, you may not use them, and using the card to pay would be a separate crime. In practice the safest course is to take the find to the police or leave it with the venue's administration — that protects you from suspicion and preserves your right to a reward.

📎 Official sources

Last verified: 2026-07-12

❓ Frequently asked

Can I keep money I find in the street?

No, when you find money or an item you must first try to return it to the owner, and if the owner is unknown, report it to the police within a week. Only if no owner appears within 6 months does the find become the finder's property, so you cannot keep found money straight away.

How long is a found item kept?

A found item is kept for 6 months from the notification of the find, and during that time an owner who appears can reclaim it. If no owner appears within six months, the finder acquires ownership, and if they decline it, the item passes to the municipality.

Is the finder entitled to a reward?

Yes, once the item is returned to the owner, the finder has the right to a reward of 5 percent of its value plus reimbursement of storage and delivery costs. However, this right applies only if the finder acted honestly, and a finder who misappropriates the find loses the reward.

What should I do if I find a bank card or documents?

You may not use a found bank card or documents, and you should hand them to the police or return them to the owner. Using the card to pay would be treated as a separate crime, so the safest course is to give the find to officers without delay.

What should I do if I find an item in a shop or a bus?

An item found on public transport, in a shop or in an institution should usually be handed to that place's administration, which stores it and tries to return it to the owner. Handing it over counts as reporting the find and protects the finder from suspicion of misappropriation.

🔎 Common searches

What people search to land here:

“can i keep found money”
“what to do with a found item”
“found property civil code lithuania”
“finder reward 5 percent”
“found money in the street law”
“how long is a found item kept”