Is it illegal to throw away mail that was not addressed to you?

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Is it illegal to throw away mail that was not addressed to you?

My stepmother threw away mail that was addressed to me because it was returned because i did not put enough postage on it. She told me it came back, then when i went to get it she told me she threw it away. Can I press charges on her for that?

Asked on February 5, 2012 under Criminal Law, Georgia

Answers:

MD, Member, California Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney

Answered 12 years ago | Contributor

Your stepmother was not allowed to legally throw it out. What she should have done was locate you since you still live at the home. If you press charges, you would need to check with the postal inspector general to see if this is something they would prosecute and how far up the priority list it would be. Further, be prepared to show damages. If this was a bill, you have to mitigate your damages. This step could be contacting the creditor and explaining what occurred and asking for an extension so there are no damages to simply re-mailing what you intended to mail in the first place if it can be re-created.


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