If My Grandfather Secretly Buried a Treasure Before He Died, Who Would It Rightfully Belong To? (Karma, Law & Ethics)

[dreamon]

I have a question and I'd really like to hear your thoughts.

Before my grandfather passed away, it's said that he buried a treasure somewhere on his land. However, he died without ever telling anyone where it was. All of his sons and daughters have heard the story, but there's no concrete proof that the treasure actually exists.

Now, let's say someone eventually finds it. Who would it rightfully belong to? How should it be divided, especially considering that some of my grandfather's children have already passed away and left children of their own (their heirs)?

There's another complication. Some members of the family don't even want the treasure to be found. Out of selfishness, they'd rather it stay buried forever than have it divided among everyone.

On top of that, if the treasure were ever distributed among the heirs, it would almost certainly become public knowledge. The rest of the family would find out, and eventually the authorities would probably learn about it as well, which could create serious legal complications.

From a legal, moral, and karmic perspective, what do you think is the right thing to do? If you were in this situation, how would you handle it?

 

[Mackaydon]

His property, his treasure. Read his will for the answer.
If he died intestate, a probate court would determine who gets it if found.
Don in So Cal

 

[ConceptualizedNetherlandr]

First - who owns the property where this might be hidden?

 

[pepperj]

Generally, the treasure belongs to the current landowner. When real estate is sold, the new owner legally acquires all rights to everything physically attached to or embedded in the land, unless a specific prior agreement or restrictive clause in the property deed states otherwise.

Because the original owner is dead, any claim made by the previous owner (the person who sold the land) or their estate is typically voided by the property transfer.

 

[rginn]

I would go with pepperj, but I bet it would wind up in the courts.