How to Get Your Stuff Back – Legally – After a Breakup

Picture this. The year is 2021, and Taylor Swift just released “Red – Taylor’s Version,” which included a 10-minute rendition of “All Too Well,” depicting Swift’s 2010 relationship and breakup with actor Jake Gyllenhaal. Since then, everywhere you turn, there’s Taylor. And one big question that has fans in quite a frenzy is this:

“Should Jake give Taylor her scarf back?”

Whatever your opinion on the matter is, your personal property is just that: yours. Luckily, ARAG legal insurance covers personal property disputes so that you can reclaim what rightfully belongs to you.

The answer is pretty simple. According to ARAG (that’s us), personal property encompasses everything you own, except for real estate. Your money: Check. Your Webkinz^® collection: Double check. Taylor Swift’s winter accessories: Absolutely.

Personal property disputes can sometimes include a lot of grey area because you’re not legally bound to the person that you are at odds with like you would be in a divorce proceeding. But that can be a good thing, giving you more say of what’s yours versus what is determined for you by marital law: equitable division of the assets.

Okay, great. We understand what personal property is. But it’d also be nice to have some parameters of when disputes need an attorney to get involved.

Here are a few trusty examples that demonstrate possible plaintiff and defendant matters. ARAG legal insurance covers both.

• You loaned your childhood friend some money to assist with his cross-country move and he refuses to repay the loan.
• You sold your well-loved car “as is” and the buyer sues you for not disclosing the car’s problems.
• Your ex-partner kicked you out of your townhome and is holding your items hostage and asking you to pay rent.

When it comes to getting an attorney involved, there are a few courses of action that you can take using your ARAG legal insurance.

• A network attorney could help you draft a demand letter indicating what you, the member, would like back.
• If the letter doesn’t work, and depending on the value of personal property, your attorney could help you prepare for small claims court or a similar court with limited jurisdiction.
• And if the matter is outside the realm of small claims and is characterized as a general civil suit (think: car), then your network attorney could represent you at trial.

Have you listened to “All Too Well” by Taylor Swift?

Despite the online hubbub that this song caused, it doesn’t really sound like she’s aching to get the scarf back. So, maybe we leave an attorney out of this one. Just let us know, Taylor. We know how you like a strongly worded letter.