A depositary must deliver the thing to the person for whose benefit it was deposited, on demand, whether the deposit was made for a specified time or not, unless he has a lien upon the thing deposited, or has been forbidden or prevented from doing so by the real owner thereof, or by the act of the law, and has given the notice required by Section 1825.
Deposit in GeneralObligations of the Depositary
Section § 1822
If someone is holding something for you, they must give it back to you when you ask, unless they have a legal right to keep it as collateral (a lien), the true owner has told them not to give it back, or the law prevents them from doing so. They must also follow certain notification rules if applicable.
depositary deliver demand
Section § 1823
Basically, if you leave something with someone for safekeeping, they don't have to give it back to you unless you actually ask for it, even if you agreed to keep it there for a set period.
A depositary is not bound to deliver a thing deposited without demand, even where the deposit is made for a specified time.
depositary demand for return specified time
Section § 1824
If someone is holding something for you, they can choose to give it back to you either from their home or their workplace, whichever is easier for them.
A depositary must deliver the thing deposited at his residence or place of business, as may be most convenient for him.
depositary deliver convenient
Section § 1825
If someone is holding something for you—like if you left a valuable item with them—and something legally happens that might affect your ownership or their ability to return it to you, they must let you know right away. This is to ensure you're aware of any issues that could impact your property.
A depositary must give prompt notice to the person for whose benefit the deposit was made, of any proceedings taken adversely to his interest in the thing deposited, which may tend to excuse the depositary from delivering the thing to him.
depositary notice adverse proceedings
Section § 1826
If someone is holding onto an item for someone else but thinks it might actually belong to another person, they can notify this potential rightful owner. If the notified person doesn’t claim the item and prove ownership in a reasonable amount of time, and also doesn’t protect the holder from any claims by the person who initially deposited the item, the holder isn't liable if they return the item to the original depositor or make a decision affecting their situation regarding the item.
A depositary, who believes that a thing deposited with him is wrongfully detained from its true owner, may give him notice of the deposit; and if within a reasonable time afterwards he does not claim it, and sufficiently establish his right thereto, and indemnify the depositary against the claim of the depositor, the depositary is exonerated from liability to the person to whom he gave the notice, upon returning the thing to the depositor, or assuming, in good faith, a new obligation changing his position in respect to the thing, to his prejudice.
depositary liability wrongfully detained true owner
Section § 1827
If two or more people share ownership of something stored with someone else and can't agree on how it should be returned, the person holding it can give each person their share, as long as it doesn't damage the item.
If a thing deposited is owned jointly or in common by persons who cannot agree upon the manner of its delivery, the depositary may deliver to each his proper share thereof, if it can be done without injury to the thing.
joint ownership common ownership delivery disagreement
Section § 1828
This law says that if a bank account is set up in the names of two or more people, with instructions that the money can be given to any one of them or the survivor(s), the bank can pay out the money to any one of those people or to the surviving person(s) if one passes away.
When a deposit is made in the name of two or more persons, deliverable or payable to either or to their survivor or survivors, such deposit or any part thereof, or increase thereof, may be delivered or paid to either of said persons or to the survivor or survivors in due course of business.
joint bank account survivorship rights multiple account holders
