My ex-business partner is refusing to let me retrieve furniture that I personally purchased on my own debit card. Is this allowed?

Lexi, Chatbot

I understand the situation can be frustrating. Did you have any written agreement regarding ownership of the furniture when you left the LLC?

Lexi, Chatbot

Have you tried to negotiate with your ex–business partner outside of legal action to resolve this matter?

Lexi, Chatbot

Is there anything else the lawyer should know before I connect you? Rest assured they’ll be able to help with your property ownership issue.

Attorney Matt

Hello and welcome to the site! My name is Barrister, and I’m a licensed attorney here to help with your situation. I know this is frustrating, and I’ll do my best to clarify your options. There may be a short delay as I’m responding to multiple customers, but I will address everything fully.

How is your former partner preventing you from retrieving your personal property? Have they done something like change the locks to the building?

Attorney Matt

That’s nonsense. If you bought the furniture with your own personal funds before the LLC even existed, it is your personal property — not company property.

You are legally entitled to retrieve it unless you’ve been locked out of the premises. If you are denied access or physically prevented from taking your belongings, your remedy is to sue for “conversion.”

Conversion is the unlawful possession or withholding of someone else’s personal property. In other words, if your ex–partner refuses to return items that belong to you, you can file a claim demanding their return or compensation for their value.

Attorney Matt

I see. So your attorney advised you to bring a police officer along for documentation — that’s a smart move.

Here’s what to keep in mind:

• The police are there only to keep the peace, not to determine ownership or make legal judgments.
• You don’t need to prove anything to the officer on the scene. Simply inform them you’re retrieving personal items and want the process documented.
• Bring your receipts, proof of purchase, and your attorney’s letter with you — not necessarily for the police, but in case your partner challenges ownership later.

Attorney Matt

If that happens — if he locks you out, threatens you, or refuses to let you take your items — your next step is to file a civil lawsuit for conversion.

That’s the proper legal remedy when someone unlawfully keeps or interferes with another person’s property. You can request either:

• Return of the property, or
• Monetary damages equal to the value of what was withheld.

If the value of the items is under the small claims limit in your state (usually up to $10,000), you can file in small claims court without hiring an attorney.