Having a case where theft or loss of property is concerned means the responsibility of proving ownership falls on you. You have to provide proof to your solicitor that you owned the property in question and the value of that property. There are several ways you can do this to satisfy not only the solicitors, but also the courts. Here are a few of those methods and what you should know about each one.
Image Proof
One of the easiest ways to prove you had ownership of something is to show pictures of you with the item. For example, if you had a painting stolen from your home then you could show images of you in the home with the painting. This proves it was in your home at some point and that you had possession of the painting. This isn't an ironclad proof of ownership, but it does help. If you have pictures of the item for insurance purposes, that may also help your case since these images generally are a set of the image of the item plus any distinguishing marks or identification numbers, like a VIN for a vehicle.
Proof of Sale
You may have had your solicitors or judge state that a proof of sale would be required. This can be any form of receipt that shows you purchased the item, how much you purchased it for, and who sold it to you. If you bought a used vehicle or item from a private seller, then you may or may not have the receipt. Used vehicles tend to require a bill of sale that details the selling information or information related to the transaction. If you don't have this, it may be in your vehicle paperwork or with the local registration office.
Appraisal Certification
If you don't have a proof of sale because the item was given to you, or if you don't have an image because you didn't feel the need to have one then you may have an appraisal certification. Your solicitor can use this certification to show that you had ownership of the item and how much the item was worth at the time of appraisal. It will also give them someone to trace your ownership back to who saw you with the item in order to have it appraised.
Ideally if you have all three of the items listed here, then you have what you need to prove the ownership of the item and the value it may have held at the time of that ownership. Your solicitor can take this information and submit it into evidence for your case.
Share5 October 2015
No one gets married planning to get divorced, but by the time I see them it's pretty obvious why they are getting divorced. When a marriage is beyond repair I'm there to fight for my clients right's under family and property law and to get them the best deal I can possibly negotiate. Even if you feel like your case is messy or complicated, I can guarantee in my time as a lawyer I have seen and heard worse things! This site has a collection of useful articles and links on developments and case law in the Family Court of Australia.