united-states mail
What is the legal stance of a person who receives misaddressed court documents
<p>Say an address were to recieve repeated traffic citations from security cameras to an individual who does not live at the address. The address on the citation was correct, but the person listed did not (nor has ever) lived at that address. All letters have been returned to sender, but no address change appears to have been processed. What is the legal responsibility of the property owner?</p>

<p>If it matters, this would be in the United States, with the recipient being in one state, and the complainant being in a different state.</p>

<p>You aren't allowed to open it or destroy it. (<a href="https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/1702" rel="nofollow noreferrer">18 USC 1702</a>).</p>
<p>USPS says (at <a href="http://faq.usps.com/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">http://faq.usps.com/</a>):</p>
<blockquote>
<p>If the mailpiece is delivered to the correct location but the recipient on the mailpiece does not reside at the address:</p>
<ul>
<li>Write &quot;Not at this address&quot; on mailpiece.</li>
<li>Don't erase or mark over the address.</li>
<li>Provide the mailpiece to your mailperson or drop into a Collection Box receptacle.</li>
</ul>
<p>Destroying mail that was not intended for you may be prohibited by US laws.</p>
<p>Willfully destroying mail is an act that may be punishable by the Federal Government.</p>
</blockquote>
