Short answer. Yes. Article 719 of the Civil Code provides that if six months pass after the public announcement and no owner comes forward, the found item — or its value if it was sold — is awarded to the finder. Turning it in properly is the key step that preserves your right.
What the law says
Six months from the publication having elapsed without the owner having appeared, the thing found, or its value, shall be awarded to the finder.
Civil Code, Article 719 — What a Finder Must Do. Read the full provision →
The required steps before your right arises
Article 719 of the Civil Code sets out a specific procedure for found movable property. First, you must return it to the prior possessor if you know who that is. If the possessor is unknown, you must deposit the item with the mayor of the city or municipality where you found it. The mayor then makes a public announcement for two consecutive weeks. These steps are not optional — they are the conditions that activate your eventual right to receive the item.
What happens after the announcement
Once the announcement is made, a waiting period of six months begins. If the owner appears during that time, they reclaim the item. If the item cannot be safely kept without significant deterioration or expense, it may be sold at public auction eight days after the publication — in that case, what the finder eventually receives is the sale proceeds rather than the item itself. Six months from the publication having elapsed without the owner having appeared, the thing found, or its value, shall be awarded to the finder. Your compliance with the procedure is what makes this award available.
Expenses are reimbursable
Article 719 adds that both the finder and the owner may be required to reimburse expenses. If you spent money to preserve, store, or deposit the item, you are entitled to be reimbursed — either by the owner if they claim the item, or from the item or its proceeds if you ultimately receive it. Keeping records of any costs you incurred during the period between finding the item and its disposition is therefore worthwhile. The law does not expect you to bear these costs personally without compensation.
Why the procedure matters
Simply keeping a found item without reporting it does not give you any legal right to it — it may even expose you to civil or criminal liability. The six-month waiting period and public announcement exist to give the true owner a genuine opportunity to reclaim their property. Only after that opportunity has been properly offered and the owner has not appeared does the law transfer the right to you. Following the procedure correctly also protects you: if the owner later shows up claiming you kept their property illegally, your compliance with Article 719 is your defence.