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Article 1938 of the French Civil Code

He cannot require of the person who made the deposit, proof that he was the owner of the thing deposited.

Nevertheless, if he discovers that the thing has been stolen, and who the true owner is, he must denounce to that person the deposit made to him with a summons to reclaim it within a specified and sufficient time. If the person to whom the notification was made neglects to claim the deposit, the depositary is validly discharged by the tradition he makes of it to the person from whom he received it.

Original in French 🇫🇷
Article 1938

Il ne peut pas exiger de celui qui a fait le dépôt, la preuve qu’il était propriétaire de la chose déposée.

Néanmoins, s’il découvre que la chose a été volée, et quel en est le véritable propriétaire, il doit dénoncer à celui-ci le dépôt qui lui a été fait avec sommation de le réclamer dans un délai déterminé et suffisant. Si celui auquel la dénonciation a été faite néglige de réclamer le dépôt, le dépositaire est valablement déchargé par la tradition qu’il en fait à celui duquel il l’a reçu.

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