If you bought a house and later found a large quantity of valuable items within the confines of it, would you contact the entity you bought it from and let them know? This didn't happen to me, but to someone I know (I'll call him Fred for clarity's sake) "Fred" is a single dad and absolutely needs the money. He bought the house a few months ago and in tracking down a plumbing problem found very valuable items inside the walls. Anecdotally, he has been told by neighbors just in casual conversation that he ought to get a metal detector and search the yard, because according to them, "there's no telling what the previous owner (now deceased) may have buried out there." I don't know if the previous owner has any family or who the house was actually purchased from. I was talking with a close friend who knows Fred and his situation, and this friend said they would absolutely contact the previous owners' estate strictly from a moral duty to do so. I understand that mindset, but I also would think that Fred bought the house and therefore owns everything associated with the property, right? I am interested to see what this board has to say on this subject, and if it has any bearing legality-wise, the property is in Alabama. Thanks!