Houseguest's Abandoned Property

[krats1976]

My question involves personal property located in the State of: Texas

Situation:

As a favor to my church, I allowed a girl to stay with me for about a month. She has found her own place and told me she would move out by October 21st "at the latest." On the 20th, she texted that she was in her new place & would come retrieve her things. When she had not arrived by the 22nd, I texted her and told her she needed to retrieve her things by the next day at noon & that I would be changing the locks. After some back & forth (she wanted to come Saturday the 24th, so I gave her the times I would be available), she said she'd get her things by the 24th. While I was gone briefly on the 23rd, I came home to see her car pulling away. She had retrieved her things from the room & bathroom, but left a lot of things which I'd given her permission to store in the garage while she was staying with me.

So, since there is no lease & lien laws do not apply, at what point am I legally able to take her stuff out to the curb, or, better yet, sell at a garage sale to help pay for the camera & computer she stole from me (which she denies, and I have only circumstantial evidence for)?

[LawResearcherMissy]

Have you spoken to her yet about the items left in the garage? She is only three days past the date she said she'd pick things up.

You'd do well to send her a certified letter, giving her reasonable notice (say, 30 days) to come fetch her things, after which you will dispose of them as you see fit.

[krats1976]

Thank you for your reply.

I told her last week that she needed to remove all of her things from the house, which she said she'd do by last Saturday (the 24th). I realize that it's only been three days, but I want this woman out of my life as soon as possible.

I am changing the locks tomorrow & will then contact her again to give her a deadline. I don't want to contact her before because I don't want her trying to come in the house without my knowledge (she hasn't given me back her keys). She may come to pick up her things by the deadline (I'm thinking Saturday), but she has been dragging her feet for over a week, and I'm not sure she's processing that she needs to get all of her things out. Her replies seem to imply that she thinks she has my permission to keep her stuff here as long as she wants.

I need to know what my legal options are so that if she continues to drag her feet I can give her an ultimatum--i.e. "get your stuff by such-and-such a date or I will dispose of them."

Also, I don't have an address for her & doubt she'll give me one. Are text messages considered legally binding?