Who owns a meteorite that falls on my land?
In many countries a meteorite belongs to the owner of the land where it lands, but this is not universal; some countries claim meteorites for the state or require them to be reported, so check your local law.
It sounds like a straightforward question, but the answer depends on where you live. Still, a few general principles apply in many places.
In a number of countries, including the United States, the general principle is that a meteorite becomes part of the land it falls on, so it belongs to the landowner, not to whoever happens to pick it up. A famous American court case from the 1890s, involving the Forest City meteorite in Iowa, decided in favour of the landowner rather than the man who dug the stone up. The 1954 dispute over the Sylacauga meteorite, which hit Ann Hodges in her rented home, turned on the same question: her landlady claimed it as the owner of the house. That is why meteorite hunters must always get permission before searching private land, and many agree in advance how any finds will be shared.
Other countries take a different view. Some treat meteorites as national heritage, so that a newly fallen or found meteorite belongs to the state or must be reported to a museum or government body, sometimes with a reward paid to the finder or landowner. In such places, keeping or selling a meteorite without permission can be against the law, even if it landed in your own garden.
Special rules often apply to public land, protected areas and land held in trust, and to meteorites that hit buildings or vehicles, where ownership may be disputed between householder and landlord or insurer. If a meteorite lands on your property, record where and when it fell, photograph it before moving it, handle it as little as possible, and contact a museum or university. Then check the law in your country, which varies and can change.