I know I can’t just throw away mail addressed to someone who doesn’t live here. That’s not my question.

Apparently a friend of my son’s who does not have a fixed address has given my address as a place to receive some mail from a social services agency.

This is not okay with me.

I want to know (a) what I am obligated to do with it and (b) whether the use of my address constitutes any sort of obligation on my part—e.g., if there is an implication of the person’s residency or entitlement of any kind, or if the presumption of a relationship with me can come back to bite me at some future time.

The person has never lived here, and I did not give my consent for my address to be used. In fact, one envelope came before, months ago. and I gave it to them and said don’t do this again.

I’m willing to help them out, but I don’t want to be drawn into anything or have my address become part of someone else’s record.

Obviously it is up to me to tell them that they can’t continue to do this; but where do I stand with respect to what’s already been done?

Topics: law, legal obligation, postal address, nonresident, presumption of relationship