What defines a person as having standing to contest a search?

A person has standing to contest a search if they have personal rights to the area that was searched. This principle stems from the Fourth Amendment, which protects individuals from unreasonable searches and seizures. To demonstrate standing, a person needs to show that they had a reasonable expectation of privacy in the area or item that was searched. This expectation can come from various factors, such as ownership, possession, or having control over the area in question.

The requirement of personal rights signifies that the individual asserting the right to contest the search must connect themselves to the property or location in a way that implicates their own privacy interests. Thus, if someone has a lawful presence in the area or has a personal stake in the items searched, they can challenge the legality of the search.

Other options, such as being a close relative of the property owner or having involvement in criminal activity related to the search, do not meet the standing requirements under the Fourth Amendment. Clear ownership documentation is relevant in confirming property rights but is not strictly necessary to establish standing; what matters more is the individual's expectation of privacy in the searched area.