The number of laws restricting the acquisition of cultural property-both in the United States and abroad-has increased rapidly, particularly since the 1970s, and the interpretation and application of these laws have changed significantly, even in the last decade. Those tasked with acquiring cultural property on behalf of their institution may find understanding the complexities of this rapidly shifting legal landscape challenging. Given the negative press the purportedly illegal and unethical collection of antiquities by museums has received in recent years and the recent application of laws that criminalize the acquisition of items defined as stolen by sweeping foreign patrimony laws, the task of collecting poses significant risk-both for museums as well as for staff acting on a museum’s behalf.