How the “Notice of Forfeiture” is Published
Visit the Forfeiture.gov website to find the public notices of forfeiture or search for a specific public notice. In the past, the notices of forfeiture actions were published in the newspaper, now those notices are published on a government internet site.
Today, the rules allow for the online publication of forfeiture notices as provided in:
- Rule 32.2(b)(6) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure; or
- 28 CFR Part 8.9, Rule G of the Supplemental Rules for Admiralty or Maritime Claims and Asset Forfeiture Actions.
The Asset Forfeiture Management Staff (AFMS) of the Department of Justice (DOJ) manages the government’s website that contains a list of pending forfeiture notices.
The government’s website also explains how to file a claim for immediate court action to get the property back as quickly as possible.
Talk with us about the reasons to hire an attorney to make sure the claim is filed properly and to increase the odds that all of the money or property is returned.
Attorneys on Filing a Claim after the Notice of Seizure Letter
If you received a Notice of Seizure letter in the mail, do not attempt to file a petition until you speak with an attorney about the pros and cons of that approach.
Find out what the attorneys at Sammis Law Firm always recommend retaining an attorney to file a claim for judicial or court action. Filing the claim quickly forces the agency to turn the case over to the U.S. Attorneys Office.
The filing of the claim starts a 90-day deadline to either give the property back or file a forfeiture action in federal court within 90 days.
If the United States Attorney’s Office doesn’t file the claim in time, then your attorney can file a complaint to get the money back with interest, costs, and attorney fees.
Contact us to find out more about what the notice of seizure for forfeiture means and how to beat civil asset forfeiture.
Call 813-250-0500.
Federal Agencies that Seize Property for Forfeiture
The following federal agencies seize property for forfeiture including:
- CBP – U.S. Customs and Border Protection
- HSI – Homeland Security Investigations (under CBP)
- DEA – Drug Enforcement Administration
- ATF – Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
- FBI – Federal Bureau of Investigation
- USPIS – U.S. Postal Inspection Service
- IRS – Internal Revenue Service
- USAO – U.S. Attorney’s Office
Additional Resources
Search for a Notice of Forfeiture – Visit the notice search feature found on www.forfeiture.gov, managed by the Department of Justice to find the Public Search Notices. Enter the search criteria including keywords or various filters. For instance, you can use the Notice Letter ID by clicking on the link for petitions or claims. You can also search by Notice Letter ID after the online filing process has begun.
This article was last updated on Friday, November 26, 2021.
