Criminal Defense
Louisiana Seizure and Forfeiture Lawyers
If police took your money, car or other property, we help you act quickly to contest the forfeiture and seek its return.
When police take your property
In Louisiana, police sometimes take cash, vehicles or other property during a traffic stop or arrest. This can happen if officers believe the money is connected to a crime, or that a car was used to commit one. Sometimes property is taken even when no one is arrested.
Many people never try to get their property back, often out of fear or because they do not know they can. You have the right to contest a forfeiture, and a lawyer can help you do it.
A common situation
A typical case starts with a traffic stop. Officers find cash, suspect drugs, or both. They may bring a drug-detection dog to the scene. They then seize the money, the car, or both, and you are left without your property.
How the stop was made, how long it lasted and how the search was carried out can all matter later.
How forfeiture works
Forfeiture is the legal process the government uses to try to keep property it has seized. In general terms:
- Someone with an interest in the property needs to file a claim to contest the forfeiture.
- There are short deadlines to file a claim, and the paperwork has strict requirements. If a claim is not filed correctly and on time, you may lose the chance to get the property back. Act quickly.
- Forfeiture is often handled as a civil proceeding, separate from any criminal case, and can involve the exchange of evidence much like a civil lawsuit.
- You may need to show you have a lawful interest in the property and explain where it came from.
What to do right now
- Keep every paper you were given, including receipts and any notice of seizure or forfeiture.
- Gather records that show where the money or property came from, such as pay stubs, bank records, titles or bills of sale.
- You have the right to remain silent and the right to a lawyer. Use both. Do not talk to police or investigators about the case without a lawyer, even if you think you can explain things. Say calmly that you want a lawyer, and then stop talking.
- Contact a lawyer as soon as possible because of the short deadlines.
How we help
We review how the property was seized, help prepare and file the claim, and push for the return of your money or property as soon as possible. If there is also a criminal charge, we coordinate the forfeiture case with your criminal defense so one does not hurt the other.
Our system presumes people are innocent unless the state proves otherwise. We became lawyers to make sure people get a fair hearing, including when the government takes their property.
Related practice areas
Frequently asked questions
Can police take my money if I was not charged with a crime?
Property is sometimes seized even when no one is arrested or charged. That does not mean the government gets to keep it. You can contest the forfeiture, but you must act quickly.
How long do I have to contest a forfeiture?
The deadlines are short and depend on the notice and the circumstances. Do not wait. Contact a lawyer as soon as your property is taken so the deadline is not missed.
Do I need a lawyer to get my property back?
The claim process has strict requirements, and mistakes can cost you the property. A lawyer can make sure the claim is filed correctly and on time and can present your proof of ownership.
This page is general information, not legal advice. Every case is different.