My property was seized for forfeiture, how do I file a petition, and/or a claim?

THE GOVERNMENT MAY CONSIDER GRANTING PETITIONS FOR REMISSION OR MITIGATION WHICH PARDONS ALL OR PART OF THE PROPERTY FROM THE FORFEITURE.

TO REQUEST A PARDON OF THE PROPERTY YOU MUST FILE A PETITION FOR REMISSION OR MITIGATION

  1. You may file both a claim and a Petition for Remission or Mitigation (Petition). If you file only a petition, and no one else files a claim, your petition will be decided by the seizing agency.
  2. The petition must be in writing and sent to the official address provided in the notice of seizure within thirty (30) days of the last date of publication on the forfeiture.gov website, or the deadline set forth in the personal notice letter. If no address is provided in the notice, then the petition should be sent to Associate Chief Counsel; Office of Chief Counsel; 99 New York Avenue, NE; Mail Stop 3N 600; Washington, DC 20226.
  3. The petition must include a description of your interest in the property supported by documentation and any facts you believe justify the return of the property and be signed under oath, subject to the penalty of perjury. See 28 U.S.C. § 1746.
  4. The authority to grant remission or mitigation in administrative forfeiture cases is given to the federal agency that seized the property. The ruling official in judicial forfeiture cases is the Chief, Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering Section, Criminal Division, Department of Justice. See 28 C.F.R. § 9.1.
Last Reviewed April 2, 2018