When They Take Your Property
MCL 333.7521a — no drug forfeiture under $50,000.00 without a conviction, and MCL 333.7523 — 20 days to claim
A conviction first. Seized property is not subject to forfeiture unless a criminal proceeding involving it has been completed and the defendant pleads guilty to or is convicted of a violation of the article. The rule applies to proceedings initiated on or after August 7, 2019, where the aggregate value seized does not exceed $50,000.00, not counting contraband.
When no conviction is needed. The conviction rule does not apply if no one claims the property or the owner withdraws the claim, if the owner waives it, or if a charge has been filed and the defendant is outside the state and cannot reasonably be brought back, or cannot be located.
Twenty days to claim. For property seized without process and worth not more than $50,000.00, the owner is notified in writing or by certified mail. A person claiming an interest files a written, verified claim on the state court administrative office's form within 20 days after receiving the notice, or after its first publication.
No claim. If no claim is filed within the 20-day period, the property is declared forfeited. Unless the criminal proceedings are complete, it is not disposed of without the prosecutor's written consent.
Criminal forfeiture ordered as part of a sentence, federal forfeiture, and what may be seized in the first place are set out in other law that is not on this page. Whether a deadline has run, and what follows in a particular case, are questions for a licensed Michigan attorney.
Sources for this section (2)
- MCL 333.7521a — Civil asset forfeiture; conditions, requirements, and limitations
- MCL 333.7523 — Seizure; forfeiture proceedings; procedure
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Michigan attorney.