In Part 2 of our forfeiture blog series, we will explain what the Appelman Law Firm legal process following a vehicle seizure.
As soon as a client retains Appelman Law Firm for a forfeiture defense, we immediately begin working towards the the goals of that particular client. This means setting realistic expectations for what the client may expect during the forfeiture process.
Vehicle forfeiture is a time-sensitive process. The longer you wait to hire an attorney, the less can be done to help your case. It is imperative that you contact a criminal defense attorney or forfeiture coordinator as soon as your vehicle has been seized.
Upon commencing with your case, Appelman Law Firm will need all of the pertinent information regarding vehicle ownership and the forfeiture. This includes…
1. Notice of forfeiture. This is typically served while the defendant is in custody and is given to the operator and people known to have ownership, possessory, or security interest in the vehicle.
2. Vehicle Title
3. Purchase Agreement
4. Insurance Card
5. Lien Information
After receiving this information, the criminal defense attorney are able to make a more complete assessment of the situation and construct the best course of action to obtain the most favorable results for the client. The first thing that ALF can do for their clients is afford them access to obtain personal property from the vehicle. You have the right to retrieve belongings such as work equipment, computers, briefcases, etc.
Regardless of the facts of the case, Appelman Law Firm always attempts to negotiate the release of the vehicle from police custody. This puts the client back in their car sooner and ultimately saves hundreds in civil fees.
This type of negotiation is called a buy back agreement. It is a negotiated agreement between the vehicle’s owner and the police which allows the owner to regain possession of the vehicle. This tactic is especially beneficial to the innocent owner who was not operating their vehicle at the time of offense. However, not all prosecutors are willing to accept buy back agreements. This is why it is especially important to retain a MN criminal defense team with experience in vehicle forfeiture.
Because of Appelman Law Firm’s experience and diligence, we are able to stay two steps ahead of the forfeiture process and thus, save the client time, money, and return their vehicle much sooner.
