Connecticut Asset Forfeiture Lawyer

If you have had money or property seized by the police, oftentimes, you don’t know where to turn.

The law has specific rules about asset forfeiture, but law enforcement will make you feel like a criminal and won’t be the first to assist you in getting your property back. That is where we come in. The state of Connecticut, like the vast majority of states, authorizes civil forfeitures. The state can take your property if they have clear and convincing evidence. The evidence must prove that the property in question relates to criminal activity and thus subject to forfeiture. In addition, the state can take your car, or any cash you have. They can do this if they think it relates to criminal activity. This happens a lot in drug sale cases.

The lawyers of Ruane Attorneys have handled asset forfeiture for clients who have never faced arrest before, and also for people with pending criminal cases. When you have had your money or property taken by the state, you can trust our Connecticut asset forfeiture lawyers to help you with the process of getting your money back. The state has to prove that there is a connection with the property and a criminal act in order to seize and keep the money or property, and that is not as easy as it seems.

Things to Remember About Property Seizure

It is important to keep in mind that:

• Once your property gets seized, you have a burden of proof. You must prove that you did not know the property had use in connection with criminal activity.
• Sixty percent of the proceeds from asset forfeiture are retained by Connecticut law enforcement.
• The state also collects the bail bonds forfeited in criminal cases. This happens where a defendant released on bond does not appear in court.

Here are some additional facts to keep in mind.

• Connecticut, like most states, authorizes civil forfeitures.
• If the state has evidence that your property relates to criminal activity, they can take it.
• The state can take your car, or any cash you have if they think it relates to criminal activity. This can happen in drug cases.
• Once your property is seized, you must prove that you did not know the property related to criminal activity.
• 60% of the proceeds from asset forfeiture get retained by Connecticut law enforcement.
• The state also collects the bail bonds forfeited in criminal cases if a defendant who has been released on bond does not appear in court.

How an Asset Forfeiture Lawyer Can Help

If you had your money or property seized when another person was holding it, you also have an interest in getting it back.  Sometimes a person owes someone else that money or can prove where it came from  – like a tax return or a business that recently sold. Unfortunately, the police only look for the negative, and it becomes your responsibility to prove the innocence of your money. If a car was seized while you let another person borrow it, you can make a claim that it is yours, and it should be returned to you. There are mechanisms in the law to allow the police or prosecutors to take photographs of items like that so you can get your property back faster.

Naturally, you won’t have experience with asset forfeiture and the process of getting your property back, so it is essential that you contact someone who does. This can save you a lot of stress, frustration, and confusion. Having a criminal defense lawyer handle the situation for you can help you rest assured that everything possible is being done to get your assets back. In addition, if you have questions, you can always talk to your lawyer and easily get the answers that you need.

By working with an attorney, you can prove that the property seized has no connection to a crime that took place. While there is no guarantee that a lawyer can help you recover your property, this is your best option if you have had assets seized and you want them back.

Finding the Right Connecticut Lawyer for Asset Forfeiture

Find a Connecticut asset forfeiture lawyer who offers free consultations and won’t shy away from the tough questions. When you have had your money or property taken by the state, you can trust Ruane Attorneys to help you with the process of getting it back. Call us today.