Seizure and Forfeiture of Property in Escambia County, FL

If the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office or the Pensacola Police Department took your cash, vehicle, or other property, the seizure was made under the Florida Contraband Forfeiture Act, Sections 932.701–932.706, Florida Statutes.
For the most part under Florida law, forfeiture is civil, not criminal. For that reason, the agency can seize your property even if no one is ever arrested. After a seizure, you should receive a written Notice of Seizure describing your right to a hearing. Read it immediately. You have only 15 days to demand an adversarial preliminary hearing (APH). That hearing is frequently the best chance to force the early return of your property.

Interdiction at Florida’s Western Gateway

Escambia County is the westernmost county in Florida, where Interstate 10 crosses in from Alabama. That gateway, along with US-29 and US-90, makes the county a frequent site of highway interdiction stops. Cash and vehicles are often seized on a claim that the property is connected to drug activity. A stop is not proof. The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office handles vehicle releases through a dedicated forfeiture office, and the law gives you the right to challenge the seizure.

Our asset forfeiture attorneys represent property owners throughout Escambia County, including Pensacola, Pensacola Beach, Perdido Key, and Century. We can file the demand for an APH, negotiate the early release of your property, and litigate the case to a jury if needed. Many cases are handled on a contingency fee, so you pay nothing unless we recover your property. Call (813) 250-0500.

Agencies That Seize Property in Escambia County

Escambia County is served by the First Judicial Circuit. The circuit also covers Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, and Walton counties. Civil forfeiture complaints filed by an Escambia County agency are heard in the civil division of the circuit court at the M.C. Blanchard Judicial Building, 190 W. Government Street, Pensacola, FL 32502.

The following agencies in Escambia County seize property for forfeiture:

• Escambia County Sheriff’s Office (ECSO)
• Pensacola Police Department
• Florida Highway Patrol (FHP)

Forfeiture Deadlines in Escambia County

The following deadlines apply in forfeiture cases under state law:

• The Notice of Seizure must be served within 5 working days of the seizure.
• You have 15 days after the notice to demand an adversarial preliminary hearing by certified mail.
• The agency must apply for a probable cause determination within 10 business days.
• The agency must file its forfeiture complaint within 45 days.
• You have 20 days after being served with the complaint to answer and demand a jury trial.

The Hearing, the Trial, and Your Right to Fees

At the adversarial preliminary hearing, the court decides only whether probable cause supports the seizure. A finding of no probable cause ends the forfeiture and can entitle you to up to $2,000 in attorney fees. If the case proceeds to trial, you are entitled to a jury. The seizing agency must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the property was used in violation of the Act before it can keep it. If your money or vehicle was seized anywhere in Escambia County, call (813) 250-0500 for a free and confidential consultation.

This article was last updated on Tuesday, June 9, 2026.