Seizure and Forfeiture of Property in Gulf County, FL

If the Gulf County Sheriff’s Office or a local police department took your cash, vehicle, vessel, 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.

Attorney for Forfeiture in Gulf County, FL

Gulf County runs from the beaches of Cape San Blas and St. Joseph Bay inland to the Dead Lakes near Wewahitchka. Local forfeiture cases can involve cash and vehicles seized during traffic stops on US-98 and State Road 71, as well as boats and vessels seized on the bay and the lakes.

The Forfeiture Act allows the seizure of vessels, not just cars and currency, when an agency claims a connection to unlawful activity. A stop or a search is not proof. The law gives you the right to challenge the seizure.

Our asset forfeiture attorneys represent property owners throughout Gulf County, including Port St. Joe, Wewahitchka, and Cape San Blas. 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 Gulf County, FL

The following agencies in Gulf County seize property for forfeiture:

• Gulf County Sheriff’s Office
• Port St. Joe Police Department
• Wewahitchka Police Department
• Florida Highway Patrol (FHP)
• Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC)

Gulf County is served by the Fourteenth Judicial Circuit. The circuit also covers Bay, Calhoun, Holmes, Jackson, and Washington counties. Civil forfeiture complaints filed by a Gulf County agency are heard in the civil division of the circuit court at the Gulf County Courthouse, 1000 Cecil G. Costin Sr. Boulevard, Port St. Joe, FL 32456.

Forfeiture Deadlines in Gulf 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.

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. Special rules can apply when property is seized for forfeiture by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).

If your money, vehicle, or vessel was seized anywhere in Gulf County, contact us for a free and confidential consultation.

Call 813-250-0500.

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