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46 verbatim mandatory provisions from 16-31-s.
Eighteenth Judicial Circuit. Check the order's own effective and rescission dates before relying on it. Procedural information only; not legal advice.
Verbatim from the order's own text layer, harvested 2026-07-24; whitespace normalised only. No OCR was used. Only sentences containing mandatory language (shall, must, may not, no later than, within N) are reproduced — the full document is in custody and is the controlling text. • See §§ 932.701–932.7062, Florida Statutes, and WHEREAS, Florida Statute 932.703(2016), now provides that when a seizure of property is made under the Florida Contraband Forfeiture Act, the seizing agency shall apply, within 10 business days after the date of seizure, to a court of competent jurisdiction, for an order determining whether probable cause exists for the seizure of the property, and WHEREAS, in most instances involving property forfeiture a criminal arrest involving the claimant or potential claimant has been made and a related Circuit Criminal Case number exists, and WHEREAS, Civil Forfeiture involves court proceedings which occur prior to the filing of a Forfeiture Complaint and therefore prior to the assignment of a Civil Court Case number associated with the Forfeiture, and WHEREAS, an Administrative Order will assist in the provision of uniform procedures, address the filing and maintenance of documentation and provide for the uniform disposition of forfeiture proceedings and ensure consistency amongst all seizing agencies within the courts of the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit- Seminole County. • In accordance with section 932.704(2), Florida Statutes, of the Florida Contraband Forfeiture Act, all civil forfeiture cases shall be heard before a Circuit Judge. • In Seminole County, Complaints filed seeking forfeiture shall -- 1 of 10 -- DRAFT 2 be assigned to any civil section judge in the same manner other circuit civil cases are assigned. • Pursuant to this statute a specific notice of this right must be provided by the seizing agency. • All law enforcement agencies within the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit - Seminole County shall use “Attachment A” - Notice of Forfeiture Seizure/Right to Adversarial Preliminary Hearing in substantially the same format. 2. • When any person receiving the Notice of Forfeiture Seizure/ Right to Adversarial Preliminary Hearing, requests an Adversarial Preliminary Hearing in conformity with the statute, the seizing agency is then required to set the hearing within 10 days of receipt of said request, or as soon as practicable thereafter. • Adversarial Preliminary Hearings held prior to the filing of a Forfeiture Complaint shall be scheduled with a Circuit Judge assigned to the Civil/Family Court Division and heard pursuant to the Judicial rotation schedule set by the Civil/Family Court Judges. • For the purpose of documenting proper notice of the hearing, in the absence of an existing Civil case number, the Notice of Hearing shall be filed under the Criminal Clerk Case number and filed in the Criminal Case file. • The attorney setting the hearing shall make sure the hearing is coordinated with the Civil Court Judge and that the notice is also provided to the Civil Judge who will be hearing the matter. 3. • Upon the filing of a Complaint for Forfeiture, all documents pertaining to an Adversarial Preliminary Hearing regarding the same Property shall be transferred by the clerk to the Court file maintained for the Complaint. • The Seizing agency shall be responsible for filing a Notice with the Court under the criminal case number indicating the need for the transfer of paperwork to the civil case file listed by civil case number and no further Order is needed by the Court to authorize the transfer. • If an Adversarial Preliminary Hearing is conducted and no Complaint for Forfeiture is subsequently filed, the documents pertaining to the Adversarial Preliminary Hearing shall remain filed under the Circuit Criminal Case number. • Effective July 1, 2016, to obtain a ruling pursuant to section 932.703(2)(a), Florida Statutes, the seizing agency shall, within 10 business days of the seizure, submit an Ex-Parte Application for a 10-day Probable Cause Forfeiture Seizure Determination “Attachment B” with an accompanying affidavit to the court for ex-parte review and ruling. • The submission packet must include both a proposed Ex-Parte Order Finding Probable Cause for Seizure “Attachment C-1” and a proposed Ex-Parte Order Denying Probable Cause for Seizure “Attachment C-2” The Ex-Parte Application for the 10-day Probable Cause Determination and the proposed orders shall be in substantially the same format. 2. • The submission by the e-warrant system shall indicate “Search -- 2 of 10 -- DRAFT 3 Warrant” and also identify the submission as a Civil Forfeiture. • Ex parte probable cause affidavits shall not be submitted after business hours to the Court for review but shall be submitted during regular business hours to a Circuit Judge assigned to the Civil/Family Court Division pursuant to Judicial rotation set by the Civil/Family Court Judges. • All 10-day Probable Cause Applications, supporting affidavits and Orders determining Probable Cause shall include the agency case number if there is a corresponding agency case number and under the case number the terms “Civil Forfeiture.” 3. • After the assigned Judge has made his/her findings, the Application for Probable Cause, the affidavit in support of such application, and the court order determining probable cause shall be retained by counsel for the submitting seizing agency or the submitting agency affiant in the absence of counsel and shall be filed as further provided in this Administrative Order. • If a formal Complaint for forfeiture is filed with the Clerk of the Court – Circuit Civil Division, the Application for Probable Cause, the affidavit in support of such application and the Court Order Finding Probable Cause shall be filed as attachments to the Civil Forfeiture Complaint. • The affidavit used in support of the Probable Cause Order shall be sufficient to support the Complaint for Forfeiture, however a supplemental affidavit containing additional facts may also be submitted. 4. • If a Civil Forfeiture Complaint is not filed with the Clerk of the Court – Circuit Civil Division, then the Application for Probable Cause, the affidavit in support of such application and the Court Order determining Probable Cause shall be filed with the Clerk of the Court- Criminal Division within 60 days of the seizure where a corresponding criminal arrest was made. • The filing shall be in the clerk case which corresponds to the agency case number and such case number shall be clearly noted. 5. • If a Civil Forfeiture Complaint is not filed with the Clerk of the Court – Circuit Civil Division, and there is also no corresponding criminal case filed with the Circuit Criminal Division, then the Probable Cause Application, supporting affidavit and Court Order determining Probable Cause shall be retained by the submitting agency pending direction from the Court issuing the Probable Cause Order. 6. • In all cases where a Forfeiture Complaint is not filed, a Civil Forfeiture Return “Attachment B-1” shall be prepared indicating that a Formal Forfeiture Complaint was not filed. • If an agreement with the owner/claimant was reached in lieu of the filing of a Forfeiture Complaint, then such disposition shall also be reflected on the Civil Forfeiture Return. • The Civil Forfeiture Return shall be filed or maintained in the same manner as the Application for Probable Cause and other related documents when a Formal Complaint for Forfeiture is not filed. 7. • No filing fee is required for submission of a 10 Day Application for Probable Cause Finding as these are handled as ex parte requests similar to arrest and search warrants. • No filing fee is required for the scheduling and handling of the Adversarial Preliminary Hearing unless a Circuit Civil Case number is requested. • Section 932.704(5)(c), Florida Statutes, states that the court shall require any claimant who desires to contest the forfeiture to file and serve upon the attorney for the seizing agency any responsive pleading and affirmative defenses within 20 days after the receipt of the complaint. • To comply with this provision, the court shall include this notifying language advising the claimant of the responsive pleading requirements in any Order finding Probable Cause for Seizure. • The seizing agency shall include a copy of the Order Finding Probable Cause with the Complaint and summons to be served upon the claimant. 2. • Upon filing of the Complaint and accompanying documents as set forth in Section C.3 of this order and payment of the appropriate filing fee, clerk fees and posting of bond pursuant to section 932.704(4), Florida Statutes, the Clerk of the Court shall open a circuit civil case which shall be treated in all regards as a civil proceeding. 3. • Upon resolution of the Forfeiture Complaint, the court shall direct disposition of the bond. • If the Court orders payment of bond to the claimant, the seizing agency shall deposit payment with the clerk along with any authorized clerk fees so that payment may be provided to the claimant by the clerk. • Upon payment to the clerk by the seizing agency, the clerk shall release the surety from further obligation. • Although an ex parte probable cause determination by a judge will be sought within 10 days of seizure by the seizing agency, you are advised that you have a right to request an adversarial preliminary hearing to determine whether probable cause exists to believe that said property has been or is being used in violation of the Florida Contraband Forfeiture Act. • If you would like to request a post seizure adversarial hearing, you must request the hearing in writing, by certified mail, return receipt requested, within fifteen (15) days of your receipt of this notice. • You must send your request to the Seminole County Sheriff's Office, Attention: • (If the Notice is mailed it must be sent by certified mail, return receipt requested within 5 working days after the seizure.) Certified Mail Receipt #: • This application is being presented within 10 business days of seizing that property; 3. • ATTESTATION I HEREBY ATTEST that a copy of this Application and attached affidavit has been submitted to a Judge of the Circuit Court, Seminole County, Florida this ____ day of _______________, 20__. _______________________________ Attorney signature block -- 6 of 10 -- DRAFT 7 “ATTACHMENT B-1” IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE EIGHTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR SEMINOLE COUNTY, FLORIDA CIVIL FORFEITURE RETURN AGENCY: _________________________________ AGENCY CASE NUMBER: _______________________________________________ IF ARREST- NAME OF ARRESTEE IN CRIMINAL CASE: _____________________________________________ FORFEITURE FILING DETERMINATION: _____ Forfeiture proceeding authorized by Agency Head and Complaint Filed Civil Court Case Number: _________________________________ _____ Forfeiture Complaint will not be filed. _____ Settlement Agreement Reached DATED this _____ day of _____________, 20____. __________________________________ Attorney Name Florida Bar No. • The seizing agency applied for the probable cause determination within 10 business days of the date of the seizure. 2. • Pursuant to section 943.704(5)(c), Florida Statutes, any claimant who desires to contest the forfeiture action upon the Filing of a Complaint for Forfeiture by or on behalf of the seizing agency shall file and serve upon the attorney representing the seizing agency any responsive pleadings and affirmative defenses. • Therefore, upon the filing of a Civil Complaint for Forfeiture, the seizing Agency shall serve a Certified Copy of the Complaint along with a copy of this Order Finding Probable Cause upon all claimants. 3. • FORFEITURE OF: _________________ AGENCY CASE NO.:________________ (Description of Property): __________________ CIVIL FORFEITURE EX-PARTE ORDER DENYING PROBABLE CAUSE FOR SEIZURE THIS MATTER having come before this Court pursuant to section 932.703(2), Florida Statutes, of the above-described property by the Application of the (Seizing Law Enforcement Agency) and the Court having reviewed the Application and the sworn supporting affidavit described therein, the COURT FINDS as indicated below: _______ The seizing agency did not apply for the probable cause determination within 10 business days of the date of the seizure, AND/OR; ______ The requirements specified in paragraph (1)(a) of section 932.703, Florida Statutes, have not been satisfied, AND/OR ______ The Agency has not established probable cause for the seizure based upon the Court’s review of the supporting affidavit made part of the Application for the 10-day Probable Cause for Seizure Determination. • Any forfeiture hold, lien, lis pendens, or other civil encumbrance shall be released in conformity with the Florida Contraband Forfeiture Act within 5 days of receipt of this Order.
See §§ 932.701–932.7062, Florida Statutes, and WHEREAS, Florida Statute 932.703(2016), now provides that when a seizure of property is made under the Florida Contraband Forfeiture Act, the seizing agency shall apply, within 10 business days after the date of seizure, to a court of competent jurisdiction, for an order determining whether probable cause exists for the seizure of the property, and WHEREAS, in most instances involving property forfeiture a criminal arrest involving the claimant or potential claimant has been made and a related Circuit Criminal Case number exists, and WHEREAS, Civil Forfeiture involves court proceedings which occur prior to the filing of a Forfeiture Complaint and therefore prior to the assignment of a Civil Court Case number associated with the Forfeiture, and WHEREAS, an Administrative Order will assist in the provision of uniform procedures, address the fi
Reviewer note: Document sha256: fc4101cf0b55d0f886f45eb300ed3d22bf2efe52626661ff4bd6843f0b3baf97 (232795 bytes). BenchPath harvested this circuit itself because no research corpus existed for it. Extraction is conservative: mandatory-language sentences only, so this rule is a faithful subset of the order, never a summary of it.
The Eighteenth Judicial Circuit (Seminole and Brevard) requires cover letters in PDF format and proposed orders in .docx format using DJMCA formatting codes, submitted through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal.
Florida attorneys must file court documents electronically through the statewide Florida Courts E-Filing Portal (myflcourtaccess.com). Self-represented litigants may e-file through the same portal. Local circuits layer their own formatting and routing quirks on top.
Effective June 15, 2026, every signer of a Florida court filing — attorney or self-represented — represents that "the legal authorities identified exist and are accurately cited," with express sanctions (reprimand, contempt, striking, dismissal, costs, fees) for violations. Companion order AOSC26-12 preempts ALL circuit- and judge-level AI disclosure/certification requirements.