Florida Statute 932.7055
“Disposition of liens and forfeited property”
What it means
After a final judgment of forfeiture, the seizing agency may retain the property for its use, sell it at public auction or by sealed bid, or salvage, trade, or transfer it to a public or nonprofit organization. Real property should be sold in a commercially reasonable manner after appraisal by listing on the market. If the court preserved a lien, the agency must sell the property and apply the proceeds toward the liens, or have the lien satisfied before taking any of those actions.
Sale proceeds are paid in this order: the balance due on any preserved lien, the agency's storage, maintenance, security, and forfeiture costs, then court costs. County and municipal agencies deposit the remainder in a special law enforcement trust fund. A local agency that acquires at least $15,000 under the Act in a fiscal year must spend or donate no less than 25 percent on drug treatment, drug abuse education, drug prevention, crime prevention, safe neighborhood, or school resource officer programs. State agencies deposit the remainder in the General Revenue Fund unless subsection (6) names another fund.
- The agency may retain the property, sell it at auction or by sealed bid, or salvage, trade, or transfer it to a public or nonprofit organization. (§ 932.7055(1))
- Property subject to a preserved lien is sold with proceeds applied to the liens, or the lien is satisfied first. (§ 932.7055(3))
- Proceeds are paid in order: preserved liens, then agency storage, maintenance, security, and forfeiture costs, then court costs. (§ 932.7055(4))
- A local agency that acquires $15,000 or more in a fiscal year must spend or donate at least 25 percent on listed programs. (§ 932.7055(5)(c)3.)
- A state agency deposits remaining proceeds in the General Revenue Fund unless subsection (6) names a specific trust fund. (§ 932.7055(6))
- If more than one agency acted substantially to effect the forfeiture, the court distributes proceeds equitably among them on motion. (§ 932.7055(7))
Text of the statute (2026)
(1) When a seizing agency obtains a final judgment granting forfeiture of real property or personal property, it may elect to: (a) Retain the property for the agency’s use; (b) Sell the property at public auction or by sealed bid to the highest bidder, except for real property which should be sold in a commercially reasonable manner after appraisal by listing on the market; or (c) Salvage, trade, or transfer the property to any public or nonprofit organization.
(3) If the forfeited property is subject to a lien preserved by the court as provided in s. 932.703(7)(b), the agency shall: (a) Sell the property with the proceeds being used towards satisfaction of any liens; or (b) Have the lien satisfied prior to taking any action authorized by subsection (1).
(4) The proceeds from the sale of forfeited property shall be disbursed in the following priority: (a) Payment of the balance due on any lien preserved by the court in the forfeiture proceedings. (b) Payment of the cost incurred by the seizing agency in connection with the storage, maintenance, security, and forfeiture of such property. (c) Payment of court costs incurred in the forfeiture proceeding.
3. Any local law enforcement agency that acquires at least $15,000 pursuant to the Florida Contraband Forfeiture Act within a fiscal year must expend or donate no less than 25 percent of such proceeds for the support or operation of any drug treatment, drug abuse education, drug prevention, crime prevention, safe neighborhood, or school resource officer program or programs. The local law enforcement agency has the discretion to determine which program or programs will receive the designated proceeds.
(6) If the seizing agency is a state agency, all remaining proceeds shall be deposited into the General Revenue Fund. However, if the seizing agency is:
Excerpts are the subsections the summary relies on. Read the full official text of § 932.7055.
History. s. 5, ch. 92-54; s. 2, ch. 92-290; s. 21, ch. 94-265; s. 479, ch. 94-356; s. 5, ch. 95-265; s. 72, ch. 96-321; s. 41, ch. 96-418; s. 2, ch. 98-387; s. 3, ch. 98-389; s. 4, ch. 98-390; s. 5, ch. 98-391; s. 2, ch. 98-392; s. 2, ch. 98-393; s. 2, ch. 98-394; s. 61, ch. 99-245; s. 2, ch. 2000-147; ss. 26, 79, ch. 2002-402; s. 1923, ch. 2003-261; s. 37, ch. 2003-399; s. 3, ch. 2004-39; s. 38, ch. 2004-234; s. 16, ch. 2004-344; s. 23, ch. 2005-3; s. 19, ch. 2005-71; s. 2, ch. 2005-109; s. 5, ch. 2005-117; s. 11, ch. 2006-26; s. 20, ch. 2006-176; s. 21, ch. 2006-305; s. 7, ch. 2007-14; s. 10, ch. 2007-73; s. 10, ch. 2008-153; s. 207, ch. 2008-247; s. 7, ch. 2009-82; s. 8, ch. 2010-153; s. 18, ch. 2011-47; s. 31, ch. 2012-88; s. 15, ch. 2012-119; s. 4, ch. 2013-5; s. 12, ch. 2013-41; s. 13, ch. 2014-43; s. 22, ch. 2014-53; s. 2, ch. 2015-7; s. 35, ch. 2015-222; s. 58, ch. 2016-62; s. 45, ch. 2016-165; s. 4, ch. 2016-179; s. 51, ch. 2017-3; s. 19, ch. 2017-71; s. 10, ch. 2019-4; s. 17, ch. 2019-141; s. 3, ch. 2024-55; s. 28, ch. 2025-4.
How it applies
The section applies after a forfeiture judgment is final. Property subject to a lien preserved by the court is sold with the proceeds applied to the lien, or the lien is satisfied first, so a preserved lien is paid ahead of the agency's costs and court costs. The remaining proceeds go to the agency's trust fund or, for state agencies, to the General Revenue Fund or the fund named in subsection (6). Return of seized property to a claimant who prevails is governed by § 932.704(9), not by this section.
Questions people ask
Sources
- Fla. Stat. § 932.7055 (2026), Florida Senate (Order of payment, including the balance due on any lien preserved by the court in the forfeiture proceedings.)
- Fla. Stat. § 932.703 (2026), Florida Senate (Lien preservation under subsection (7)(b), cross-referenced in § 932.7055(3).)
- Fla. Stat. § 932.704 (2026), Florida Senate (Release of property to a prevailing claimant, subsection (9).)
Last checked: October 17, 2026
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