50 CFR § 12.14 - What happens if the required notification of seizure and proposed forfeiture is not provided?

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t50/s12.14"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "50 CFR § 12.14 - What happens if the required notification of seizure and proposed forfeiture is not provided?"
title_number: 50
title_name: "Wildlife and Fisheries"
section_number: "12.14"
section_name: "What happens if the required notification of seizure and proposed forfeiture is not provided?"
chapter_name: "UNITED STATES FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR"
subchapter_number: "B"
subchapter_name: "TAKING, POSSESSION, TRANSPORTATION, SALE, PURCHASE, BARTER, EXPORTATION, AND IMPORTATION OF WILDLIFE AND PLANTS"
part_number: "12"
part_name: "SEIZURE AND FORFEITURE PROCEDURES"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-04-05"
last_updated: "2026-04-05"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "16 U.S.C. 470aa  470aaa  668  668dd  703  718a  742j-l, 1361  1531  2401  3371  4201  and 5301  18 U.S.C. 42 and 981  19 U.S.C. 1602-1624; 28 U.S.C. 2465; 42 U.S.C. 1996; and E.O. 13751, 81 FR 88609, amending E.O. 13112, 64 FR 6183."
regulatory_source: "88 FR 47818, July 25, 2023, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "12"
---


# 12.14 What happens if the required notification of seizure and proposed forfeiture is not provided?

Under 18 U.S.C. 983(a)(1)(F), if the Service or the Solicitor does not send notice of a seizure of property in accordance with that section to the person from whom the property was seized, and no extension of time was granted, the Government is required to return the property to that person, unless the property is contraband or other property that is illegal to possess. Any return of property under this section does not prejudice the right of the Government to commence a forfeiture proceeding at a later time.