Nashville
DUI Vehicle Seizure/Forfeiture Attorney
Tennessee Vehicle Seizure Laws
Local agencies responsible for direct law enforcement seize property consisting of vehicles, money, real property, and other miscellaneous property. The agency then sends the paperwork to the Legal Division to process, as jurisdiction has been given to the Commissioner of Safety for the disposition of this property. Property may be seized for possession of narcotics, illegal or prescription. Vehicles may be seized for driving on a driver's license that has been revoked for driving under the influence (DUI) and for DUI for a second or subsequent time.
If your vehicle has been seized, you probably have a lot of questions. Because the facts, law, and circumstances of each case vary, it is vital to contact a lawyer who is experienced in handling vehicle forfeiture proceedings with the Tennessee Department of Safety. At May McKinney, we advise and represent clients in all DUI and criminal matters, including those involving property seizures and vehicle forfeitures.
To discuss your case with a seasoned professional, call (615) 265-6383. We serve Nashville, Mount Juliet, Brentwood, Franklin, and all of Tennessee.
Vehicle Forfeiture Proceedings in Nashville, TN
A Notice of Seizure and Forfeiture of Conveyances form is completed by the officer at the time property is seized. He or she gives this to the person in possession of the property as a receipt to show that the property is, in fact, being seized. He or she is then responsible for taking this Notice of Seizure and a completed Forfeiture Warrant to a local judge to show probable cause for the seizure. If the judge finds probable cause for the seizure, he or she signs the warrant.
Once the warrant is signed, the Notice of Seizure form and signed warrant are submitted to the Legal Division. Notice that a Forfeiture Warrant has been signed is sent by certified mail to anyone reasonably located who may have an interest in the property. They're responsible for filing a petition requesting a hearing within 30 days of receiving the letter and signing the certified mail receipt.
Once a petition is filed, the case is set for hearing to determine the disposition of the property. Notice of the hearing date is sent to all parties who have filed a petition about 30 days before the hearing is set. This hearing will be presided over by an Administrative Law Judge out of the Secretary of State Administrative Procedures Division. The State has prosecuting attorneys for these hearings. Claimants will need to hire their own defense attorney, at their expense.
Talk to a Skilled Lawyer About Your Rights
The State will have a prosecuting attorney at your property seizure hearing. Make sure you have your own lawyer to protect your interests. With our almost 80 years of collective experience and holistic approach to our clients’ cases, we at May McKinney are committed to securing results in vehicle forfeiture and property seizure hearings as well as criminal matters related to DUI and all misdemeanor and felony offenses.
Contact our firm today at (615) 265-6383 to find out how we can protect your rights, interests, and property.
Our Clients Say It Best
Read Our Client Testimonials
At May McKinney, your satisfaction is our priority! See for yourself what our clients have to say about working with us.
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"You Made a Difficult Situation Endurable"
Thank you so very much for all you have done and are still doing. Thank you for being such a great attorney in our time of need. You made a difficult situation endurable.
- L.M. -
"If your looking for a great lawyer, stop looking & hire these guys!"I can’t thank Rob Mckinney enough for all of his help with my case . I had never been in trouble before, & was very leery on paying for a lawyer, but from the moment I hired them, until my case was over, I never regretted my decision to have them represent me. Both Rob & Shyanne took every one of my phone calls, & answered every question that I ever could possibly come up. I was an emotional mess from the get go, and probably asked 1000 more questions than necessary, but they took the time to go through absolutely everything with me, and never made me feel like I was wasting their time or that I was inferior to them. Their knowledge, wisdom and guidance was so comforting & helped me with the stress of the legal process. My case took 2 years & 13 court appearances, so it was not an easy journey, but they made me feel at ease the entire time, & in the end, the charges were dropped. Thank you ! - Lisa F (aka super satisfied client)- Lisa F
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"Mr. McKinney is listed with Super Layers for a reason!"In the darkest and most ashamed moment of my life, Mr. McKinney with all of his kindness, encouragement, and unsurpassed knowledge for the Tennessee law was by my side. I am nearly 60 years old and never had a conflict in my life, let alone one that involved an uncontrollable emotional reaction, that resulted in a physical altercation. Yet under the influence of prescribed drugs for insomnia, anxiety management, and alcohol, I made a grave mistake which resulted in Class C Aggravated Assault Felony Charge. To complicate matters, I am not a resident of Tennessee. It goes without saying that Mr. McKinney has earned the utmost respect as a top tier lawyer from the Tennessee court system. He was able to professionally articulate my case to the court, emphasizing that I risk losing employment, showed that I voluntarily turned myself in, and that I was a first-time offender. The court listened to him and as a result he was able to negotiate terms that far exceeded my expectations. I spent a lot of time between my arrest and court appearance researching the standard outcomes for an aggravated assault charge in the State of Tennessee, and based on what I read, I expected the worst judgement to be passed down. Mr. McKinney however worked with the court system to not impose jailtime and an opportunity to have the charges expunged from my record. I know that I will forever be ashamed and grieve over the event, but he was able to provide me with the opportunity to work the rest of my life making this right to the victim, my family, and others that were emotionally impacted. Mr. McKinney is worth his weight in gold. He knows the law. He is respected. He is highly skilled as a lawyer. He is the very best. I only wish I met and got to know of him under better circumstances.- SB
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"It's a Comfort to Have You On My Side"
I just wanted to say thank you for everything you have been doing for me. It's comforting to know I've got you on my side. You're the BEST!!
P.S. — I really can't thank you enough.
- R. -
"Simply Awesome"
I appreciate absolutely everything that you and your team have done for me. I could not have made a better decision than to have your representation during this horrific time in my life. Along the way, I feel like I was educated about the process and felt at ease with every step. The due diligence that was done on your behalf was top tier and goes without saying, simply awesome! The only regret I have is not coming to your first. You have my full support of referrals to anyone I hear that needs a great defense team in their corner, because I sure did! Again, Thank you!
- Anonymous -
"Do not give up hope"Words cannot express my gratitude and appreciation to Rob McKinney and his entire law firm. This was my first experience with needing legal representation. After speaking with other attorneys, I was told that there was not much they could be do for me. I was fully aware that the odds were stacked against me and I was losing hope. Mr. McKinney told me that he would fight for me and that is exactly what he did. I could not have asked for a better outcome. I highly recommend this firm- Anonymous
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"Forever Grateful"My family will always be grateful to you.- Satisfied Client
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"No Nonsense, Knowledgable & Organized"Savannah was absolutely amazing! She made me feel at ease during a very stressful time, reassuring me every step of the way that my case was in good hands. Her confidence in achieving the best outcome was completely justified. I reached out frequently with questions and she or the team always responded promptly and thoroughly. On top of their exceptional service, their pricing was better than any other law firm I contacted. I would recommend May McKinney a thousand times over!- Matthew C.
