§ 19.2-386.5 — Release of seized property

Virginia § 19.2-386.5

• Jurisdiction: Virginia
• Title 19.2: Criminal Procedure
• Ch. 22.1: Enforcement of Forfeitures

Text

At any time prior to the filing of an information, the attorney for the Commonwealth in the county or city in which the property has been seized pursuant to Chapter 22.2 (§ 19.2-386.15 et seq.) or other provision under the Code may, in his discretion, upon the payment of costs incident to the custody of the seized property, return the seized property to an owner or lien holder, without requiring that the owner or lien holder post bond as provided in § 19.2-386.6, if he believes the property is properly exempt from forfeiture pursuant to § 19.2-386.8.

At any time after the filing of an answer or upon default, on motion of the attorney for the Commonwealth or a vulnerable adult, the court may order the return of property to the vulnerable adult upon a showing that the property is the subject of a violation of § 18.2-178.1 or traceable to such a violation and is properly exempt from forfeiture pursuant to § 19.2-386.8.

Any property seized and returned pursuant to § 19.2-386.36 shall not require the payment of costs or the posting of a bond.

Legislative History

1989, c. 690; 2002, cc. 588, 623; 2004, c. 995; 2012, cc. 283, 756; 2025, c. 160.