Drug asset forfeiture: file verified claim (30 days after receipt of actual notice)

30 days after date the claimant received actual notice of the forfeiture proceeding, under Cal. Health & Saf. Code 11488.5(a)(1).

Rule text

(a)(1) Any person claiming an interest in the property seized pursuant to Section 11488 may, unless for good cause shown the court extends the time for filing, at any time within 30 days from the date of the last publication of the notice of seizure, if that person was not personally served or served by mail, or within 30 days after receipt of actual notice, file with the superior court ... a claim, verified in accordance with Section 446 of the Code of Civil Procedure, stating the claimant's interest in the property. An endorsed copy of the claim shall be served by the claimant on the Attorney General or district attorney, as appropriate, within 30 days of the filing of the claim.

Cal. Health & Saf. Code 11488.5(a)(1), official source

Calculate this deadline

Deadline
Monday, December 7, 2026
  1. Trigger (Date the claimant received actual notice of the forfeiture proceeding): Friday, November 6, 2026.
  2. Exclude the trigger day and count 30 calendar days: Sunday, December 6, 2026.
  3. That day is a Sunday, so the deadline moves to the next court day: Monday, December 7, 2026 (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. 12, 12a, 10; Gov. Code 6800, 6804, 6806; Cal. Rules of Court, rule 1.10 (for periods set by the Rules of Court)).
Rules applied
Cal. Health & Saf. Code 11488.5(a)(1)
(a)(1) Any person claiming an interest in the property seized pursuant to Section 11488 may, unless for good cause shown the court extends the time for filing, at any time within 30 days from the date of the last publication of the notice of seizure, if that person was not personally served or served by mail, or within 30 days after receipt of actual notice, file with the superior court ... a claim, verified in accordance with Section 446 of the Code of Civil Procedure, stating the claimant's interest in the property. An endorsed copy of the claim shall be served by the claimant on the Attorney General or district attorney, as appropriate, within 30 days of the filing of the claim.
Official source
Cal. Code Civ. Proc. 12, 12a, 10; Gov. Code 6800, 6804, 6806; Cal. Rules of Court, rule 1.10 (for periods set by the Rules of Court)
CCP 12: "The time in which any act provided by law is to be done is computed by excluding the first day, and including the last, unless the last day is a holiday, and then it is also excluded." CCP 12a: "(a) If the last day for the performance of any act provided or required by law to be performed within a specified period of time is a holiday, then that period is hereby extended to and including the next day that is not a holiday. For purposes of this section, “holiday” means all day on Saturdays, all holidays specified in Section 135 and, to the extent provided in Section 12b, all days that by terms of Section 12b are required to be considered as holidays.(b) This section applies to Sections 659, 659a, and 921, and to all other provisions of law providing or requiring an act to be performed on a particular day or within a specified period of time, whether expressed in this or any other code or statute, ordinance, rule, or regulation." CCP 10: "Holidays within the meaning of this code are every Sunday and any other days that are specified or provided for as judicial holidays in Section 135." Gov. Code 6800: "The time in which any act provided by law is to be done is computed by excluding the first day, and including the last, unless the last day is a holiday, and then it is also excluded." Gov. Code 6804: "“Month” means a calendar month, unless otherwise expressed." Gov. Code 6806: "A day is the period of time between any midnight and the midnight following." CRC 1.10(a): "The time in which any act provided by these rules is to be performed is computed by excluding the first day and including the last, unless the last day is a Saturday, Sunday, or other legal holiday, and then it is also excluded." CRC 1.10(b): "Unless otherwise provided by law, if the last day for the performance of any act that is required by these rules to be performed within a specific period of time falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or other legal holiday, the period is extended to and includes the next day that is not a holiday."
Official source
  • Use when the claimant received actual notice (e.g., personal or mail service). For publication-only notice see drug_forfeiture_claim_30_days_after_last_publication. The court may extend the filing time for good cause. If no claim is on file, the property may be declared forfeited on motion (11488.5(b)). Amended by Stats. 2023, ch. 478 (AB 1756), eff. Jan. 1, 2024.
  • If the clerk's office is closed or inaccessible on the last day (weather, emergency or local closure orders), the deadline may be extended. Check local orders.

This calculator applies the cited rules to the dates you enter. It is not legal advice. Court orders, local rules, and case-specific facts can change a deadline; verify before relying on it. Rule set pending attorney review.

Worked example

Date the claimant received actual notice of the forfeiture proceeding on Monday, March 15, 2027, personal service: due Wednesday, April 14, 2027.

  1. Trigger (Date the claimant received actual notice of the forfeiture proceeding): Monday, March 15, 2027.
  2. Exclude the trigger day and count 30 calendar days: Wednesday, April 14, 2027.

Notes

Use when the claimant received actual notice (e.g., personal or mail service). For publication-only notice see drug_forfeiture_claim_30_days_after_last_publication. The court may extend the filing time for good cause. If no claim is on file, the property may be declared forfeited on motion (11488.5(b)). Amended by Stats. 2023, ch. 478 (AB 1756), eff. Jan. 1, 2024.

Related deadlines

All California criminal deadlines

Local rules by county

County local rules and courtroom procedures can add to or change this deadline. Pick a county to calculate with them applied.

Rules current as of 2026-10-25. Confirm against the official source and any local rule or court order before relying on a date. Rules changelog.