(a) The prosecuting agency shall, prior to, in conjunction with, or subsequent to the criminal proceeding, file a petition of forfeiture with the superior court of the county in which the defendant has been or will be charged with the underlying criminal offense. The petition shall allege that the defendant has engaged in acts chargeable as crimes pursuant to the criminal provisions enumerated in Section 5320 and shall identify the property subject to forfeiture. A notice regarding the petition shall be provided, by personal service or registered mail, to every person who may have an interest in the property specified in the petition. However, if the notice cannot be given by registered mail or personal delivery, the notice shall be published for at least three successive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the county where the property is located. The notice shall state that any interested person may file a verified claim with the superior court stating the amount of their claimed interest and an affirmation or denial of the prosecuting agency’s allegation. The notice shall set forth the time within which a claim of interest in the property seized is required to be filed.
(b) If the property alleged to be subject to forfeiture is real property, the prosecuting agency shall, at the time of filing the petition of forfeiture, record a lis pendens in each county in which the real property is situated which specifically identifies the property by legal description, the name of the owner of record as shown on the latest equalized assessment roll, and assessor’s parcel number. The judgment of forfeiture shall not affect the interest in real property of any third party which was acquired prior to the recording of the lis pendens.
(c) If a petition of forfeiture is filed pursuant to this section prior to filing of the complaint in a criminal action, the prosecuting agency shall provide concurrent notice to any parties subject to the proposed forfeiture that they are targets of an anticipated criminal action.
(d) If a petition of forfeiture is filed pursuant to this section prior to the filing of a complaint in a criminal action, the petition and any injunctive order shall be dismissed by operation of law, unless a criminal complaint or grand jury indictment is filed within 120 days after the filing of the petition. If a petition is dismissed pursuant to this section, it shall not be refiled, except upon the filing of a criminal complaint or grand jury indictment.
(Amended by Stats. 1992, Ch. 1280, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 1993.)
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