A person claiming interest in seized property must file an answer within how many days of being served?

• A. 30 days
• B. 10 days
• C. 20 days
• D. 45 days

Answer: (C)

In seized-property forfeiture actions, a person who claims an interest must respond promptly to preserve their rights. The deadline to file an answer after being served is twenty days. This short window keeps the process moving and gives the claimant a fair, timely chance to present defenses or objections to the government’s allegations.

Missing this deadline can lead to consequences like a default judgment or losing the ability to contest the forfeiture, so the clock starts when service occurs and runs for twenty days regardless of other factors. The other options are longer or shorter than this standard window, which is set to balance efficiency with due process for claimants.