Texas law requires that forfeiture complaints be signed by which party?

• A. The property owner
• B. The seizing officer
• C. The judge
• D. An attorney representing the state

Answer: (D)

The key idea here is who has the authority to initiate a forfeiture action. In Texas, asset forfeiture is a civil proceeding brought by the state, so the complaint must be filed by someone authorized to represent the state in court. An attorney representing the state is necessary to sign the filing to verify the allegations and to provide proper prosecutorial authority. This ensures the case is brought by a licensed advocate of the state, not by a private party or the officer who merely seized the property.

That’s why the filing must come from an attorney for the state—the other parties listed (the property owner, the seizing officer, or the judge) do not have standing to initiate the action or to sign the complaint. The owner may respond to the suit, the officer can be involved in the investigation, and the judge issues rulings, but none of them signs the initial complaint.