&gt;The trouble with civil asset forfeiture, as its properly known, is that the burden of proof has been shifted to the accused. So, instead of the state having to prove your money is illegally obtained, or that any crime was committed, you have to prove there was not.<p>It is worse than that.  The money is what is charged, not the person.  So the money has to prove itself innocent, which is pretty much impossible.  If you hire a fancy lawyer, you might be able to fight on the money&#x27;s behalf.<p>It seems so weird that had one read it in a fictional story, it would&#x27;ve broken one&#x27;s suspension of disbelief.