Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial ProcedureRelease 119-102
§2462 Time for Commencing Proceedings
Title 28 › PART VI — PARTICULAR PROCEEDINGS › CHAPTER 163 — FINES, PENALTIES AND FORFEITURES › § 2462
Summary
Enforcement of civil fines, penalties, or forfeitures must begin within five years if the person or the property is found in the United States; Congress may set a different rule.
Full Legal Text
Title 28, §2462
Judiciary and Judicial Procedure, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Except as otherwise provided by Act of Congress, an action, suit or proceeding for the enforcement of any civil fine, penalty, or forfeiture, pecuniary or otherwise, shall not be entertained unless commenced within five years from the date when the claim first accrued if, within the same period, the offender or the property is found within the United States in order that proper service may be made thereon.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Historical and Revision Notes
Based on title 28, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 791 (R.S. § 1047). Changes were made in phraseology.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
28 U.S.C. § 2462
Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102