Attachments

An attachment is a provisional seizure of property pending determination of a lawsuit whereby a creditor has a debtor's property seized to satisfy a debt. The process typically works this way:

• The creditor petitions the court for a writ of attachment
  
• A hearing is held
  
• A writ or judicial order is issued by the court ordering the sheriff or another officer to seize property belonging to the defendant
  
• The property is impounded by the officer of the court and held to await the outcome of the lawsuit. Using a writ of attachment, the defendant is prevented from disposing of the property to the detriment of the plaintiff - assuming the plaintiff is successful in the lawsuit.