Legal Definitions - civil arrest

Definition: Civil arrest is the detention of a person who is a defendant in a civil lawsuit until they post bail or pay a judgment. It is a legal process used to ensure that the defendant complies with the court's orders.

Example: If a person is sued for not paying their debts, the court may issue a civil arrest warrant to ensure that they appear in court and pay the debt. The defendant will be detained until they post bail or pay the debt.

This example illustrates how civil arrest is used to enforce court orders in civil cases. It is different from criminal arrest, which is used to apprehend a person suspected of committing a crime.