Legal Definitions - not satisfied

Definition: Not satisfied. This term is used as a form of return by a sheriff or constable on a writ of execution, indicating that the amount due on a judgment was not paid.

For example, if a court orders someone to pay a debt, and the person fails to pay it, the creditor can request a writ of execution. The writ of execution is a court order that allows a sheriff or constable to seize the debtor's property and sell it to pay off the debt. If the sheriff or constable is unable to find any property to seize, or if the property they seize does not sell for enough money to pay off the debt, they will return the writ of execution as "not satisfied."

This type of return is considered technically deficient because it does not state why the writ was not satisfied. To provide more information, the sheriff or constable may use a different form of return called "nulla bona," which indicates that they were unable to find any property belonging to the debtor that could be seized and sold to pay off the debt.