Legal Definitions - prejudgment attachment

Prejudgment attachment is a legal process where a creditor seizes a debtor's property before a judgment is made in a lawsuit. This is done to ensure that the creditor will be able to recover their money if they win the case. There are different types of prejudgment attachment:

• Provisional attachment: This is when the debtor's property is seized so that if the creditor wins, they can sell the property to recover their money.
• Ancillary attachment: This is when property is seized and held until the plaintiff's claim is resolved.

For example, if a person owes money to a creditor and refuses to pay, the creditor can file a lawsuit and request a prejudgment attachment. If the court grants the request, the creditor can seize the debtor's property, such as a car or a house, to ensure that they will be able to recover their money if they win the case.

Another example is when a person owes child support or alimony. The court can order an attachment of wages, which means that a portion of the person's earnings will be deducted from their paycheck and paid to the creditor.