Legal Definitions - return of writ

Definition: Return of writ refers to the act of a sheriff bringing back a writ to the court that issued it, along with a brief written account of how the writ was executed. This is often abbreviated as "return".

Examples:

• A sheriff returns a citation to the court, along with a written report of how it was served.
• After executing a search warrant, a police officer returns the warrant to the court with a written account of what was found.

These examples illustrate how a return of writ works in practice. When a court issues a writ, such as a citation or search warrant, it is the responsibility of a law enforcement officer to execute it. Once the writ has been executed, the officer must return it to the court with a written report of what was done. This helps the court keep track of the status of the case and ensures that the writ was properly executed.