Chapter 2715 | Attachment

Section 2715.01 | Grounds of attachment.

• Effective: August 15, 1996
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 155 - 121st General Assembly

(A) An attachment against the property, other than personal earnings, of a defendant may be had in a civil action for the recovery of money, at or after its commencement, upon any one of the following grounds:

(1) Excepting foreign corporations which by compliance with the law therefore are exempted from attachment as such, that the defendant or one of several defendants is a foreign corporation;

(2) That the defendant is not a resident of this state;

(3) That the defendant has absconded with the intent to defraud creditors;

(4) That the defendant has left the county of the defendant's residence to avoid the service of a summons;

(5) That the defendant so conceals self that a summons cannot be served upon the defendant;

(6) That the defendant is about to remove property, in whole or part, out of the jurisdiction of the court, with the intent to defraud creditors;

(7) That the defendant is about to convert property, in whole or part, into money, for the purpose of placing it beyond the reach of creditors;

(8) That the defendant has property or rights in action, which the defendant conceals;

(9) That the defendant has assigned, removed, disposed of, or is about to dispose of, property, in whole or part, with the intent to defraud creditors;

(10) That the defendant has fraudulently or criminally contracted the debt, or incurred the obligations for which suit is about to be or has been brought;

(11) That the claim is for work or labor.

(B) An attachment shall not be granted on the ground that the defendant is a foreign corporation or not a resident of this state for any claim, other than a debt or demand arising upon contract, judgment, or decree, or for causing damage to property or death or personal injury by negligent or wrongful act.

(C) An attachment against the personal earnings of a defendant may be granted only after a judgment has been obtained by the plaintiff and only through a proceeding for garnishment of personal earnings in accordance with Chapter 2716. of the Revised Code.

(D) An attachment against the property, other than personal earnings, of a defendant may be accomplished prior to the entry of judgment only pursuant to an attachment proceeding under this chapter.

An attachment against the property, other than personal earnings, of a defendant that is in the possession of another person, may be accomplished prior to the entry of judgment only pursuant to a garnishment proceeding under section 2715.091 of the Revised Code and related provisions of this chapter.

(E) An attachment against the property, other than personal earnings, of a defendant that is in the possession of another person, may be accomplished after judgment has been obtained only pursuant to a garnishment proceeding under Chapter 2716. of the Revised Code.

Section 2715.011 | Grounds of attachment definitions.

• Effective: March 13, 1986
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 442 - 116th General Assembly

As used in this chapter:

(A) "Probable cause to support the motion" means that it is likely that a plaintiff who files a motion for attachment pursuant to section 2715.03 of the Revised Code will obtain judgment against the defendant against whom the motion was filed that entitles the plaintiff to a money judgment that can be satisfied out of the property that is the subject of the motion.

(B) "Levying officer" means the sheriff, another authorized law enforcement officer, or a bailiff who is ordered by the court to take possession of property under an order of attachment.

(C) "Occupied dwelling unit" means a structure that is used in whole or in part as a home, residence, or sleeping place by one person who maintains a household or by two or more persons who maintain a common household, and the facilities and appurtenances in it and in which any person is present or is likely to be present, except that such a structure is not an occupied dwelling unit at any time if, after reasonable efforts to personally contact any person who may be present in the structure at that time, the person who made the efforts reasonably believes that no person is present in the structure at that time.

Section 2715.03 | Motion and affidavit for order of attachment - contents.

• Effective: August 26, 1982
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 254 - 114th General Assembly

A plaintiff in an action for the recovery of money, upon or at any time after the commencement of the action, may apply to the court by written motion for the attachment of property, other than personal earnings, of the defendant. The motion shall have attached to it the affidavit of the plaintiff, his agent, or attorney, which shall set forth all of the following:

(A) The nature and amount of the plaintiff's claim, and if the claim is based upon a written instrument, a copy of that instrument;

(B) The facts that support at least one of the grounds for an attachment contained in section 2715.01 of the Revised Code;

(C) A description of the property sought and its approximate value, if known;

(D) To the best of plaintiff's knowledge, the location of the property;

(E) To the best of the plaintiff's knowledge, after reasonable investigation, the use to which the defendant has put the property and that the property is not exempt from attachment or execution.

(F) If the property sought is in the possession of a third person, the name of the person possessing the property.

Section 2715.04 | Defendant may request hearing on motion.

• Effective: March 13, 1986
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 442 - 116th General Assembly

A defendant against whom a motion for attachment is filed under section 2715.03 of the Revised Code may receive a hearing on the motion in accordance with section 2715.043 of the Revised Code by delivering a written request for a hearing to the court within five business days after receipt of the notice provided pursuant to section 2715.041 of the Revised Code. The request may set forth the defendant's reasons for disputing the claim of the plaintiff who filed the motion for attachment of the property; however, neither the defendant's inclusion of nor his failure to include such reasons upon the request constitutes a waiver of any defense of the defendant or affects the defendant's right to produce evidence at any hearing or at the trial of the action. The time and place for the hearing shall be that set forth in the notice. If a written request for a hearing is not received by the court within the prescribed time and the court does not grant a continuance of the scheduled hearing in accordance with division (B) of section 2715.042 of the Revised Code, the hearing scheduled pursuant to section 2715.043 of the Revised Code immediately shall be canceled and the court shall issue an order of attachment in accordance with division (A) of section 2715.042 of the Revised Code.

Section 2715.041 | Form for notice of filing motion for order of attachment.

• Effective: June 26, 2003
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 95 - 125th General Assembly

(A) Upon the filing of a motion for an order of attachment pursuant to section 2715.03 of the Revised Code, the plaintiff shall file with the clerk of the court a praecipe instructing the clerk to issue to the defendant against whom the motion was filed a notice of the proceeding. Upon receipt of the praecipe, the clerk shall issue the notice which shall be in substantially the following form:

"(Name and Address of Court)

Case No___________________

(Case Caption)

NOTICE

You are hereby notified that (name and address of plaintiff), the plaintiff in this proceeding, has applied to this court for the attachment of property in your possession. The basis for this application is indicated in the documents that are enclosed with this notice.

The law of Ohio and the United States provides that certain benefit payments cannot be taken from you to pay a debt. Typical among the benefits that cannot be attached or executed on by a creditor are:

(1) Workers' compensation benefits;

(2) Unemployment compensation payments;

(3) Cash assistance payments under the Ohio works first program;

(4) Benefits and services under the prevention, retention, and contingency program;

(5) Disability financial assistance administered by the Ohio department of job and family services;

(6) Social security benefits;

(7) Supplemental security income (S.S.I.);

(8) Veteran's benefits;

(9) Black lung benefits;

(10) Certain pensions.

Additionally, your wages never can be taken to pay a debt until a judgment has been obtained against you. There may be other benefits not included in this list that apply in your case.

If you dispute the plaintiff's claim and believe that you are entitled to retain possession of the property because it is exempt or for any other reason, you may request a hearing before this court by disputing the claim in the request for hearing form appearing below, or in a substantially similar form, and delivering the request for the hearing to this court, at the office of the clerk of this court, not later than the end of the fifth business day after you receive this notice. You may state your reasons for disputing the claim in the space provided on the form, but you are not required to do so. If you do state your reasons for disputing the claim in the space provided on the form, you are not prohibited from stating any other reasons at the hearing, and if you do not state your reasons, it will not be held against you by the court and you can state your reasons at the hearing.

If you request a hearing, it will be conducted in ___________________ courtroom ________, (address of court), at _____________m. on _____________, _____

You may avoid having a hearing but retain possession of the property until the entry of final judgment in the action by filing with the court, at the office of the clerk of this court, not later than the end of the fifth business day after you receive this notice, a bond executed by an acceptable surety in the amount of $____________

If you do not request a hearing or file a bond on or before the end of the fifth business day after you receive this notice, the court, without further notice to you, may order a law enforcement officer or bailiff to take possession of the property. Notice of the dates, times, places, and purposes of any subsequent hearings and of the date, time, and place of the trial of the action will be sent to you.

__________________________________

Clerk of Court

Date:________________________"

(B) Along with the notice required by division (A) of this section, the clerk of the court also shall deliver to the defendant, in accordance with division (C) of this section, a request for hearing form together with a postage-paid, self-addressed envelope or a request for hearing form on a postage-paid, self-addressed postcard. The request for hearing shall be in substantially the following form:

"(Name and Address of Court)

Case Number __________________ Date _______________________

REQUEST FOR HEARING

I dispute the claim for the attachment of property in the above case and request that a hearing in this matter be held at the time and place set forth in the notice that I previously received.

I dispute the claim for the following reasons:

________________________________________________________________

(Optional)

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

______________________________

(Name of Defendant)

_____________________________

(Signature)

_____________________________

(Date)

WARNING: IF YOU DO NOT DELIVER THIS REQUEST FOR HEARING OR A REQUEST IN A SUBSTANTIALLY SIMILAR FORM TO THE OFFICE OF THE CLERK OF THIS COURT WITHIN FIVE (5) BUSINESS DAYS OF YOUR RECEIPT OF IT, YOU WAIVE YOUR RIGHT TO A HEARING AT THIS TIME AND YOU MAY BE REQUIRED TO GIVE UP THE PROPERTY SOUGHT WITHOUT A HEARING."

(C) The notice required by division (A) of this section shall be served on the defendant in duplicate not less than seven business days prior to the date on which the hearing is scheduled, together with a copy of the complaint and summons, if not previously served, and a copy of the motion for the attachment of property and the affidavit attached to the motion, in the same manner as provided in the Rules of Civil Procedure for the service of process. Service may be effected by publication as provided in the Rules of Civil Procedure except that the number of weeks for publication may be reduced by the court to the extent appropriate.

Section 2715.042 | Issuing order of attachment without conducting hearing.

• Effective: March 13, 1986
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 442 - 116th General Assembly

(A) If a motion for an order of attachment has been filed pursuant to section 2715.03 of the Revised Code, the court may issue an order of attachment without conducting a hearing if it finds all of the following:

(1) The notice, motion, and affidavit have been served on the defendant against whom the motion for attachment was filed, as required by section 2715.041 of the Revised Code;

(2) The defendant has not requested a hearing within the prescribed time pursuant to section 2715.04 of the Revised Code, and a continuance of the scheduled hearing has not been granted pursuant to division (B) of this section;

(3) A bond has not been filed within the prescribed time pursuant to section 2715.10 or 2715.26 of the Revised Code;

(4) The court finds, on the basis of the affidavit, that there is probable cause to support the motion.

(B) If the defendant against whom a motion for an order of attachment was filed pursuant to section 2715.03 of the Revised Code does not request a hearing on the motion within the prescribed time pursuant to section 2715.04 of the Revised Code, the court nevertheless may grant a continuance of the scheduled hearing if the defendant, prior to the time at which the hearing was scheduled, as indicated on the notice served on the defendant under section 2715.04 of the Revised Code, or the time of issuance of an order of attachment, whichever is earlier, establishes a reasonable justification for his failure to request the hearing within the prescribed time. If the court grants such a continuance of the hearing, it shall cause the matter to be set for hearing as soon as practicable thereafter, but in no event shall the continued hearing be set for a time that is more than five business days after the date on which the original hearing was scheduled unless the plaintiff consents to the setting of a hearing at a later time. The continued hearing shall be conducted in accordance with section 2715.043 of the Revised Code.

(C) If the court grants a continuance of the scheduled hearing pursuant to division (B) of this section, the court shall not issue an order of attachment without a hearing pursuant to division (A) of this section unless the defendant subsequently delivers written notice to the contrary to the court.

Section 2715.043 | Hearing on motion for order of attachment.

• Effective: August 26, 1982
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 254 - 114th General Assembly

(A) Upon the filing of the motion for an order of attachment pursuant to section 2715.03 of the Revised Code, the court shall cause the matter to be set for hearing within twenty days thereafter and the defendant shall be notified in accordance with section 2715.041 of the Revised Code.

(B) If a hearing is requested in accordance with section 2715.04 of the Revised Code or if a continuance is granted in accordance with division (B) of section 2715.042 of the Revised Code, the hearing shall be limited to a consideration of whether there is probable cause to support the motion and whether any of the property of the defendant is exempt from attachment.

The court shall issue an order of attachment if it finds, on the basis of the affidavit and, if applicable, the evidence presented at the hearing, that there is probable cause to support the motion.

(C) Any failure of the defendant against whom the motion for attachment was filed to oppose the motion or to refute any evidence presented by the plaintiff that filed the motion shall not constitute a waiver of any defense of the defendant or affect the defendant's right to produce evidence at subsequent hearings or at the trial of the action.

(D) The defendant against whom the motion for attachment was filed shall be sent prior notice of the date, time, place, and purpose of any hearing other than the hearing set under division (A) of this section and of the date, time, and place of the trial of the action.

Section 2715.044 | Effective date of order of attachment.

• Effective: March 13, 1986
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 442 - 116th General Assembly

An order of attachment issued by a court shall not be effective until the plaintiff that filed the motion for attachment files with the court a bond to the defendant against whom the motion was filed, executed by the plaintiff's surety, in an amount twice the approximate value of the property to be attached under the order, to the effect that, should judgment be issued against the plaintiff, the plaintiff will return the property taken or pay the value so assessed, at the election of the defendant, and also pay the damages suffered by the defendant as a result of the taking and detention of, and any injury to, the property and the costs of the action. If the plaintiff does not know the approximate value of the property sought to be attached under the order, or if the identity of the property to be attached is not known, the bond shall be in an amount twice that of the plaintiff's claim, as indicated in the plaintiff's affidavit filed pursuant to section 2715.03 of the Revised Code.

In lieu of the bond, the plaintiff may deposit with the clerk of the court cash in an amount equal to twice the approximate value of the property or, if that value is not known or the identity of the property to be attached is not known, equal to twice the amount of the claim of the plaintiff.

When the ground of attachment is that the defendant is a foreign corporation, or not a resident of this state, the order of attachment may be issued without a bond.

If the plaintiff is indigent, the court may, on motion of the plaintiff or on its own motion, waive the bond required by this section or may set the bond in a lower amount, as fairness requires.

Section 2715.045 | Issuing order of attachment without notice or hearing.

• Effective: June 26, 2003
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 95 - 125th General Assembly

(A) Upon the filing of a motion for attachment, a court may issue an order of attachment without issuing notice to the defendant against whom the motion was filed and without conducting a hearing if the court finds that there is probable cause to support the motion and that the plaintiff that filed the motion for attachment will suffer irreparable injury if the order is delayed until the defendant against whom the motion has been filed has been given the opportunity for a hearing. The court's findings shall be based upon the motion and affidavit filed pursuant to section 2715.03 of the Revised Code and any other relevant evidence that it may wish to consider.

(B) A finding by the court that the plaintiff will suffer irreparable injury may be made only if the court finds the existence of either of the following circumstances:

(1) There is present danger that the property will be immediately disposed of, concealed, or placed beyond the jurisdiction of the court.

(2) The value of the property will be impaired substantially if the issuance of an order of attachment is delayed.

(C)(1) Upon the issuance by a court of an order of attachment without notice and hearing pursuant to this section, the plaintiff shall file the order with the clerk of the court, together with a praecipe instructing the clerk to issue to the defendant against whom the order was issued a copy of the motion, affidavit, and order of attachment, and a notice that an order of attachment was issued and that the defendant has a right to a hearing on the matter. The clerk then immediately shall serve upon the defendant, in the manner provided by the Rules of Civil Procedure for service of process, a copy of the complaint and summons, if not previously served, a copy of the motion, affidavit, and order of attachment, and the following notice:

"(Name and Address of the Court)

(Case Caption) Case No. ________________________

NOTICE

You are hereby notified that this court has issued an order in the above case in favor of (name and address of plaintiff), the plaintiff in this proceeding, directing that property now in your possession, be taken from you. This order was issued on the basis of the plaintiff's claim against you as indicated in the documents that are enclosed with this notice.

The law of Ohio and the United States provides that certain benefit payments cannot be taken from you to pay a debt. Typical among the benefits that cannot be attached or executed on by a creditor are:

(1) Workers' compensation benefits;

(2) Unemployment compensation payments;

(3) Cash assistance payments under the Ohio works first program;

(4) Benefits and services under the prevention, retention, and contingency program;

(5) Disability financial assistance administered by the Ohio department of job and family services;

(6) Social security benefits;

(7) Supplemental security income (S.S.I.);

(8) Veteran's benefits;

(9) Black lung benefits;

(10) Certain pensions.

Additionally, your wages never can be taken to pay a debt until a judgment has been obtained against you. There may be other benefits not included in this list that apply in your case.

If you dispute the plaintiff's claim and believe that you are entitled to possession of the property because it is exempt or for any other reason, you may request a hearing before this court by disputing the claim in the request for hearing form, appearing below, or in a substantially similar form, and delivering the request for hearing to this court at the above address, at the office of the clerk of this court, no later than the end of the fifth business day after you receive this notice. You may state your reasons for disputing the claim in the space provided on the form; however, you are not required to do so. If you do state your reasons for disputing the claim, you are not prohibited from stating any other reasons at the hearing, and if you do not state your reasons, it will not be held against you by the court and you can state your reasons at the hearing. If you request a hearing, it will be held within three business days after delivery of your request for hearing and notice of the date, time, and place of the hearing will be sent to you.

You may avoid a hearing but recover and retain possession of the property until the entry of final judgment in the action by filing with the court, at the office of the clerk of this court, not later than the end of the fifth business day after you receive this notice, a bond executed by an acceptable surety in the amount of $_________

If you do not request a hearing or file a bond before the end of the fifth business day after you receive this notice, possession of the property will be withheld from you during the pendency of the action. Notice of the dates, times, places, and purposes of any subsequent hearings and of the date, time, and place of the trial of the action will be sent to you.

______________________________

Clerk of the Court

______________________________

Date"

(2) Along with the notice required by division (C)(1) of this section, the clerk of the court also shall deliver to the defendant a request for hearing form together with a postage-paid, self-addressed envelope or a request for hearing form on a postage-paid, self-addressed postcard. The request for hearing shall be in substantially the following form:

"(Name and Address of Court)

Case Number ________________ Date ________________________

REQUEST FOR HEARING

I dispute the claim for possession of property in the above case and request that a hearing in this matter be held within three business days after delivery of this request to the court.

I dispute the claim for the following reasons:

________________________________________________________________

(Optional)

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

__________________________________

(Name of Defendant)

______________________________

(Signature)

_____________________________

(Date)

WARNING: IF YOU DO NOT DELIVER THIS REQUEST FOR HEARING OR A REQUEST IN A SUBSTANTIALLY SIMILAR FORM TO THE OFFICE OF THE CLERK OF THIS COURT WITHIN FIVE (5) BUSINESS DAYS OF YOUR RECEIPT OF IT, YOU WAIVE YOUR RIGHT TO A HEARING AND POSSESSION OF THE PROPERTY WILL BE WITHHELD FROM YOU DURING THE PENDENCY OF THE ACTION."

(D) The defendant may receive a hearing in accordance with section 2715.043 of the Revised Code by delivering a written request for hearing to the court within five business days after receipt of the notice provided pursuant to division (C) of this section. The request may set forth the defendant's reasons for disputing the plaintiff's claim for possession of property. However, neither the defendant's inclusion of nor failure to include such reasons upon the request constitutes a waiver of any defense of the defendant or affects the defendant's right to produce evidence at any hearing or at the trial of the action. If the request is made by the defendant, the court shall schedule a hearing within three business days after the request is made, send notice to the parties of the date, time, and place of the hearing, and hold the hearing accordingly.

(E) If, after hearing, the court finds that there is not probable cause to support the motion, it shall order that the property be redelivered to the defendant without the condition of bond.

Section 2715.05 | Order of attachment.

• Effective: March 13, 1986
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 442 - 116th General Assembly

(A) An order of attachment issued by the court shall be addressed and delivered to the levying officer, and shall require him, after the order has taken effect, to attach the lands, tenements, goods, chattels, stocks or interest in stocks, rights, credits, money, and effects of the defendant, in such officer's county, not exempt by law from being applied to the payment of plaintiff's claim, or so much thereof as will satisfy it, to be stated in the order as in the affidavit, and costs of the action, not exceeding one hundred dollars. An order of attachment may be directed to the levying officer of any county within this state.

(B) An order of attachment shall contain the names of the parties and the court in which the action was brought and a statement that the property subject to the order of attachment can be recovered by filing a bond pursuant to section 2715.10 or 2715.26 of the Revised Code.

(C) An order of attachment, other than one issued under section 2715.045 of the Revised Code, shall be served upon the defendant against whom the order was issued in the same manner as provided in the Rules of Civil Procedure for the service of papers subsequent to original complaints.

Section 2715.06 | Two or more attachments.

• Effective: August 26, 1982
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 254 - 114th General Assembly

Orders of attachment may be issued to levying officers of different counties. Several of them, at the option of the plaintiff, may be issued at the same time or in succession. Only those which have been executed shall be taxed in the costs, unless otherwise directed by the court.

Section 2715.07 | Return day of order.

• Effective: August 26, 1982
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 254 - 114th General Assembly

The return day of the order of attachment shall be no later than twenty days after the order is issued.

Section 2715.08 | Order in which attachments are executed.

• Effective: August 26, 1982
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 254 - 114th General Assembly

If there are several orders of attachment against the same defendant, they shall be executed in the order in which they were received by the levying officer.

Section 2715.09 | Manner of executing order of attachment.

• Effective: August 26, 1982
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 254 - 114th General Assembly

(A) The levying officer shall execute an order of attachment, after it has taken effect, without delay. He shall go to the place where the defendant's property is, and he or his agent shall make a true inventory and appraisement of all the property which shall be set forth in his or his agent's affidavit and returned with the order. When the property is real property, the officer shall leave a copy of the order with the occupant of the property, or, if there is no occupant, in a conspicuous place on the property. When it is personal property and can be reached, he shall take it into his custody and hold it in a secure place subject to the order of the court, and shall deliver a copy of the order to the defendant, or if he is unable to find the defendant shall leave a copy at the address where the property was detained; but, if removal of the property from the address where it is detained would be unreasonably expensive, the officer may take possession by conspicuously placing a notice of possession on the property. The delivery of the order under this division is required in addition to the service of the order required by section 2715.045 or 2715.05 of the Revised Code.

(B) Unless the order of attachment directed to the levying officer specifies otherwise, the officer, in the execution of the order, may use any lawful means to enter any building or enclosure, other than an occupied dwelling unit, in which property that can be applied to the plaintiff's claim is contained, if reasonable efforts to obtain voluntary admittance have failed. If the officer enters the building or enclosure to take possession of property without first obtaining permission to enter, he shall file with the court on the next business day an affidavit setting forth the circumstances of his entry and the reasons he was unable to obtain voluntary admittance.

Section 2715.091 | Leaving notice of attachment and copy of order with garnishee.

• Effective: March 19, 1987
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 159 - 116th General Assembly

(A) When the plaintiff, his agent, or attorney, in the affidavit accompanying a motion for attachment filed under section 2715.03 of the Revised Code, states that he has good reason to believe, and does believe, that a person named in the affidavit has property of the defendant other than personal earnings in his possession, and the levying officer attempts to get possession of such property but cannot do so, he shall leave with the person a copy of the order of attachment, with a written notice that he appear in court and answer, as provided in section 2715.29 of the Revised Code. The person is the garnishee and the proceeding in relation to the garnishee is a garnishment proceeding. Any court of common pleas that issues an order of attachment has jurisdiction to serve process pursuant to this section upon a garnishee who does not reside within the jurisdiction of the court. Any county court or municipal court that issues an order of attachment has jurisdiction to serve process pursuant to this section upon a garnishee who resides in any county that is contiguous to that in which the court is located. When the garnishee does not reside within the jurisdiction of the court that issued the order, the process may be served by the proper officer of the county in which the garnishee resides, or may be personally served.

If the garnishee is an individual, a copy of the order and notice shall be served upon him personally, or left at his usual place of residence. When a partnership is garnisheed by its company name, a copy of the order and notice shall be left at its usual place of doing business, or with a member of such partnership. If the garnishee is a corporation, a copy of the order and notice shall be left with an officer or a managing or general agent of the corporation. If such corporation is a railroad company, a copy of the order and notice may be left with a regular ticket or freight agent thereof, in any county in which the railroad is located.

(B) This section applies only to property of a defendant other than personal earnings and only prior to the entry of judgment against a defendant. Garnishment of personal earnings may be granted only after a judgment has been obtained by the plaintiff, and only pursuant to Chapter 2716. of the Revised Code. Garnishment of property other than personal earnings of a person against whom judgment has been entered may be granted only pursuant to Chapter 2716. of the Revised Code.

Section 2715.10 | Property may be delivered to persons with whom found.

• Effective: March 13, 1986
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 442 - 116th General Assembly

The levying officer shall deliver the property attached under section 2715.09 of the Revised Code to the person in whose possession it was found, upon the person's executing a bond to the plaintiff, with sufficient surety, to the effect that the parties to it are bound in the same amount as the bond filed by the plaintiff under section 2715.044 of the Revised Code, or if the plaintiff has not filed such a bond, in double the appraised value of the property, and to the effect that the property or its appraised value in money will be forthcoming to answer the judgment of the court in the action. If it appears to the court that any part of such property has been lost or destroyed by unavoidable accident, the appraised value of the property shall be remitted to the plaintiff if judgment is rendered in his favor.

If the person is indigent, the court may, upon motion of the person or upon its own motion, waive the bond required by this section or set bond in a lower amount, as fairness requires.

Section 2715.12 | Effect of service of process upon public officer.

• Effective: August 26, 1982
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 254 - 114th General Assembly

The service of process of garnishment under this chapter upon the sheriff, coroner, clerk, constable, master commissioner, marshal of a municipal corporation, or other officer having in his possession any money, claim, or other property of the defendant, other than personal earnings, or in which the defendant has an interest, shall bind it from the time of service and be a legal excuse to such officers, to the extent of the demand of the plaintiff, for not paying such money or delivering such claim or property to the defendant, as by law or the terms of the process in his hands he would otherwise be bound to do.

Section 2715.13 | Garnishee to answer and be examined.

• Effective: August 26, 1982
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 254 - 114th General Assembly

The answer of the garnishee required by section 2715.091 of the Revised Code shall be made before the clerk of the court of common pleas of the county in which the garnishee resides, or, if he resides out of the state, before the clerk of the county where he was served, or where the action is pending. A special examination of the garnishee shall be had, and actions against him for failing to appear, or to answer satisfactorily, or to comply with the order of the court in the premises, shall be brought in the county in which he resides.

Section 2715.14 | Clerk to transmit answer to proper court.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

The clerk of the court of common pleas before whom the answer mentioned in section 2715.13 of the Revised Code is made shall transmit it to the clerk of the court in which the suit is pending, in the manner depositions are required to be directed and transmitted. For his services he shall receive such fees as are allowed by law for taking depositions and to clerks for furnishing certificates with their seals of office attached.

Section 2715.15 | Admission of indebtedness.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

If in his answer under section 2715.13 of the Revised Code the garnishee admits an indebtedness to the defendant, and the court orders the payment of it in whole or part to the plaintiff, and the garnishee fails to pay according to such order, execution may issue thereon as upon judgments for the payment of money.

Section 2715.16 | Different attachments may be made by the same officer.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

Different attachments of the same property may be made by the same officer; but one inventory and appraisement are sufficient, and it is not necessary to return them with more than one order of attachment.

Section 2715.17 | Subsequent attachments.

• Effective: August 26, 1982
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 254 - 114th General Assembly

When property is under attachment, attachments thereon under subsequent orders of attachment must be as follows:

(A) If it is real property, it shall be attached in the manner prescribed for executing attachment.

(B) If it is personal property, it shall be attached as in the hands of the officer, and be subject to any previous attachment.

(C) If a person is made a garnishee more than once with respect to the same property indebtedness or liability, copies of the order and notice mentioned in section 2715.091 of the Revised Code shall be left with him in the manner prescribed by section 2715.091 of the Revised Code for serving a garnishee.

Section 2715.18 | Form of return.

• Effective: August 26, 1982
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 254 - 114th General Assembly

The levying officer shall return upon every order of attachment what he has done under it. The return shall show the property attached and the time it was attached. When garnishees are served under this chapter, their names, and the time each was served, shall be stated. The officer shall return with the order all bonds given under it.

Section 2715.19 | Property and garnishee bound.

• Effective: March 13, 1986
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 442 - 116th General Assembly

An order of attachment shall bind the property attached from the time of service. A garnishee under this chapter shall be liable to the plaintiff in attachment for all property of the defendant in his hands, and money and credits due from him to the defendant, other than personal earnings, from the time he is served with the written notice required in section 2715.091 of the Revised Code. When property is attached in the hands of a consignee, lienholder, or secured party whose lien or security interest is then perfected by possession, his lien or security interest relative to the property shall not be affected by the attachment.

Section 2715.20 | Receiver may be appointed.

• Effective: August 26, 1982
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 254 - 114th General Assembly

On application of the plaintiff, and for good cause shown, the court, may appoint a receiver, who shall take an oath and give a bond as is provided in other cases.

Section 2715.21 | Powers and duties of receiver.

• Effective: March 23, 2015
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 9 - 130th General Assembly

(A) The receiver appointed under section 2715.20 of the Revised Code shall take possession of all notes, due bills, books of account, accounts, and other evidences of debt, that have been taken by the levying officer as the property of the defendant in attachment, and proceed to settle and collect them. For that purpose, the receiver may commence and maintain actions in the receiver's own name, as receiver, but no right of defense in the action shall be impaired or affected.

(B) Under the control of the court that appointed the receiver under section 2715.20 of the Revised Code, the receiver may do any of the acts specified in section 2735.04 of the Revised Code.

Section 2715.22 | Notice of appointment of receiver.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

The receiver appointed under section 2715.20 of the Revised Code forthwith shall give written or printed notice of his appointment to the persons indebted to the defendant in attachment, which notice must be served on the debtor by a copy personally, or by a copy left at his residence. From the date of such service, the debtors shall be liable to the plaintiff in attachment for the amount of money and credits of the defendant in attachment in their hands, or due from them to him, and shall account therefor to the receiver.

Section 2715.23 | Report of receiver.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

When required, the receiver appointed under section 2715.20 of the Revised Code shall report his proceedings to the court, and hold all money collected by him, and property which may come into his hands, subject to the order of the court.

Section 2715.24 | Officer to act as receiver.

• Effective: August 26, 1982
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 254 - 114th General Assembly

When a receiver is not appointed as provided in section 2715.20 of the Revised Code, the levying officer who attaches the property shall have the powers and perform the duties of a receiver appointed by the court, and, if necessary, as such officer may commence and maintain actions in his own name. He also may be required to give security other than his official bond.

Section 2715.25 | Disposal of attached property.

• Effective: August 26, 1982
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 254 - 114th General Assembly

The court may make proper orders for the preservation of property attached during the pendency of a suit and direct a sale of it when, because of its perishable nature or the costs of its keeping, that will be for the benefit of the parties. The sale shall be public, after such advertisement as is prescribed for the sale of like property on execution, and shall be made in such manner and on such terms of credit, with security, as, having regard to the probable duration of the action, the court or judge directs. The sheriff shall hold and pay over all proceeds of the sale collected by him and all money received by him from garnishees under the same requirements and responsibilities of himself and sureties as are provided in respect to money deposited in lieu of bail.

Section 2715.26 | Discharge of attachment by bond - deposit in lieu of bond.

• Effective: March 13, 1986
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 442 - 116th General Assembly

If the defendant, or other person on his behalf, before judgment, executes a bond to the plaintiff, with sufficient surety resident in the county and approved by the court, in the same amount as the bond filed by the plaintiff under section 2715.044 of the Revised Code, or if the plaintiff has not filed such a bond, in double the amount of the plaintiff's claim as stated in his affidavit under section 2715.03 of the Revised Code, to the effect that the defendant will perform the judgment of the court, the attachment shall be discharged and restitution made of any property taken under it, or the proceeds thereof. Such bond shall also discharge the liability of a garnishee in the action for property of the defendant in his hands.

The defendant, in lieu of the bond provided for in this section, may deposit with the clerk of the court cash in an amount equal to the approximate value of the property or the amount of the bond of the plaintiff if he filed a bond, whichever is less.

If the defendant is indigent, the court may, upon motion of the defendant or on its own motion, waive the bond required by this section or set the bond in a lower amount, as fairness requires.

Section 2715.27 | Claim for causing death or injury.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

When the plaintiff's claim is for causing death or personal injury by a negligent or wrongful act, the bond required by section 2715.26 of the Revised Code shall be in such amount as is fixed by the court where the action is pending, or a judge thereof if application is made in vacation.

Section 2715.28 | Bond may be executed in vacation.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

The bond mentioned in sections 2715.26 and 2715.27 of the Revised Code, in vacation, may be executed in the presence of the officer having the order of attachment in his hands, or, after its return before the clerk, with the same effect as if executed in court. The sureties shall be approved by the officer before whom such bond is executed.

Section 2715.29 | Appearance and answer of garnishee.

• Effective: August 26, 1982
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 254 - 114th General Assembly

After written notice is issued to a garnishee as provided in section 2715.091 of the Revised Code, the garnishee shall appear and answer within the time allowed the defendant to answer the petition upon which the attachment was granted. Under oath, he shall answer all questions put to him touching property of every description, and credits of the defendant in his possession or under his control. The garnishee shall truly disclose the amount owing by him to the defendant, other than for personal earnings, whether due or not, and in the case of a corporation, any stock held therein by or for the benefit of the defendant, at or after the service of notice.

Section 2715.30 | Garnishee may pay money into court.

• Effective: August 26, 1982
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 254 - 114th General Assembly

A garnishee under this chapter shall deliver the property in his hands or pay the money other than personal earnings owing by him to the defendant, or so much thereof as the court orders, into court in accordance with section 2715.32 of the Revised Code. He shall be discharged from liability to the defendant for property so delivered or money so paid and shall not be subjected to costs beyond those caused by his resistance of the claims against him.

Section 2715.31 | Attachment of garnishee for contempt.

• Effective: August 26, 1982
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 254 - 114th General Assembly

If a garnishee under this chapter fails to appear in court and answer, as required by section 2715.29 of the Revised Code, the court may proceed against him for a contempt.

Section 2715.32 | Disposition of property in hands of garnishee.

• Effective: August 26, 1982
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 254 - 114th General Assembly

If a garnishee under this chapter appears and answers, as required by section 2715.29 of the Revised Code, and on his examination it is discovered that at or after the service of the order and notice upon him under section 2715.091 of the Revised Code, he was possessed of property of the defendant, or was indebted to him, or both, the court may order the delivery of such property, or the payment of the amount owing by him, other than personal earnings, into court, or both; or it may permit the garnishee to retain the property, or the amount owing, upon his executing a bond to the plaintiff, by sufficient surety, to the effect that the amount will be paid, or the property forthcoming, as the court directs.

Section 2715.33 | Action against the garnishee.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

If the garnishee fails to appear and answer as required by section 2715.29 of the Revised Code, or if he appears and answers and his disclosure is not satisfactory to the plaintiff, or if he fails to comply with the order of the court to deliver the property and pay the money owing into court, or to give the bond required in section 2715.32 of the Revised Code, the plaintiff may proceed against him by civil action. Thereupon such proceedings may be had as in other actions. Judgment may be rendered in favor of the plaintiff for the amount of property and credits of the defendant in possession of the garnishee, for what may appear to be owing by him to the defendant, and for the costs of the proceedings against the garnishee.

Section 2715.34 | Payment of costs by plaintiff.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

If the plaintiff proceeds against the garnishee by action, as provided in section 2715.33 of the Revised Code, for the cause that his disclosure was unsatisfactory, unless it appears on the trial that such disclosure was incomplete, the plaintiff must pay the costs thereof. When the claim of the plaintiff in attachment is satisfied, on motion, the defendant may be substituted as the plaintiff in the judgment.

Section 2715.35 | Judgment against garnishee.

• Effective: August 26, 1982
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 254 - 114th General Assembly

Final judgment shall not be rendered against a garnishee under section 2715.091 of the Revised Code until the action against the defendant in attachment is determined. If judgment is rendered therein for the defendant in attachment, the garnishee shall be discharged, and recover costs. If the plaintiff recovers, and the garnishee delivers up the property and credits of the defendant in his possession, and pays the money due from him, as the court orders, he shall be discharged, and the costs of proceedings against him shall be paid out of the property and money so surrendered, or as the court deems right.

Section 2715.36 | Judgment for defendant.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

If the judgment in an action in attachment is rendered for the defendant, the attachment shall be discharged, and the property attached or its proceeds returned to him.

Section 2715.37 | Proceedings after judgment for plaintiff.

• Effective: August 26, 1982
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 254 - 114th General Assembly

If judgment is rendered for the plaintiff in an action in attachment, it shall be satisfied as follows: So much of the property in the hands of the levying officer, after applying the money arising from the sale of perishable property and so much of the personal property, and lands and tenements, whether held by legal or equitable title, as is necessary, shall be sold by order of the court, under the same restrictions and regulations as if it had been levied on by execution. The money arising therefrom, with the amount which is recovered from the garnishee, shall be applied to satisfy the judgment and costs. If there is not enough to satisfy them, the judgment shall stand and execution may issue thereon for the residue, as in other cases. Any surplus of the attached property or its proceeds shall be returned to the defendant.

Section 2715.38 | Court may enforce the delivery of property.

• Effective: August 26, 1982
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 254 - 114th General Assembly

The court may compel the delivery to the levying officer, for sale, of any attached property for which a bond has been given, and may proceed summarily on such bond to enforce delivery of the property, or payment of the money due thereon, by rules and attachment as in cases of contempt.

Section 2715.39 | Repossession of attached property.

• Effective: August 26, 1982
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 254 - 114th General Assembly

For the purpose of selling it, the court may order the levying officer to repossess himself of attached property which has passed out of his hands without having been sold or converted into money. Under such order, the officer shall have the same power to take the property as under an order of attachment.

Section 2715.40 | Attached property claimed by a third person.

• Effective: August 26, 1982
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 254 - 114th General Assembly

If personal property which has been attached is claimed by a person other than the defendant, the levying officer shall have the validity of such claim tried; and such proceedings shall be had, with like effect, as in case of property seized upon execution, and claimed by a third person.

Section 2715.41 | Priority of attachments.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

When several attachments are executed on the same property, or the same person is made a garnishee by several parties, on the motion of any of the plaintiffs, the court may order a reference to ascertain and report the amounts and priorities of the several attachments.

Section 2715.42 | Proceedings do not end by death of defendant.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

From the time an order of attachment is issued, the court shall have jurisdiction and control of all subsequent proceedings under sections 2715.01 to 2715.49, inclusive, of the Revised Code. After the order issues, if the defendant dies, or if the defendant is a corporation and its charter expires by limitation, forfeiture, or otherwise, the proceedings shall be carried on. In such cases, other than where the defendant is a foreign corporation, the legal representatives of the defendant shall be made parties to the action.

Section 2715.43 | Objection to surety - additional security.

• Effective: August 26, 1982
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 254 - 114th General Assembly

(A) In any case in which a motion for attachment is filed, the defendant against whom the motion is filed may object to the surety of the plaintiff that filed the motion on the bond filed under section 2715.044 of the Revised Code, and the plaintiff may object to the surety of the defendant or another person on a bond filed under section 2715.26 or 2715.10 of the Revised Code, respectively. An objection against a surety under this division shall be made by filing with the court within ten days after the filing of the surety's bond an exception to the sufficiency of the surety. All objections to sureties are otherwise waived. When an exception to a surety is made, that surety shall show to the court that it is sufficient to fulfill the obligations of its bond. After an exception has been made, the levying officer may execute the order of attachment in accordance with section 2715.09 of the Revised Code, but shall not take any further action until the surety is found by the court to be sufficient or is replaced by sufficient surety.

(B) Before judgment, after reasonable notice to the plaintiff in an action in attachment, the defendant may move the court for additional security on his part. On such motion, if the court is satisfied that the surety in the plaintiff's bond has removed from the state or is not sufficient for its amount, it may vacate the order of attachment and direct restitution of property taken under it, unless, in a reasonable time, to be fixed by the court, the plaintiff gives sufficient security.

Section 2715.431 | Complaint against surety.

• Effective: August 26, 1982
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 254 - 114th General Assembly

A party may seek recovery of damages awarded on final judgment and the costs of judgment execution against the other party's surety on a bond filed pursuant to section 2715.044, 2715.10, or 2715.26 of the Revised Code if execution of judgment issued in favor of that party is returned unsatisfied, by the filing of a complaint against the surety in the same action in which the bond was filed.

Section 2715.44 | Motion to discharge attachment.

• Effective: August 26, 1982
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 254 - 114th General Assembly

Before judgment, upon reasonable notice to the plaintiff, the defendant may move to discharge an attachment as to the whole or any of the property attached. The motion shall promptly be heard and decided by the court.

Section 2715.45 | Evidence on motion to discharge.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

When, on the part of the defendant, a motion to discharge an attachment is made on affidavits or papers and evidence in the case, but not otherwise, the plaintiff may oppose it by affidavits or other evidence, in addition to that on which the order of attachment was made.

Section 2715.46 | Appeal to reverse, vacate, or modify order of attachment.

• Effective: March 17, 1987
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 412 - 116th General Assembly

A party to a suit affected by an order discharging or refusing to discharge an order of attachment may appeal on questions of law to reverse, vacate, or modify it as in other cases; and the original action shall proceed to trial and judgment as though no appeal had been taken.

Section 2715.47 | Time in which appeal may be filed.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

When an order discharging an order of attachment is made, and a party affected thereby excepts thereto, the court or judge shall fix the number of days, not to exceed thirty, in which such party may file his appeal, during which it shall be filed and the attached property held by the sheriff or other officer.

Section 2715.48 | Bond.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

The party who appeals under section 2715.47 of the Revised Code must give a bond to the adverse party, with surety to be approved by the clerk of the court of appeals, in double the amount of the appraised value of the property attached, conditioned to pay such adverse party all damages sustained by him in consequence of filing such appeal, in the event of the discharge of the order of attachment by the court in which it is filed because the order was wrongfully obtained. When the appeal is filed and a bond is given, the sheriff or other officer shall continue to hold the property attached, subject to the further order of the court.

Section 2715.49 | Administrator or executor may file appeal.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

If a party who excepts to an order discharging or refusing to discharge an order of attachment dies within the time limited for filing his appeal, the administrator or executor of such party, within thirty days after his appointment and qualification, may file his appeal, and thereby become a party to the action. He shall not be required to give the bond required by section 2715.48 of the Revised Code. No such appeal can be filed by an executor or administrator after one year from the time such order is made.

Section 2715.50 | Grounds of attachment before debt is due.

• Effective: September 28, 1990
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 506 - 118th General Assembly

A creditor may bring an action on his claim before it is due and have an attachment against the property of the debtor when any of the following applies:

(A) A debtor has sold or otherwise transferred or disposed of his property with the fraudulent intent to cheat or defraud his creditors, or to hinder or delay them in the collection of their debts;

(B) A debtor is about to make such a sale or other transfer or disposition of his property, with such fraudulent intent;

(C) A debtor is about to remove his property, or a material part of it, with the intent or to the effect of cheating or defrauding his creditors, or of hindering or delaying them in the collection of their debts.

Section 2715.51 | Attachment to be granted by court in which action is brought.

• Effective: August 26, 1982
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 254 - 114th General Assembly

The attachment provided for in section 2715.50 of the Revised Code may be granted, pursuant and subject to sections 2715.01 to 2715.49 of the Revised Code, by the court in which the action was brought.

Section 2715.52 | Action to be dismissed if attachment refused.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

If the court or judge refuses to grant an order of attachment under section 2715.50 of the Revised Code, the action shall be dismissed, but without prejudice to a future action. In all such actions application for an attachment must be made.