(a) The levying officer to whom the writ of attachment is delivered shall return the writ to the court from which the writ issued, together with a report of the levying officer's actions. The return shall be made promptly in accordance with the plaintiff's instructions given to the levying officer but in no event later than 60 days after the levying officer receives the writ.
§ 488.130.Return of Writ By Levying Officer
Title 6.5. Attachment · Chapter 8. Levy Procedures; Lien of Attachment; Management and Disposition of Attached Property · Article 1. General Provisions · Enacted 1982 · no amendments on record · Last verified July 28, 2026
In one sentenceSection 488.130 requires the levying officer to return the writ of attachment to the issuing court with a report of the officer's actions, promptly and in no event later than 60 days after receiving the writ, along with a full inventory of any property attached.
Full Text of § 488.130
(b) The levying officer shall make a full inventory of property attached and return the inventory with the writ.
Plain-English Summary
After the levy work is done, the officer must close the loop with the court. Section 488.130 requires the levying officer to return the writ along with a report describing what was done. The timing follows the plaintiff's instructions where possible, but the outer limit is fixed: no later than 60 days after the officer received the writ. The officer must also prepare and return a full inventory of whatever property was attached.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a levying officer have to return a writ of attachment to the court?
Section 488.130(a) requires the return to be made promptly per the plaintiff's instructions, but in no event later than 60 days after the officer receives the writ.
Does the levying officer have to list everything that was seized?
Yes. Section 488.130(b) requires a full inventory of attached property to be prepared and returned along with the writ.
Amendment History
Added by Stats. 1982, Ch. 1198, Sec. 50. Operative July 1, 1983, by Sec. 70 of Ch. 1198.
Source & verification. Section text is reproduced verbatim from
the Deering's California Codes Annotated / vLex. Enacted by the California Legislature.
Last verified July 28, 2026.
· Official source
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