§ 492.040.Levy Upon Property

Section 492.040 tells the levying officer what kind of property a nonresident-attachment writ reaches. Notwithstanding §§ 487.010 and 487.020's general property categories, the writ can be levied on any property for which Article 2 (commencing with § 488.300) of Chapter 8 provides a levy method -- a broad reach appropriate to a remedy aimed at defendants who might otherwise put assets beyond the court's practical reach.

That reach narrows once the defendant shows up. After the defendant files a general appearance in the action, only nonexempt property may be levied on going forward, and any exempt property already levied under this chapter must be released on the court's order.

The shift reflects the underlying justification for nonresident attachment: it exists to secure assets against a defendant who might otherwise evade the court's jurisdiction, and once the defendant has appeared and submitted to the case, the ordinary exemption protections reassert themselves.