Article IV. Attachment · Part 1. In General · Not amended since adoption on record · Last verified July 20, 2026
In one sentenceWhen the first order for attachment fails to reach the defendant, enough property, or a named garnishee, the clerk can issue additional certified copies on the plaintiff's application, with an extra bond required when the order targets specific property.
Full Text of 735 ILCS 5/4-115
Text size
(a)When it appears by the return of the officer that the defendant or property of the defendant is not found, or that a garnishee designated by the order for attachment has not been served, additional certified copies of the order for attachment may be issued by the clerk of court on the application of the plaintiff. (b) Additional certified copies of the order for attachment may also issue on the application of the plaintiff where the property attached, or the property found to be in the possession of the garnishee or garnishees, is not of a value sufficient to satisfy the claim sworn to, with costs of the action. The provisions of this subsection shall not be applicable to cases in which the court order describes specific property to be attached.
(c)When the order for attachment is directed against specific property of the defendant and only a portion of the property described is attached, or the property found to be in the possession of the garnishee or garnishees, is not of a value sufficient to satisfy the claim sworn to, with costs of action, a certified copy of the order for attachment against the remainder of the property described, may be issued by the clerk of court upon the application of the plaintiff. A certified copy of the order for attachment may also issue where additional specific property is desired to be attached, but before such certified copy shall issue the plaintiff shall furnish an additional bond in accordance with Section 4-108 of this Act, in double the value of the additional specific property. Where an order for attachment covering specific property has been entered, a certified copy of the order for attachment may be issued by the clerk of court on the application of the plaintiff directing the sheriff to attach sufficient property of the defendant, which, together with the specific property already attached, if any, will equal the amount of the plaintiff's claim, and before such certified copy shall issue the plaintiff shall furnish in accordance with Section 4-107 of this Act an additional bond in amount double the value of the additional property to be attached.
(d)When an additional certified copy is issued, the defendant shall be served, if he or she can be found, and return shall be made, and the same proceedings shall be had, as though such additional certified copy was the original certified copy.
Plain-English Summary
Section 4-115 lets an attachment case keep moving when the first attempt at seizure comes up short. Under subsection (a), if the officer's return shows the defendant or the defendant's property was not found, or a designated garnishee was not served, the clerk may issue additional certified copies of the order on the plaintiff's application.
Subsection (b) covers the case where property was found and attached, or held by a garnishee, but its value falls short of the claim -- again the clerk may issue additional certified copies, though this option does not apply where the court's order already describes specific property to be attached.
Subsection (c) handles that specific-property scenario directly. If only part of the described property was attached, or a garnishee's holdings fall short, a certified copy against the remaining described property may issue. If the plaintiff wants to reach additional specific property instead, an additional bond under Section 4-108 -- double the value of that added property -- must be furnished first. And where an order covering specific property already exists, the clerk may issue a certified copy directing the sheriff to attach enough further property to reach the full claim, again backed by an additional bond under Section 4-107, double the value of the additional property.
Subsection (d) makes clear that any additional certified copy triggers the same defendant-service and return process as the original: the defendant is served if found, a return is made, and the case proceeds as though that additional copy had been the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
When can a plaintiff get an additional certified copy of the order for attachment?
When the return shows the defendant or the defendant's property was not found, a named garnishee was not served, or the property or garnishee's holdings attached so far fall short of the claim's value.
Does reaching additional specific property require a new bond?
Yes. Under subsection (c), before a certified copy can issue for additional specific property, the plaintiff must furnish an additional bond under Section 4-108, double the value of that additional property.
Does subsection (b) apply when the order already describes specific property?
No. Subsection (b) expressly states it is not applicable to cases where the court order describes specific property to be attached; subsection (c) governs that situation instead.
Is an additional certified copy treated any differently from the original order once issued?
No. Subsection (d) requires the same service on the defendant, the same return, and the same proceedings as though the additional certified copy were the original.
What bond applies when the clerk issues a copy to reach more of the debtor's general property?
An additional bond under Section 4-107, in an amount double the value of the additional property to be attached.
Amendment History
(Source: P.A. 83-707.)
Source & verification. Section text and amendment history are
reproduced verbatim from the Illinois Compiled Statutes, published by the
Illinois Compiled Statutes, Illinois General Assembly / Legislative Reference Bureau. Last verified July 20, 2026.
· Official source
Also known as:additional certified copy attachmentinsufficient property attachment illinoisadditional attachment bondattachment garnishee not found