The creditor may, at the same time, or at any time before judgment, cause a certified copy of an order for attachment to be issued to any other county in the State where the debtor may have property liable to be attached, which shall be levied as other certified copies of orders for attachment.
4-118.Certified copies of order to other county.
Article IV. Attachment · Part 1. In General · Not amended since adoption on record · Last verified July 20, 2026
In one sentenceA creditor may send a certified copy of the attachment order to any other Illinois county where the debtor has attachable property, at any point before judgment, and it gets levied there like any other certified copy.
Full Text of 735 ILCS 5/4-118
Plain-English Summary
Section 4-118 lets a creditor chase a debtor's assets across county lines without starting a new case. At any time up to judgment, the creditor may cause a certified copy of an order for attachment to be issued and sent to any other county in the state where the debtor has property liable to attachment.
Once there, that certified copy is levied the same way as any other certified copy of an order for attachment, folding the out-of-county property into the same proceeding.
Frequently Asked Questions
When can a creditor send a certified copy of the attachment order to another county?
At the same time as the original order or at any time before judgment, whenever the debtor has property in that other county that could be attached.
How is a certified copy sent to another county levied?
The same way as any other certified copy of an order for attachment, following the levy procedures described elsewhere in this Part.
Does this require a separate lawsuit in the other county?
No. Section 4-118 describes sending a certified copy of the existing order for attachment to reach property elsewhere in the state, within the same proceeding.
Is there a deadline for using this cross-county option?
Yes. It must happen at the same time as the original order or at any time before judgment is entered.
How does this section differ from the pursuit power in Section 4-116?
Section 4-116 covers an officer actively chasing property being removed in real time; Section 4-118 covers routinely sending a certified copy to a county where the debtor is known to hold property, without any active pursuit.
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
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