When any sheriff or other officer enforces an order for attachment by taking possession of horses, cattle or live stock, and the same are not immediately replevied or restored to the debtor, such officer shall provide sufficient sustenance for the support of such live stock until the live stock is sold or discharged from such attachment. The sheriff or other officer shall receive therefor a reasonable compensation, to be ascertained and determined by the court in which the attachment order was entered, and charged in the fee bill of such officer, and shall be collectible as part of the costs.
4-124.Live stock.
Article IV. Attachment · Part 1. In General · Not amended since adoption on record · Last verified July 20, 2026
In one sentenceAn officer who seizes horses, cattle, or livestock under an attachment must keep them fed and cared for until they are sold or released, and gets reasonable compensation for that care added to the costs of the case.
Full Text of 735 ILCS 5/4-124
Plain-English Summary
Section 4-124 deals with a practical problem attachment can create: what happens to living animals seized as property. When a sheriff or other officer enforces an order for attachment by taking horses, cattle, or livestock, and the animals are not immediately replevied or restored to the debtor, the officer must provide sufficient sustenance for them until they are sold or discharged from the attachment.
The officer does not have to absorb that cost personally. The court that entered the attachment order determines and awards a reasonable compensation for the officer's care of the livestock, which is charged in the officer's fee bill and collected as part of the costs of the case.
Frequently Asked Questions
What must an officer do after attaching livestock?
Provide sufficient sustenance to support the animals until they are sold or discharged from the attachment, unless they are immediately replevied or restored to the debtor.
Does the officer have to pay for the livestock's care personally?
No. The court sets a reasonable compensation for that care, which is charged in the officer's fee bill and collected as part of the costs of the action.
Who decides how much the officer is paid for caring for attached livestock?
The court in which the order for attachment was entered ascertains and determines that reasonable compensation.
Does this obligation end once the livestock is replevied?
Yes. The duty to sustain the animals applies only while they remain attached and are not immediately replevied or restored to the debtor.
How does this section relate to the sale of livestock under Section 4-145?
Section 4-124 covers care of livestock while attached; Section 4-145 addresses the separate process for selling levied livestock when it is fit for market or would otherwise depreciate.
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: attached livestock care illinoissheriff sustenance livestock attachmentattachment livestock compensationsustenance for attached livestock