If, after trial, judgment is entered in favor of the plaintiff, and the water craft has been discharged from custody as herein provided, the judgment shall be entered against the principal and sureties in the bond. In no case shall the judgment exceed the penalty of the bond, and the subsequent proceedings shall be the same as now provided by law in actions in personam. If the release has been upon deposit, the judgment shall be paid out of the deposit.
4-221.Judgment when vessel discharged.
Article IV. Attachment · Part 2. Watercraft · Not amended since adoption on record · Last verified July 20, 2026
In one sentenceSection 4-221 directs that, when judgment favors the plaintiff and the craft was already released on bond, judgment enters against the bond's principal and sureties, capped at the bond's penalty, or is paid from the deposit if the craft was released that way.
Full Text of 735 ILCS 5/4-221
Plain-English Summary
This section covers what happens at judgment when the craft is no longer in custody. If judgment is entered for the plaintiff and the water craft has already been discharged under Section 4-216 or Section 4-217, the judgment is entered against the principal and sureties named in the bond — never exceeding the penalty stated in that bond.
From there, the case proceeds the same way an ordinary action in personam would. If the release happened by deposit rather than bond, the judgment is instead paid straight out of that deposit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Against whom does the judgment enter if the vessel was already bonded out?
The principal and sureties named in the bond.
Is there a limit on that judgment?
Yes — it cannot exceed the penalty amount stated in the bond.
How do proceedings continue after judgment enters under this section?
The same as in other actions in personam.
What if the vessel was released on a cash deposit rather than a bond?
The judgment is paid out of that deposit.
How does this section differ from Section 4-222?
This section applies once the craft has already been discharged from custody; Section 4-222 applies while the craft remains in custody.
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: judgment against bond sureties illinois vesselreleased boat judgment illinois attachmentin personam judgment discharged vesseljudgment paid from deposit watercraft