The sheriff, after executing a writ of attachment or of sequestration, shall deliver to the clerk of the court from which the writ issued a written return stating the manner in which he executed the writ. He shall annex to the return an inventory of the property seized.
Art. 3504.Return of Sheriff; Inventory
Book VII. Special Proceedings · Title I. Provisional Remedies · Chapter 1. Attachment and Sequestration · Amendment history unavailable · Last verified July 30, 2026
In one sentenceArticle 3504 requires the sheriff, after executing a writ of attachment or sequestration, to file a written return with the clerk describing how the writ was carried out, along with an inventory of everything seized.
Full Text of Art. 3504
Plain-English Summary
Once a sheriff seizes property under a writ of attachment or sequestration, someone has to create a record of what happened. Article 3504 puts that duty on the sheriff, who must deliver a written return to the clerk of the issuing court describing the manner of execution.
The return has to come with an inventory of the property seized, attached to it. That inventory becomes the reference point for everything downstream: whether the seizure was excessive under Article 3505, whether the property named matches what a defendant or third person seeks to have released under Articles 3507 through 3509, and what remains subject to the writ if the case proceeds to judgment.
The requirement is administrative, but its purpose is accountability. A seizure carried out under court authority needs a documented trail showing exactly what was taken and how, so the parties and the court are not left guessing about the scope of what the writ reached.
Frequently Asked Questions
What must a Louisiana sheriff file after executing a writ of attachment?
A written return describing how the writ was executed, filed with the clerk of the court that issued the writ, with an inventory of the seized property attached.
Why does the inventory matter after a seizure?
It documents exactly what property was taken, which later articles rely on to decide questions like excessive seizure, release of property, and what remains available to satisfy a judgment.
Who is responsible for creating the return and inventory?
The sheriff who executed the writ of attachment or sequestration, not the plaintiff or the clerk.
What happens if the sheriff's return does not match what a party believes was seized?
The return and inventory are the official record of the execution, so a discrepancy would typically be raised through the motions available under this chapter, such as a motion addressing an excessive seizure.
Source & verification. Article text is reproduced verbatim from
the Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure (legis.la.gov). Enacted by the Louisiana Legislature.
Last verified July 30, 2026.
· Official source
Also known as: sheriff's return writ of attachment LouisianaArticle 3504 Louisianainventory of seized property Louisianaexecution of writ of sequestration returnsheriff duties attachment sequestration