An action in which a writ of attachment is sought on the sole ground that the defendant is a nonresident may be brought in any parish where the property to be attached is situated.
Art. 3545.Nonresident Attachment; Venue
Book VII. Special Proceedings · Title I. Provisional Remedies · Chapter 1. Attachment and Sequestration · Amendment history unavailable · Last verified July 30, 2026
In one sentenceArticle 3545 lets an action seeking attachment solely on the ground of the defendant's nonresidence be brought in any parish where the property to be attached is located, rather than under the state's usual venue rules.
Full Text of Art. 3545
Plain-English Summary
Ordinary venue rules assume a defendant has some connection to a particular parish that makes suing there sensible. A nonresident defendant with property scattered around Louisiana does not fit that assumption neatly, so Article 3545 supplies a venue rule built for exactly this situation.
When nonresidence is the sole ground for the writ of attachment, meaning none of Article 3541's other grounds are also being invoked, the plaintiff can bring the action in any parish where the property to be attached sits. Venue follows the property rather than any traditional connection between the defendant and a particular court.
This dovetails with Article 3544's reduced security for nonresidence-only attachments. Both articles treat nonresidence as a distinct, narrower category within attachment practice, with rules tailored to the practical problem it presents: a debtor outside Louisiana with assets inside it that a creditor needs a Louisiana court's authority to reach.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can a Louisiana attachment suit against a nonresident be filed?
In any parish where the property to be attached is located, when the sole ground for the writ is the defendant's nonresidence, under Article 3545.
Does this special venue rule apply to every attachment case?
No. It applies only when nonresidence is the sole ground relied on. An attachment based on other grounds under Article 3541 follows Louisiana's ordinary venue rules.
Why does venue follow the property instead of the defendant in these cases?
Because a nonresident defendant may have no meaningful connection to any particular Louisiana parish, so the article ties venue to where the attachable property is found instead.
Is the security amount different for a nonresident attachment brought under this venue rule?
Yes. Article 3544 caps the required security at two hundred fifty dollars for a nonresidence-only attachment, unless the court raises it on a proper showing.
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: nonresident attachment venue LouisianaArticle 3545 Louisianawhere to file attachment against nonresidentvenue based on location of property Louisiananonresidence only ground attachment venue