A court which is otherwise competent under the laws of this state has jurisdiction to render a money judgment against a nonresident if the action is commenced by an attachment of his property in this state. Unless the nonresident subjects himself personally to the jurisdiction of the court, the judgment may be executed only against the property attached.
Art. 9.Same; Quasi In Rem; Attachment
Title I. Courts · Chapter 1. Jurisdiction · Enacted 1995 · no amendments on record · Last verified July 30, 2026
In one sentenceArticle 9 lets a competent Louisiana court render a money judgment against a nonresident whose property has been attached here, though the judgment can be executed only against the attached property unless the nonresident submits personally to the court.
Full Text of Art. 9
Amendment History
Acts 1995, No. 1104, §1.
Plain-English Summary
Quasi in rem jurisdiction sits between in rem and personal jurisdiction. It starts the same way as an in rem case — with property in Louisiana that belongs to a nonresident — but it aims at a money judgment against the person, not only a ruling about the property itself. Article 9 lets a plaintiff commence an action by attaching that property, giving the court a foothold to decide the underlying claim.
The catch is on the back end. Unless the nonresident shows up and submits personally to the court's jurisdiction, the resulting judgment can be executed only against the property that was attached — not against the defendant's other assets, wherever they might be. The property is the limit of what the plaintiff can collect.
This kind of jurisdiction has constitutional limits that grew stricter over time. The United States Supreme Court held in Shaffer v. Heitner, 433 U.S. 186 (1977), that attaching property alone isn't enough to support a judgment against a nonresident who lacks the kind of connection to the forum that due process requires for personal jurisdiction generally. Louisiana's current version of Article 9 reflects that: the attachment gets the case into court, but the nonresident still needs enough of a relationship to Louisiana, or to the property itself, for the exercise of jurisdiction to hold up.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is ‘quasi in rem’ jurisdiction?
It's jurisdiction founded on attaching a nonresident's property in Louisiana, used to support a money judgment against that person, rather than jurisdiction over the property's ownership itself.
Can I collect a full money judgment from all of a nonresident's assets under Article 9?
Not unless the nonresident submits personally to the court. Otherwise, the judgment can be executed only against the property that was attached to start the case.
Is attaching a nonresident's property enough by itself to support a judgment?
Not always. Since Shaffer v. Heitner, 433 U.S. 186 (1977), due process requires more than a bare attachment when the nonresident lacks a sufficient connection to the forum or the property, which is why Article 9's current version drops the old requirement tying jurisdiction only to the fact that the defendant wasn't personally reachable.
What kind of property can be attached to start a quasi in rem case?
Property belonging to the nonresident that is located in Louisiana. The attachment itself, made under the state's attachment procedures, is what commences the action under this article.
Source & verification. Article text is reproduced verbatim from
the vLex (Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure, 2026 Edition). Enacted by the Louisiana Legislature.
Last verified July 30, 2026.
· Official source
Also known as: quasi in rem jurisdiction louisianaattachment jurisdiction nonresidentwrit of attachment lawsuit louisianaShaffer v Heitner louisianamoney judgment against nonresident property