Rule 3.103.Attachment

Subchapter 3.100 — Debtor-Creditor · Last verified September 5, 2026

In one sentenceMCR 3.103 lets a plaintiff who cannot serve the defendant obtain a writ directing an officer to seize and hold the defendant's nonexempt property until the case is decided.

Full Text of Rule 3.103

Text sizeJump to: (A) (B) (C) (D) (E) (F) (G) (H) (I)

(A) Availability of Writ. After commencing an action, the plaintiff may obtain a writ of attachment under the circumstances and by the procedures provided in this rule. Except in an action brought on a foreign judgment, attachment may not be used unless the defendant is subject to the jurisdiction of the court under chapter 7 of the Revised Judicature Act. MCL 600.701 et seq.

(B) Motion for Writ.

(1) The plaintiff may seek a writ of attachment by filing an ex parte motion supported by an affidavit setting forth specific facts showing that

(a) at the time of the execution of the affidavit the defendant is indebted to the plaintiff in a stated amount on a contract in excess of all setoffs,

(b) the defendant is subject to the judicial jurisdiction of the state, and

In an action brought on a tort claim or a foreign judgment, subrules (B)(2) and (3), respectively, apply.

(2) In a tort action the following provisions apply:

(a) Instead of the allegations required by subrule (B)(1)(a), the affidavit in support of the motion must describe the injury claimed and state that the affiant in good faith believes that the defendant is liable to the plaintiff in a stated amount. The other requirements of subrule (B)(1) apply.

(b) If the writ is issued the court shall specify the amount or value of property to be attached.

(3) In an action brought on a foreign judgment, instead of the allegations required by subrule (B)(1), the affidavit in support of the motion must show that

(a) the defendant is indebted to the plaintiff on a foreign judgment in a stated amount in excess of all setoffs,

(b) the defendant is not subject to the jurisdiction of the state or that after diligent effort the plaintiff cannot serve the defendant with process.

(1) On a finding that the writ is available under this rule and that the affidavit states a sufficient basis for issuance of the writ, the judge to whom the action is assigned may issue the writ.

(2) The judge's order shall specify what further steps, if any, must be taken by the plaintiff to notify the defendant of the action and the attachment.

(D) Contents of Writ. The writ of attachment must command the sheriff or other officer to whom it is directed

(1) to attach so much of the defendant's real and personal property not exempt from execution as is necessary to satisfy the plaintiff's demand and costs, and

(2) to keep the property in a secure place to satisfy any judgment that may be recovered by the plaintiff in the action until further order of the court.

(E) Execution of Writ; Subsequent Attachments.

(1) The sheriff or other officer to whom a writ of attachment is directed shall execute the writ by seizing and holding so much of the defendant's property not exempt from execution, wherever found within the county, as is necessary to satisfy the plaintiff's demand and costs. If insufficient property is seized, then the officer shall seize other property of the defendant not exempt from execution, wherever found within Michigan, as is necessary when added to that already seized, to satisfy the plaintiff's demand and costs. The property seized must be inventoried by the officer and appraised by two disinterested residents of the county in which the property was seized. After being sworn under oath to make a true appraisal, the appraisers shall make and sign an appraisal. The inventory and appraisal must be filed and a copy served on the parties under MCR 2.107.

(2) In subsequent attachments of the same property while in the hands of the officer, the original inventory and appraisal satisfy the requirement of subrule (E)(1).

(F) Attachment of Realty; Stock.

(1) The officer may seize an interest in real estate by depositing a certified copy of the writ of attachment, including a description of the land affected, with the register of deeds for the county in which the land is located. It is not necessary that the officer enter on the land or be within view of it.

(2) Shares of stock or the interest of a stockholder in a domestic corporation must be seized in the manner provided for the seizure of that property on execution.

(G) Animals or Perishable Property; Sale; Distribution of Proceeds.

(1) When any of the property attached consists of animals or perishable property, the court may order the property sold and the money from the sale brought into court, to await the order of the court.

(2) After the order for a sale is entered, the officer having the property shall advertise and sell it in the manner that personal property of like character is required to be advertised and sold on execution. The officer shall deposit the proceeds with the clerk of the court in which the action is pending.

(3) If the plaintiff recovers judgment, the court may order the money paid to the plaintiff. If the judgment is entered against the plaintiff or the suit is dismissed or the attachment is dissolved, the court shall order the money paid to the defendant or other person entitled to it.

(H) Dissolution of Attachment.

(1) Except in an action brought on a foreign judgment, if the defendant submits to the jurisdiction of the court, the court shall dissolve the attachment.

(2) A person who owns, possesses, or has an interest in attached property may move at any time to dissolve the attachment. The defendant may move to dissolve the attachment without submitting to the jurisdiction of the court.

(a) When a motion for dissolution of attachment is filed, the court shall enter an order setting a time and place for hearing the motion, and may issue subpoenas to compel witnesses to attend.

(b) The plaintiff must be served with notice under MCR 2.107 at least 3 days before the hearing unless the court's order prescribes a different notice requirement.

(c) At the hearing, the proofs are heard in the same manner as in a nonjury trial. If the court decides that the defendant was not subject to the jurisdiction of the state or that the property was not subject to or was exempt from attachment, it shall dissolve the attachment and restore the property to the defendant, and the attachment may be dissolved for any other sufficient reason. The court may order the losing party to pay the costs of the dissolution proceeding.

(3) If the action is dismissed or judgment is entered for the defendant, the attachment is dissolved.

(I) Satisfaction of Judgment.

(1) If the attachment remains in effect until the entry of judgment against the defendant, the attached property may be applied to the satisfaction of the judgment, including interest and costs, in the same manner as in the case of an execution.

(2) If the court does not acquire personal jurisdiction over the defendant, either by service or by the defendant's appearance, a judgment against the defendant is not binding beyond the value of the attached property.

End

Plain-English Summary

MCR 3.103 puts a defendant's own property under the court's control while a case is pending. Garnishment reaches value in a third party's hands; attachment reaches the defendant's real estate, goods, and corporate stock directly. An officer seizes the property, holds it, and the property answers for the judgment if the plaintiff wins.

When attachment is available

Subrule (A) requires an action already commenced. Outside an action brought on a foreign judgment, the defendant must be subject to the court's jurisdiction under chapter 7 of the Revised Judicature Act, MCL 600.701 and the sections that follow.

The motion

Subrule (B) calls for an ex parte motion supported by an affidavit of specific facts. In a contract case the affidavit states a debt in a stated amount in excess of all setoffs, that the defendant is subject to the judicial jurisdiction of the state, and that after diligent effort the plaintiff cannot serve the defendant with process. A tort case substitutes a description of the injury claimed and the affiant's good faith belief that the defendant is liable for a stated amount, and the court then specifies the amount or value of property to be attached. An action on a foreign judgment substitutes the judgment debt and a showing that the defendant is beyond the state's jurisdiction or cannot be served after diligent effort. Under subrule (C) the assigned judge decides, and the order says what further steps the plaintiff must take to notify the defendant.

Seizing and holding

The writ commands the officer to attach enough nonexempt real and personal property to satisfy the demand and costs and to keep it secure until further order. Subrule (E) sends the officer to property within the county first and elsewhere in Michigan only if what was seized falls short. Property seized is inventoried by the officer and appraised by two disinterested residents of the county where it was seized, sworn under oath before they sign; the inventory and appraisal are filed and served under MCR 2.107, and a later attachment of the same property while the officer still holds it may rest on the original inventory and appraisal. Real estate is reached under subrule (F) by depositing a certified copy of the writ, with a description of the land, with the register of deeds, without entering on the land or coming within view of it. Animals and perishable property may be sold by court order under subrule (G), with the proceeds deposited with the clerk to await the outcome of the case.

Getting the property back

Subrule (H) supplies several exits. Outside a foreign judgment action, the court dissolves the attachment when the defendant submits to its jurisdiction. Anyone who owns, possesses, or has an interest in the property may move to dissolve at any time, and the defendant may move without submitting to jurisdiction. The court sets a hearing, may subpoena witnesses, and requires notice to the plaintiff at least 3 days ahead unless its order says otherwise. Proofs are heard as in a nonjury trial, and the court may tax the costs of the proceeding against the losing party. Dismissal of the action or judgment for the defendant dissolves the attachment on its own. Subrule (I)(2) caps the stakes: without personal jurisdiction over the defendant, a judgment binds no further than the value of the attached property.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a plaintiff have to show to get a writ of attachment?

Subrule (B)(1) asks for an affidavit of specific facts showing a debt in a stated amount on a contract in excess of all setoffs, that the defendant is subject to the judicial jurisdiction of the state, and that after diligent effort the plaintiff cannot serve the defendant with process. Tort actions and actions on foreign judgments substitute their own showings under subrules (B)(2) and (B)(3).

How is attachment different in a tort case?

Instead of alleging a contract debt in a stated amount, the affidavit describes the injury claimed and states the affiant's good faith belief that the defendant is liable to the plaintiff in a stated amount. The rest of subrule (B)(1) still applies, and if the writ issues the court specifies the amount or value of property to be attached.

How does an officer attach real estate?

Under subrule (F)(1), by depositing a certified copy of the writ, including a description of the land, with the register of deeds for the county where the land sits. The rule states that the officer need not enter on the land or be within view of it.

Can a defendant fight an attachment without submitting to the court's jurisdiction?

Yes. Subrule (H)(2) lets the defendant move to dissolve the attachment without submitting to jurisdiction, and lets any person who owns, possesses, or has an interest in the attached property move at any time. The plaintiff gets notice under MCR 2.107 at least 3 days before the hearing unless the court's order sets a different requirement.

What happens to attached animals or perishable goods?

Subrule (G) allows the court to order them sold and the money brought into court. The officer advertises and sells the property the way personal property of like character is sold on execution and deposits the proceeds with the clerk. If the plaintiff wins, the court may order the money paid over; if the plaintiff loses, the suit is dismissed, or the attachment is dissolved, the money goes to the defendant or whoever else is entitled to it.

What if the court never gets personal jurisdiction over the defendant?

Subrule (I)(2) limits the reach of the judgment. Without service or an appearance giving the court personal jurisdiction, a judgment against the defendant is not binding beyond the value of the attached property.

Source & verification. Rule text reproduced verbatim from the Michigan Court Rules, Chapter 3 (Special Proceedings and Actions), as published by the Michigan State Court Administrative Office, current through September 1, 2026. Promulgated by the Supreme Court of Michigan (Mich. Const. 1963, art. VI, § 5). Last verified September 5, 2026. · Official text

Also known as: attachmentwrit of attachmentprejudgment attachmentdissolution of attachmentseizing property before judgmentattaching real estate