(a) An attachment is not dissolved by the death or dissolution of a defendant or garnishee.
Rule 3143.Dissolution of attachment; release of property; bond.
Adopted March 30, 1960 · Last amended April 12, 1999 · Last verified June 30, 2026
In one sentenceAn attachment survives the death of a defendant or garnishee and is dissolved when a qualifying bond or cash security is filed, with related provisions for releasing specific property, releasing an excessive attachment, and entering a non pros if the plaintiff fails to prosecute.
Full Text of Rule 3143
(1) An attachment is dissolved when any person or party
(i) files with the prothonotary a bond, with security approved by the prothonotary, in the amount of plaintiff’s judgment, including probable inter- est and costs, or in such lesser amount as the court may direct, naming the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as obligee, conditioned to pay the plaintiff the amount finally determined to be due by the garnishee or the value of the property whichever is less, or
(ii) deposits with the prothonotary, or with the sheriff for the prothono- tary, to be held by the prothonotary or the sheriff upon the same condition as the bond, security in the form of legal tender of the United States in an amount equal to the plaintiff’s judgment, including probable interest and costs, or in such lesser amount as the court may direct.
(2) Upon the filing of the bond or security, the garnishee shall be dis- charged from further liability for payment under the attachment, but the attach- ment shall be prosecuted to final judgment for the purpose of determining the amount, if any, due by the garnishee to the defendant or the value of the prop- erty attached.
(c) Specific property is released without dissolving the attachment when any person or party gives bond or security, as provided by Subdivision (b) of this rule, in an amount based upon the value of the property to be determined by the court, and conditioned to pay the plaintiff the amount of the final judgment against the defendant or the value of the property released, whichever is less.
(d) The court on petition of any party may, at any time after notice and hear- ing, release part of the attached property if the value of the property attached is excessive compared to the amount in controversy.
(e) If the attachment is dissolved or property is released, the property shall be returned to the person from whom it was taken.
(f) The prothonotary, on praecipe of the garnishee or defendant, shall enter a rule on the plaintiff to file interrogatories. If the plaintiff fails to comply with the rule within twenty days after service, the prothonotary, upon praecipe of the gar- nishee, shall enter judgment of non pros against the plaintiff and in favor of the garnishee, which shall dissolve the attachment as to the garnishee.
(g) At any time after the filing of answers to the interrogatories and service of a copy upon the plaintiff, the prothonotary, on praecipe of the garnishee, shall enter a rule on the plaintiff to (1) seek judgment against the garnishee under Rule 3146(b) or (2) place the issue between the plaintiff and garnishee upon the list for trial. If the plaintiff fails to comply with the rule within twenty days after ser- vice, the prothonotary, on praecipe of the garnishee, shall enter judgment of non pros against the plaintiff in favor of the garnishee, which shall dissolve the attachment as to the garnishee.
(h) The court on petition of any party may, at any time after notice and hear- ing, dissolve the attachment if the plaintiff has not prosecuted it with diligence.
Plain-English Summary
This rule governs how an attachment ends. Death of the defendant or garnishee does not dissolve it. A bond does.
The attachment is dissolved when anyone files a bond, with approved security, or deposits cash equal to the plaintiff’s judgment plus probable interest and costs, conditioned to pay what the garnishee owes or the value of the property, whichever is less. Once that is filed, the garnishee is discharged from further liability, though the case continues to fix the amount. Specific property can be released the same way without dissolving the whole attachment, and the court may release part of an attachment that is excessive.
The rule also lets a garnishee or defendant force the plaintiff to move the case along: on praecipe, the prothonotary enters a rule on the plaintiff to file interrogatories or to seek judgment or list the matter for trial, and if the plaintiff misses the twenty-day deadline, a non pros is entered that dissolves the attachment as to the garnishee.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is an attachment dissolved?
By filing a bond with approved security, or depositing cash, equal to the plaintiff’s judgment plus probable interest and costs, conditioned to pay the garnishee’s debt or the property’s value, whichever is less.
Does a defendant’s death end the attachment?
No. An attachment is not dissolved by the death or dissolution of a defendant or garnishee.
Official Note
Official Note: For further remedies available to a third person claiming attached property, see Rules on Intervention, 2326 et seq.; Rules on Interpleader, 2301 et seq., and Rules on Sher- iff’s Interpleader, 3201 et seq.
Amendment History
The provisions of this Rule 3141 adopted March 30, 1960, effective November 1, 1960; amended April 20, 1998, effective July 1, 1998, 28 Pa.B. 2026; amended April 12, 1999, effective July 1, 1999, 29 Pa.B. 2281. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (213422) and (243921) to (243922).
Source & verification. Rule text, the Official Note, and the amendment
history are reproduced verbatim from the Pennsylvania Code, Title 231, the official compilation
of rules adopted by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. Last verified June 30, 2026. ·
Official text
Also known as: dissolution of attachmentbond to dissolve attachmentrelease of attached property