The sheriff shall make a return upon completion or abandonment of the execu- tion proceedings.
Rule 3173.Sheriff’s return.
Adopted March 30, 1960 · Last amended March 30, 1960 · Last verified June 30, 2026
In one sentenceAfter completing or abandoning a replevin execution, the sheriff files a return — the official record of the outcome — closing out the enforcement of the replevin judgment.
Full Text of Rule 3173
Plain-English Summary
This short rule ends the replevin enforcement subchapter. On completing the execution proceedings, or abandoning them, the sheriff makes a return.
The return is the official entry in the court file that records what happened — whether the property or its value was recovered and the proceeding finished, or whether the execution was given up. As in the parallel ejectment and money-judgment rules, the return gives the court and the parties a definite account of the result, which can matter for costs, for recovery on the bond, or for a later proceeding.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the sheriff make a return in replevin?
Upon completion or abandonment of the execution proceedings.
What does the return accomplish?
It records the result of the execution for the court’s record.
Official Note
Official Note: Adopted March 30, 1960, effective November 1, 1960.
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: sheriff's return replevinreturn of replevin execution