# Me. R. Civ. P. 4A: Rule 4A. ATTACHMENT

> Maine · Court rules · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_ME_CIV_R4A

## Section

- **Citation:** Me. R. Civ. P. 4A
- **Heading:** Rule 4A. ATTACHMENT
- **Jurisdiction:** Maine
- **Kind:** Court rules
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** Maine Rules of Court / Maine Rules of Civil Procedure / Me. R. Civ. P. 4A

## Text

(a) Availability of Attachment. In any action under these rules, real
estate, goods and chattels and other property may, in the manner and to the
extent provided by law, but subject to the requirements of this rule, be attached
and held to satisfy the judgment for damages and costs which the plaintiff may
recover. Attachment under this rule shall not be available before judgment in
any action against a consumer for a debt arising from a consumer credit
transaction as defined in the Maine Consumer Credit Code.

(b) Writ of Attachment: Form. The writ of attachment shall bear the
signature or facsimile signature of the clerk, be under the seal of the court,
contain the name of the court, the names and residences of the parties and the
date of the complaint, be directed to the sheriffs of the several counties or their
deputies, and command them to attach the goods or estate of the defendant to
the value of a specified amount ordered by the court, or to attach specific
property of the defendant designated by the court, and to make due return of
the writ with their doings thereon. The writ of attachment shall also state the
name of the justice or judge who entered the order approving attachment of
property, if any, and the date thereof.

(c) Same: Service. The writ of attachment may be procured in blank from
the clerk and shall be filled out by the plaintiff’s attorney as provided in
subdivision (b) of this rule. The writ of attachment shall be served by a sheriff
or a deputy within the sheriff’s county. The plaintiff’s attorney shall deliver to
the officer making the attachment the original writ of attachment upon which
to make return and a copy thereof.

No property may be attached unless such attachment for a specified
amount is approved by order of the court. Except as provided in subdivision
le. The writ of attachment shall be served by a sheriff
or a deputy within the sheriff’s county. The plaintiff’s attorney shall deliver to
the officer making the attachment the original writ of attachment upon which
to make return and a copy thereof.

No property may be attached unless such attachment for a specified
amount is approved by order of the court. Except as provided in subdivision
(g) of this rule, the order of approval may be entered only after notice to the
defendant and hearing and upon a finding by the court that it is more likely than
not that the plaintiff will recover judgment, including interest and costs, in an
amount equal to or greater than the aggregate sum of the attachment and any
liability insurance, bond, or other security, and any property or credits attached
by other writ of attachment or by trustee process shown by the defendant to be
available to satisfy the judgment.

An attachment of property shall be sought by filing, with the complaint or
during the pendency of the action, a motion for approval of the attachment. The
motion shall be supported by affidavit or affidavits meeting the requirements
set forth in subdivision (i) of this rule. Except as provided in subdivision (g) of
this rule, the motion and affidavit or affidavits shall be served upon the
defendant in the manner provided by either Rule 4 or as permitted by Rule 5.
In the case of an attachment approved ex parte as provided in subdivision (g)
of this rule, the defendant shall also be served with a copy of the writ of
attachment with the officer’s endorsement thereon of the date or dates of
execution of the attachment or, if attachment has been perfected by filing under
14 M.R.S. § 4154, with a copy of the order of approval with the acknowledgment
of the officer receiving the filing endorsed thereon.
as provided in subdivision (g)
of this rule, the defendant shall also be served with a copy of the writ of
attachment with the officer’s endorsement thereon of the date or dates of
execution of the attachment or, if attachment has been perfected by filing under
14 M.R.S. § 4154, with a copy of the order of approval with the acknowledgment
of the officer receiving the filing endorsed thereon.

A defendant opposing a motion for approval of attachment shall file
material in opposition as required by Rule 7(c). If the defendant is deemed to
have waived all objection to the motion as provided in Rule 7(c) for failure to
file opposition material within the time therein provided or as extended, the
court shall, without hearing, upon a finding that the plaintiff is entitled to an
attachment under the terms of this subdivision (c), enter an order of approval
of attachment in an appropriate amount.

Any attachment shall be made within 30 days after the order approving
the writ of attachment. When attachments are made subsequent to service of
the summons, complaint, and notice regarding Electronic Service upon the
defendant, a copy of the writ of attachment with the officer’s endorsement
thereon of the date or dates of the attachments shall be promptly served upon
the defendant in the manner provided by Rule 5. When an attachment made
subsequent to the service of the summons, complaint, and notice regarding
Electronic Service has been perfected by filing under 14 M.R.S. § 4154, a copy
of the order of approval, with the acknowledgment of the officer receiving the
filing endorsed thereon, shall be promptly served upon the defendant in the
same manner.
the defendant in the manner provided by Rule 5. When an attachment made
subsequent to the service of the summons, complaint, and notice regarding
Electronic Service has been perfected by filing under 14 M.R.S. § 4154, a copy
of the order of approval, with the acknowledgment of the officer receiving the
filing endorsed thereon, shall be promptly served upon the defendant in the
same manner.

(d) Approval of Limited Attachment or Substituted Security.

(1) Attachment of Specific Property. In the order approving an
attachment, the court shall specify that the attachment is to issue solely against
particular property or credits upon a showing by the defendant (A) that the
property or credits specified are available for attachment and would, if sold to

satisfy any judgment obtained in the action, yield to the plaintiff an amount at
least equal to the amount for which attachment is approved in accordance with
the criteria of subdivision (c), and (B) that the absence of such a limitation will
result in hardship to the defendant.

(2) Alternative Security for a Single Defendant. At the hearing on a
motion for approval of an attachment against the property of a single
defendant, the defendant may tender cash or bond at least equal to the amount
of any attachment to be approved in accordance with the criteria of subdivision
(c). If the court finds that the defendant has tendered cash in sufficient amount,
it shall order that amount to be deposited with the court as provided in Rule 67
to be held as security for any judgment that the plaintiff may recover. If the
court finds that the defendant has tendered a bond of sufficient amount and
duration and with sufficient sureties, the court shall order the bond to be filed
with the court. A surety upon a bond filed under this rule is subject to the terms
and conditions of Rule 65(c)
eposited with the court as provided in Rule 67
to be held as security for any judgment that the plaintiff may recover. If the
court finds that the defendant has tendered a bond of sufficient amount and
duration and with sufficient sureties, the court shall order the bond to be filed
with the court. A surety upon a bond filed under this rule is subject to the terms
and conditions of Rule 65(c). Upon such deposit or filing, the court shall further
order that any prior attachment against the defendant to satisfy a judgment on
the claim for which security has been tendered shall be dissolved. Thereafter,
no further attachment shall issue against the defendant except on motion of the
plaintiff and a showing that the cash deposited or bond filed has become
inadequate or unavailable to satisfy the judgment.

(3) Single Security for Multiple Defendants. At the hearing for
approval of attachment against the property of two or more defendants alleged
to be jointly and severally liable to the plaintiff, one or more of the defendants
may tender cash or bond sufficient, in the aggregate, to satisfy the total amount
the plaintiff would be entitled to recover upon execution against all such
defendants. Upon the findings required by paragraph (2) of this subdivision for
a single defendant, the court may order the cash to be deposited or the bond
filed with the court on the same conditions and with the same effect provided
in that paragraph.

(e) Attachment on Counterclaim, Cross-Claim or Third-Party Complaint.
An attachment may be made by a party bringing a counterclaim, a cross-claim,
or a third-party complaint in the same manner as upon an original claim.
a single defendant, the court may order the cash to be deposited or the bond
filed with the court on the same conditions and with the same effect provided
in that paragraph.

(e) Attachment on Counterclaim, Cross-Claim or Third-Party Complaint.
An attachment may be made by a party bringing a counterclaim, a cross-claim,
or a third-party complaint in the same manner as upon an original claim.

(f) Subsequent or Additional Attachment. If no writ of attachment has
issued, or if the time period prescribed in subdivision (c) of this rule for making
attachments has expired, the court on motion may issue an order of approval

for attachment of real estate, goods and chattels or other property. The
provisions of subdivisions (c), (d), and (g) of this rule apply to the motion and
any attachment ordered thereunder, except that notice if appropriate shall be
served upon the defendant in the manner provided in Rule 5.

(g) Ex Parte Hearings on Attachments. An order approving attachment
of property for a specific amount may be entered ex parte only if the court
grants an ex parte motion for approval of the attachment as provided in
subdivision (c) of this rule. Upon the filing of the motion, the hearing on the
motion shall be held forthwith. Such order shall issue if the court finds that it
is more likely than not that the plaintiff will recover judgment in an amount
equal to or greater than the aggregate sum of the attachment and any insurance,
bond, or other security, and any property or credits attached by other writ of
attachment or by trustee process known or reasonably believed to be available
to satisfy the judgment, and that either (i) there is a clear danger that the
defendant if notified in advance of attachment of the property will remove it
from the state or will conceal it or will otherwise make it unavailable to satisfy
a judgment, or (ii) there is immediate danger that the defendant will damage or
destroy the property to be attached
n or reasonably believed to be available
to satisfy the judgment, and that either (i) there is a clear danger that the
defendant if notified in advance of attachment of the property will remove it
from the state or will conceal it or will otherwise make it unavailable to satisfy
a judgment, or (ii) there is immediate danger that the defendant will damage or
destroy the property to be attached. The motion for such ex parte order shall
be accompanied by a certificate by the plaintiff’s attorney of the amount of any
insurance, bond, or other security, and any other attachment or trustee process
which the attorney knows or has reason to believe will be available to satisfy
any judgment against the defendant in the action. The motion, in the filing of
which the plaintiff’s attorney shall be subject to the obligations of Rule 11, shall
be supported by affidavit or affidavits meeting the requirements set forth in
subdivision (i) of this rule.

(h) Dissolution or Modification of Attachments. On 2 days’ notice to the
plaintiff or on such shorter notice as the court may prescribe, any person having
an interest in property that has been attached pursuant to an ex parte order
entered under subdivision (g) of this rule may appear, without thereby
submitting to the personal jurisdiction of the court, and move the dissolution
or modification of the attachment, and in that event the court shall proceed to
hear and determine such motion as expeditiously as the ends of justice require.
At such hearing the plaintiff shall have the burden of justifying any finding in
the ex parte order that the moving party has challenged by affidavit.

Upon motion and notice and a showing by any defendant that specific
property or sufficient cash or bond is available to satisfy a judgment as
urt shall proceed to
hear and determine such motion as expeditiously as the ends of justice require.
At such hearing the plaintiff shall have the burden of justifying any finding in
the ex parte order that the moving party has challenged by affidavit.

Upon motion and notice and a showing by any defendant that specific
property or sufficient cash or bond is available to satisfy a judgment as

provided in subdivision (d) of this rule, the court may modify an order of
attachment, whether issued ex parte or after hearing, to limit the attachment to
particular property or to order cash or bond to be held by the court as security
for the judgment, and to dissolve the prior attachment as to all other property
of the defendant. If a prior attachment has been perfected as to property
specified in the modified order, the modified order shall relate back to the
original attachment.

Nothing herein shall be construed to abolish or limit any means for
obtaining dissolution, modification or discharge of an attachment that is
otherwise available by law.

(i) Requirements for Affidavits. Affidavits required by this rule shall set
forth specific facts sufficient to warrant the required findings and shall be upon
the affiant’s own knowledge, information or belief; and, so far as upon
information and belief, shall state that the affiant believes this information to
be true.

## Nearby sections

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- [Me. R. Civ. P. 3 Rule 3. COMMENCEMENT OF ACTION](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_ME_CIV_R3.md)
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- [Me. R. Civ. P. 4A Rule 4A. ATTACHMENT](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_ME_CIV_R4A.md)
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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_ME_CIV_R4A. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.