at·tach vb [Anglo-French attacher to lodge (an action in court), seize (a person or property) by legal authority, from Old French atachier to fasten, fix, alteration of estachier, from estache stake]
vt
1: to obtain a court order against (property of another person) that directs an officer of the court (as a sheriff) to seize or take control of the property compare garnish, levy
◇ A plaintiff may attach a defendant's property as a way of obtaining jurisdiction for the purpose of bringing a lawsuit or to prevent the defendant from getting rid of property that may be needed to pay a judgment to the plaintiff.
2: to join or make a part of
affidavits attach ed to the suit — Rosalind Resnick
3: to create a security interest in (property) and so acquire the right to foreclose on or otherwise deal with property for payment of a debt and to exercise one's rights in the property against third parties see also security interest at interest 1 compare perfect
vi: to become effective: as
a: to come into existence as a security interest
from the date the interest attach es
b: to become operative esp. as a right
the right to counsel attach es only at or after the initiation of adversary judicial proceedings — United States v. Gouveia, 467 U.S. 180 (1984) see also jeopardy
at·tach·able adj
at·tach·ment n
Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary of Law. Merriam-Webster. 1996.