Short answer. If the property attached is enough, the sheriff satisfies the judgment by paying over proceeds already realized from any sale of perishable or other property, then selling more of the attached property if a balance remains, and by collecting any attached debts or credits determined and stated in the judgment.

What the law says

If judgment be recovered by the attaching party and execution issue thereon, the sheriff may cause the judgment to be satisfied out of the property attached, if it be sufficient for that purpose in the following manner: (a) By paying to the judgment obligee the proceeds of all sales of perishable or other property sold in pursuance of the order of the court, or so much as shall be necessary to satisfy the judgment; (b) If any balance remains due, by selling so much of the property, real or personal, as may be necessary to satisfy the balance, if enough for that purpose remain in the sheriffs hands, or in those of the clerk of the court; (c) By collecting from all persons having in their possession credits belonging to the judgment obligor, or owing debts to the latter at the time of the attachment of such credits or debts, the amount of such credits and debts as determined by the court in the action, and stated in the judgment, and paying the proceeds of such collection over to the judgment obligee.

Rule 57, Section 15 — Satisfaction of judgment out of property attached; return of sheriff. Read the full provision →

Attachment converts into satisfaction of judgment

Rule 57, Section 15 explains how a winning attaching party actually gets paid once judgment and execution issue. The property already attached, if sufficient, is used to satisfy the judgment directly, rather than the winning party having to attach fresh property from scratch through a separate execution process. This is one of the main practical benefits of having sought attachment in the first place: the property is already in the sheriff's custody or otherwise secured, so satisfying the judgment out of it is comparatively quick once judgment is finally rendered in the attaching party's favor.

A three-step order of application

The section lays out a specific sequence. First, proceeds from any prior sale of perishable or other property are paid to the judgment obligee. Second, if a balance remains, the sheriff sells as much additional attached property — real or personal — as necessary to cover it, so long as enough remains in the sheriff's or the clerk's hands. Third, the sheriff collects any attached debts or credits, in the amount the court determined and stated in the judgment, from whoever holds or owes them.

A written return closes out the process

After applying the attached property in this way, the sheriff must promptly make a written return to the court describing these proceedings and furnish copies to the parties, giving both sides a documented record of exactly how the judgment was satisfied out of the previously attached property. That written return matters for both sides: it lets the judgment obligor verify exactly what was sold or collected and how the proceeds were applied, and it gives the judgment obligee a clear paper trail confirming that the judgment has in fact been satisfied out of the attached property.

Related provisions

Note. Statute text quoted on this page is reproduced from the official enactment and is linked to the full provision. The explanation around it is general legal information from Vivas & Nobles Law Office, not legal advice. Whether it applies to your situation depends on facts only a lawyer reviewing them can assess.