Short answer. Not safely. Once served with the writ and notice, you become personally liable to the attaching applicant for that debt or credit until the attachment is discharged or the judgment is satisfied, unless you instead pay or deliver the property to the clerk, sheriff, or other proper court officer.

What the law says

All persons having in their possession or under their control any credits or other similar personal property belonging to the party against whom attachment is issued, or owing any debts to him, at the time of service upon them of the copy of the writ of attachment and notice as provided in the last preceding section, shall be liable to the applicant for the amount of such credits, debts or other similar personal property, until the attachment is discharged, or any judgment recovered by him is satisfied, unless such property is delivered or transferred, or such debts are paid, to the clerk, sheriff, or other proper officer of the court issuing the attachment.

Rule 57, Section 8 — Effect of attachment of debts, credits and all other similar personal property. Read the full provision →

Service of the writ creates personal liability

Rule 57, Section 8 makes anyone holding credits or other personal property belonging to the defendant, or owing a debt to the defendant, personally liable to the applicant for that amount once they are served with a copy of the writ and notice under Section 7. This is what gives an attachment on debts and credits practical force, since there is no physical asset for the sheriff to seize. Even someone who merely holds property temporarily, not just an outright debtor, falls within this liability once properly served.

The liability lasts until discharge or satisfaction

This liability does not end automatically at some fixed point — it continues until the attachment itself is discharged, or until any judgment the applicant recovers is satisfied. Until one of those events occurs, the debtor of the attached party remains exposed to a claim from the applicant for that same amount. That can mean months or even years of continuing exposure while litigation proceeds, which is why a prudent debtor served with the writ generally chooses to pay into court rather than gamble that the case will resolve quickly in the original defendant's favor.

The one way out: pay the court, not the defendant

The section provides a clear escape from that exposure: if the debtor instead delivers or transfers the property, or pays the debt, to the clerk, sheriff, or other proper officer of the issuing court, the liability to the applicant does not attach. Paying the original defendant directly after being served with the writ and notice does not have that protective effect. This rule protects a diligent debtor who complies by depositing the funds with the court, since the court then holds the money (or the transferred property) for eventual distribution to whichever party is entitled to it once the case and the attachment are resolved.

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.