Connecticut General Statutes

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-279 (2026)

When attachments may be granted

✓ current as of May 2026

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Attachments may be granted upon all complaints containing a money demand against the estate of the defendant, both real and personal. No attachment shall be made in any action for slander, libel or invasion of privacy except upon order of the court to which the writ is made returnable. No attachment shall be made against the real or personal property of any municipal official in any action against the municipality or its officials acting within the scope of their authority except upon order of the court to which the writ is returnable. No attachment shall be made against the real or personal property of a member of the state or any municipal police force in an action involving his conduct as a policeman except (1) when such policeman has been dismissed from the police force of which he was a member at the time of the incident which gave rise to the action, or (2) upon order of the court to which the writ is returnable. No attachment shall be made against the real or personal property of any member, teacher or employee, as defined in section 10-235, of any board of education, the Board of Regents for Higher Education or governing board of any state institution of higher education, in any action against any board or commission as defined in said section or against any such member, teacher or employee involving his conduct as such member, teacher or employee, or against any member of any other appointed or elected municipal board or commission in any action against such board or commission or against such member involving his conduct as such member, except upon order of the court to which the writ is returnable. No attachment shall be made against the real or personal property of any Connecticut canine control officer or regional Connecticut canine control officer, appointed under the provisions of section 22-328, in any action against any such officer involving his conduct as such officer except upon order of the court to which the writ is returnable.

(1949 Rev., S. 8022; 1951, S. 3192d; 1959, P.A. 172; 1967, P.A. 275, S. 2; 679; 837; 1969, P.A. 505; 1972, P.A. 4; 201, S. 2; P.A. 73-495; P.A. 77-573, S. 24, 30; P.A. 81-410, S. 7; P.A. 82-218, S. 37, 49; P.A. 84-241, S. 2, 5; P.A. 11-48, S. 285.)

History: 1959 act added provision re attachment of municipal officials' personal property in actions against municipality or its officials acting within scope of their authority; 1967 acts provided no attachment can be made in libel or invasion of privacy actions, included real property in provision re attachment of municipal officials' property, added provision governing attachment of property of state or municipal police force member and removed provision prohibiting attachment in any action for alienation of affections except upon court order; 1969 act added provision re attachment of property of member, teacher or employee of a board of education; 1972 acts extended 1969 provision to cover members of any other municipal board or commission, the commission for higher education and governing boards of state institutions of higher education; P.A. 73-495 added provision re attachments against property of canine control officers; P.A. 77-573 replaced commission for higher education with board of higher education; P.A. 81-410 eliminated provision re body attachment and execution; P.A. 82-218 replaced board of higher education with board of governors pursuant to reorganization of higher education system, effective March 1, 1983; P.A. 84-241 added “of higher education” to board of governors' title; pursuant to P.A. 11-48, “Board of Governors of Higher Education” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “Board of Regents for Higher Education”, effective July 1, 2011.

When fraud complaint not amendable by adding count in contract. 63 C. 370. Validity of attachment cannot control the judgment to be rendered on the facts alleged and proved. 68 C. 471; 77 C. 347. None allowed in equitable proceeding not claiming damages. 75 C. 191. History and nature of process. 84 C. 622; 85 C. 573; 90 C. 570; 109 C. 434. Offer of stranger to pay debt will not defeat right. 76 C. 515. Colorable or fraudulent transfer of property will not prevent. 68 C. 389; 84 C. 682; 85 C. 698; 101 C. 565. Attachment of body when property put out of reach. 74 C. 671; 81 C. 626; 84 C. 628. Equitable interests as subject to. 71 C. 154; 76 C. 528; 83 C. 355. But not interests so uncertain as not to be salable on execution; 71 C. 149; nor property in the hands of receiver. 66 C. 350; 71 C. 345. Law subjects all property to attachment as far as possible. 85 C. 67. But alimony is not property. 102 C. 708. Public policy does not prevent attachment of property of street railway company. 89 C. 59. Personal property sold but not delivered still subject to attachment against seller; 72 C. 509; 74 C. 146; 86 C. 372; even though sold on condition; 70 C. 505; 77 C. 38; 86 C. 372; or colorable delivery made; 68 C. 389; 86 C. 372; 101 C. 565; but rule applies only to tangible property; 87 C. 601; as to mortgaged personal property. 72 C. 510; 77 C. 370; 101 C. 565. Cited. 71 C. 154; 72 C. 159. Application of state law to procedure in federal court. 73 C. 154. Interest of tenant in common or of partner in goods is attachable. 68 C. 16; 71 C. 698. Attachment where lease gives tenant right to replace property; 80 C. 14; of stock of nonresident in local corporation. 84 C. 618. Attachment of body of one brought wrongfully within the jurisdiction is void. 85 C. 327. In divorce action; effect as regards order for periodic payments of alimony. 94 C. 284. Limitations on attachment of body. 105 C. 683. Review of history of law regarding attachment of real estate. 109 C. 434. Alimony may not be attached. 102 C. 708. History of statutes re body attachments; limited to tort actions brought under Sec. 52-562 and to contract actions specified in Sec. 52-355. 111 C. 228. Does not limit power to reduce attachments under Secs. 52-301 and 52-302. 141 C. 176. Cited. Id., 407. The word “estate” renders liable for attachment certain legal and equitable interests in property which are within the debtor's control though legal title may be in another. 142 C. 320. Attachment of joint tenancy with right of survivorship does not in itself produce a severance but the execution levy, at least upon a sale, does. 146 C. 332. Cited. 162 C. 256. Second mortgagee has no standing to challenge the constitutionality of section in attempt to invalidate attachments prior to his mortgage rights. 168 C. 43.

Cited. 28 CA 809; 32 CA 118.

Cited. 12 CS 106; 16 CS 95. Where body attachment is made, defendant cannot remain silent and later claim that officer failed to find property open to attachment. Id., 242. No distinction is to be drawn between slander and slander of title. 23 CS 282. When attachment invalid under complaint containing several causes of action. 29 CS 324. Distinguished from Sec. 52-369. 35 CS 130. Cited. 36 CS 47.

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Notes of Decisions

Cited in 16 cases, 1962–1993 · leading case: Blakeslee Arpaia Chapman, Inc. v. El Constructors, Inc., 628 A.2d 601 (Conn. App. Ct. 1993).

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Blakeslee Arpaia Chapman, Inc. v. El Constructors, Inc., 628 A.2d 601 (Conn. App. Ct. 1993). · cites it 8× “” The plaintiff argues that pursuant to General Statutes § 52-278b, a prejudgment remedy is generally available in any action at law or in equity, and that the specific prejudgment remedy of attachment is generally available in any action where the applicant seeks money damages.”

Atlas Garage & Custom Builders, Inc. v. Hurley, 355 A.2d 286 (Conn. 1974). · cites it 6× “General Statutes § 52-279, entitled "When attachments may be granted," provides in part: "Attachments may be granted upon all complaints containing a money demand and against the estate of the defendant, both real and personal." Section 52-285, entitled "Attachment of real…”

BERGESEN Dy A/S v. Lindholm, 760 F. Supp. 976 (D. Conn. 1991). · cites it 4× “The plaintiff Bergesen d.y. A/S (hereafter “Bergesen”), is a Norwegian corporation.”

Lynch v. Household Fin. Corp., 318 F. Supp. 1111 (D. Conn. 1970). · cites it 4× “517, § 44 (1961)) — are part of Connecticut’s comprehensive statutory attachment plan set forth in Chapters 904 and 905 of the General Statutes.”

People's Bank v. Bilmor Bldg. Corp., 614 A.2d 456 (Conn. App. Ct. 1992). · cites it 2× “The first sentence of General Statutes § 52-279 authorizes the granting of attachments “upon all complaints containing a money demand against the estate of the defendant, both real and personal.”

Shaskan v. Waltham Indus. Corp., 357 A.2d 472 (Conn. 1975). · cites it 3× “The aforesaid attachments were made in conformity with the requirements of Connecticut General Statutes § 52-279 1 “and other Connecticut law then in effect” and were made without prior notice, hearing, determination of probable cause, showing of special circumstances or court…”

Black Watch Farms, Inc. v. Dick, 323 F. Supp. 100 (D. Conn. 1971). · cites it 2× “Pursuant to Conn.Gen.Stat. § 52-279 et seq., defendant’s home was attached at the commencement of the lawsuit.”

Hous. Auth. v. Boyd, 410 A.2d 494 (Conn. Super. Ct. 1979). · cites it 2× “General Statutes § 52-279 authorizes the granting of attachments, and General Statutes § 52-312, recently held unconstitutional, provides for body attachments, manifestly unrelated to summary process.”

In Re Application of Griffiths, 294 A.2d 281 (Conn. 1972). “It is of more than passing interest that the exercise of such authority was formerly restricted to the governor, lieutenant governor, a senator, judge, justice of the peace or the clerk of the court to which the writ of summons or attachment was returnable.”

Brook Hollow Assocs. v. J. E. Greene, Inc., 389 F. Supp. 1322 (D. Conn. 1975). · cites it 2× “Judge Zampano’s ruling in Black Watch Farms held the Connecticut real estate attachment laws, Conn.Gen.Stat. § 52-279 et seq., constitutional.”

M. Dean Kaufman, Inc. v. Warnaco, Inc., 299 F. Supp. 722 (D. Conn. 1969). · cites it 2× “Conn.Gen.Stat. § 52-279 (Supp.1968). . Supplemental affidavit of M.”

Palumbo v. Manson, 400 A.2d 288 (Conn. Super. Ct. 1979). “” 2 In this regard § 52-369 must be distinguished from § 52-279, which in turn refers to § 52-562, which permits.”

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