Connecticut § 52-285 - Attachment of real estate.
Full text of Connecticut Connecticut General Statutes § 52-285 — Attachment of real estate., with citation guidance and answers to common questions.
§ 52-285. Attachment of real estate.
Sec. 52-285. Attachment of real estate. Real estate shall be attached by the officer by leaving in the office of the town clerk of the town in which it is situated a certificate that he has made such attachment, which shall be endorsed by the town clerk with a note of the precise time of its reception and recorded at length in the land records of such town; and such attachment, if completed as hereinafter provided, shall be considered as made when such certificate has been so lodged. The certificate shall be signed by such officer, shall describe the land attached with reasonable certainty and shall specify the parties to the suit, the authority issuing the writ, the court to which the process is returnable and the amount of damages claimed; and, unless the service is so completed, such estate shall not be held against any other creditor or bona fide purchaser. No such certificate left in the town clerk's office for record shall have the effect of the notice of action pending provided for in section 52-325.
(1949 Rev., S. 8025; 1955, S. 3194d; 1967, P.A. 469.)
History: 1967 act eliminated leaving copy of process with town clerk and required recording of certificate of attachment rather than keeping it on file.
Variance in copy not fatal. K. 103. Conveyance pending attachment. 17 C. 283. An attachment of land is an “encumbrance” within covenant against encumbrances. 43 C. 136. Attachment cannot be made before process is placed in officer's hands. Id., 185, 186. A lien exists only for the amount to which the officer is directed by the writ to attach. 52 C. 19. An uncertain interest, incapable of appraisal and possibly of no value, is not attachable. 71 C. 155; 83 C. 346. History of statute. 90 C. 325, 339; 109 C. 434. Effect of outstanding equities in land; 91 C. 571; of unrecorded mortgage or deed. 71 C. 364; 89 C. 59; 91 C. 423. Right of attaching creditor to redeem prior mortgage. 83 C. 514. Equitable interests as subject to attachment. 71 C. 154; 83 C. 355. Mortgagee's interest is not; 81 C. 419; 83 C. 356; nor the interest of an obligee in a bond for sale, who has paid nothing; 70 C. 274; but it is attachable after payments have been made. 90 C. 555. Right of attaching creditor to rely on record title. 92 C. 345. Attachment has priority over deed not recorded in reasonable time. 91 C. 423. Attachment dates from time certificate is lodged with town clerk. 109 C. 436. Town clerk's failure to record or index certificate of attachment does not invalidate attachment otherwise valid. Id., 434. Defective compliance is, at the instance of a creditor or bona fide purchaser, voidable rather than void. 140 C. 464. In a cotenancy with right of survivorship, the death of a cotenant, after attachment but before judgment, extinguishes his interest in the estate attached. 143 C. 427; 145 C. 332. Held that deed to X was insufficient to defeat plaintiff's attachment because it failed to describe the indebtedness it was given to secure. 146 C. 523. Cited. 219 C. 810.
Cited. 28 CA 809; 30 CA 52; 46 CA 399. Incorrect identification of court does not make certificate of attachment defective. 50 CA 671.
Effect of failure of officer in his return to the town clerk to set forth how and when he served the process on defendant. 17 CS 439. Although an action for legal separation is in personam, if the accompanying constructive attachment of property in the court's jurisdiction is properly made at the outset of the action, the action becomes quasi in rem and personal service of process need not be made. 26 CS 284.
Source: official Connecticut text · Last verified 2026-08-27
Frequently Asked Questions About Connecticut § 52-285
What does Connecticut General Statutes § 52-285 cover?
Section 52-285 ("Attachment of real estate.") is part of the Connecticut General Statutes, the codified statutory law of Connecticut. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.
How do I cite Connecticut § 52-285?
A common citation format is "Connecticut General Statutes § 52-285" (Connecticut). Legal writing may require the code abbreviation, section number, and year or edition. Match the style required by your court, professor, or publisher.
Is this the official text of Connecticut law?
No. This page is for research and education and may not include the most recent amendments. For official current law, check the Connecticut official source linked on this page or consult a licensed Connecticut attorney.
How does Connecticut § 52-285 apply to my situation?
Statutes are interpreted in context, and application depends on your specific facts. Only a licensed attorney in Connecticut can advise on how this section applies to you. Contact your state or local bar association for a referral.
Sources & Verification
Not legal advice. Verify against the official source and consult a licensed attorney in Connecticut.