Rule 64 Seizing a Person or Property

This rule lets a party grab hold of property, money, or in some cases a person, while a lawsuit is going on. The point is to make sure there's something available to satisfy the judgment if that party wins the case. Without this kind of protection, a winning party might end up with a judgment that's impossible to collect because the other side has moved or spent all their assets.

The specific tools available for doing this come from Virgin Islands law, not from this rule itself. This rule simply says that whatever seizure options exist under local law can be used at any point in the case, from the moment it starts until it ends. Common examples include things like attaching property, garnishing wages, or placing a hold on a bank account.

What this means for you is that if you're involved in a lawsuit, the other side may be able to ask a court to freeze or seize certain assets before the case is even decided. This is meant to protect the fairness of the process, not to punish anyone early. If this happens to you, it's worth talking to a lawyer quickly, since local law will control exactly what can be seized and how.