Courts Act 2003

Effect of writ

8 (1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2), the writ binds the property in the goods of the execution debtor from the time when the writ is received by the person who is under a duty to endorse it.

(2) The writ does not prejudice the title to any goods of the execution debtor acquired by a person in good faith and for valuable consideration.

(3) Sub-paragraph (2) does not apply if the person acquiring goods of the execution debtor had notice, at the time of the acquisition, that—

(a) the writ, or

(b) any other writ by virtue of which the goods of the execution debtor might be seized or attached,

had been received by the person who was under a duty to endorse it but had not been executed.

(4) Sub-paragraph (2) does not apply if the person acquiring goods of the execution debtor had notice, at the time of the acquisition, that—

(a) an application for the issue of a warrant of execution against the goods of the execution debtor had been made to the district judge of a county court, and

(b) the warrant issued on the application—

(i) remained unexecuted in the hands of the district judge of the court from which it was issued, or

(ii) had been sent for execution to, and received by, the district judge of another county court and remained unexecuted in the hands of that district judge.

(5) In sub-paragraph (1) “property” means the general property in goods (and not merely a special property).

(6) For the purposes of sub-paragraph (2) a thing shall be treated as done in good faith if it is in fact done honestly (whether it is done negligently or not).

(7) Any reference in this paragraph to the goods of the execution debtor includes anything else of his that may lawfully be seized in execution.