A Massachusetts Writ of Attachment is a legal process in which a court orders a debtor’s assets to be seized and held as security for a debt or obligation. It is a court order that requires a debtor to turn over specific assets, usually real estate, to a third party, such as a sheriff or a court-appointed custodian. A Writ of Attachment is typically used when a debtor is in default on a debt and the creditor is unable to collect payment through other means. There are two types of Writs of Attachment in Massachusetts: general and special. A general Writ of Attachment is more common and authorizes the seizure and sale of the debtor’s assets, such as real estate, to satisfy a debt. A special Writ of Attachment is more specific and is used to seize only certain assets, such as a specific piece of real estate.